WEBGuide

Web Development Basics

What is a website?

A website is a collection of web pages accessible through the internet. These pages, typically written in HTML, can contain various types of content such as text, images, videos, and interactive elements. Websites are hosted on servers and can be accessed using a web browser.Web pages are created using HTML, CSS, and often include interactive elements through scripting languages like JavaScript. Websites serve various purposes, such as providing information, offering services, or facilitating communication.

What is an IP address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two main functions: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the host in the network.IP addresses enable devices to send and receive data across a network. They play a crucial role in routing data packets from the source to the destination. When you access a website or connect to the internet, your device is assigned an IP address, allowing it to be identified and communicate with other devices on the network. Domain names are often used as human-readable alternatives to IP addresses, and the Domain Name System (DNS) translates these names into corresponding IP addresses. IP addresses can be either IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.1) or IPv6 (e.g.,2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334), depending on the version of the Internet Protocol.

What does HTTP mean?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and how web browsers and servers should respond to various commands. When you enter a web address in your browser, it uses HTTP (or its secure version, HTTPS) to request and receive the web page from the server.HTTP operates over a TCP/IP connection, and its primary purpose is to enable the transfer of resources, such as HTML pages, images, and other multimedia content, between a client and a server. It is a stateless protocol, meaning each request from a client to a server is independent, and the server does not retain information about previous requests.

What does front-end mean?

Front-end (or client-side) is the side of a website or software that you see and interact with as an Internet user. When website information is transferred from a server to a browser, front-end coding languages allow the website to function without having to continually "communicate" with the Internet.

Front-end code allows users to interact with a website and play videos, expand or minimize images, highlight text, and more. Web developers who work on front-end coding work on client-side development.Technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are commonly used in front-end development to create responsive and interactive user interfaces.

What does back-end mean?

The "back end" of a software application or website is the server-side or behind-the-scenes functionality that users don't directly interact with. It includes the server, database, and application logic responsible for processing and managing data, handling user authentication, and performing other tasks that support the front-end functionality. Back-end development involves coding and designing the server-side logic, databases, and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to ensure that the application or website functions smoothly and securely. Common back-end programming languages include Python, Ruby, Java, and PHP.

What is CMS?

CMS stands for Content Management System.It is a web application or a series of programs used to create and manage web content. It is a software application or a set of related programs that allow users to create, manage, and modify digital content. CMSs are commonly used for websites and blogs, enabling users to easily update and organize content without requiring advanced technical knowledge.

Content Management Systems provide an interface for users to create, edit, and publish content, while handling aspects such as formatting and version control. Examples of CMSs include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.

What is SVG?And why it is used?

SVG is an XML-based vector image format used to represent two-dimensional vector graphics. It describes images using a text format, defining shapes, paths, text, and colors. SVG images can be scaled to any size without losing quality, making them ideal for responsive web design.

Why SVG is used:

As vectors, SVG images can be resized without loss of quality, making them suitable for various screen sizes and resolutions.SVG supports interactivity and animation, enabling dynamic and engaging user experiences.

Being text-based, SVG can be easily manipulated, styled, and accessed through CSS and JavaScript, promoting accessibility. SVG content is readable by search engines, contributing to better search engine optimization (SEO).SVG files are typically smaller than raster image formats, leading to faster loading times on websites. SVG files can be created and edited with text editors, graphic design software, or even manipulated directly within HTML code.

In essence, SVG is a versatile and lightweight format that enhances web design by providing scalable, interactive, and accessible graphics.

What is the use of a namespace in Web Development?

A namespace is a simple global object that is used to hold objects,properties and other objects in them.It adds ease of use via modularity,thereby providing users with the ability to reuse the code and avoid naming conflicts.In web development, namespaces are used to prevent naming conflicts by organizing and distinguishing elements or attributes, ensuring smooth coexistence of different code sets within the same document or project.

What are the Static and Dynamic websites?

In Static Websites, Web pages are returned by the server which are prebuilt source code files built using simple languages such as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. There is no processing of content on the server (according to the user) in Static Websites. Web pages are returned by the server with no change therefore, static Websites are fast. There is no interaction with databases. Also, they are less costly as the host does not need to support server-side processing with different languages.

In Dynamic Websites, Web pages are returned by the server which are processed during runtime means they are not prebuilt web pages but they are built during runtime according to the user's demand with the help of server-side scripting languages such as PHP, Node.js, ASP.NET and many more supported by the server. So, they are slower than static websites but updates and interaction with databases are possible.

Dynamic Websites are used over Static Websites as updates can be done very easily as compared to static websites (Where altering in every page is required) but in Dynamic Websites, it is possible to do a common change once and it will reflect in all the web pages.

Types Of Web Development

Prior to understanding the website development process, it is crucial to understand the three main types of web development. Generally, different types of web developers are proficient in working with various development types according to their knowledge and skill set.

Let us discuss the types and their related technologies. This will help you to understand how each web development type plays an essential role in building web solutions.

What are the three main types of web development?

There are essentially three different types of web development: