Introduction

Web developers are responsible for developing the code that tells websites how to work. This includes front-end/client-side development and back-end/server-side development, as both components are necessary for all but the most straightforward websites to function. Web developers implement visual design and layout, integrate graphics and content, optimize website performance and functionality, and test to ensure that their websites  Web Development  meet any requirements. Works on computer, mobile or device screen.

Web development is closely aligned with web design, which involves designing the features and functionality of websites and apps.

Of course, you'll find that the look and functionality of websites are constantly changing. A modern site today looks very different from the first web page in 1991 that defined the World Wide Web. It was very simple by current standards with basic HTML at a simple level.

Web development patterns have changed rapidly over the past 30 years. Does anyone remember when frames were the latest and greatest in web development? Thankfully, the web development trend quickly passed and became obsolete by the early 2000s.

So, where is web development (and design) going now? We've taken out our "virtual" crystal ball and come up with our predictions for web development trends in 2023 and beyond.

1. Developers must constantly expand their coding knowledge.

As you saw from the first website above, there was a time when web developers only had to know HTML to create a functional website. You don't even see the first photo uploaded to the Internet until a year later. A few years later (1995), Netscape added a scripting language (JavaScript) to the then popular web browser, Netscape Navigator.

Long ago (1996), CSS was added to the mix, making it easy for web designers to change the layout, colors and fonts of their website. This meant you could separate the content of web pages (HTML) from the visual elements (CSS) for the first time.

2007 saw a watershed moment with the launch of the first iPhone.

As technology and bandwidth have improved, web developers and designers have had to add new things to their sites. These include full-screen video backgrounds, animation, and interactive navigation, which would have been impossible in the past. Some web and app developers now choose to cater to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (VR). It will only become more popular in 2023 and beyond as prices come down and processing power increases.

Despite the changes, the core web development services will remain the same. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will remain at the core of web development.

2. Dark mode is easy on the eyes.

Many web and app users prefer to browse and use their devices using dark mode – at least at night – because it's easier on their eyes. Recent versions of Android and iOS offer a dark mode and users can switch between dark mode and "light" mode at the tap of a button. They also provide "night mode", which automatically turns on dark mode at a certain time in the evening and turns off again in the morning. In addition, many major websites and apps, including all major social apps, now offer dark mode skins.

Another reason users like dark mode on their mobile devices, in particular, is that it helps reduce battery drain.

3. Mobile-first development will continue to grow in popularity.

We mentioned above that many people now view and interact with the Internet on their mobile devices. In fact, as of August 2022, 59.4% of all web traffic came from mobile phones. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that many developers now start building websites with the limitations of mobile devices in mind.

Mobile web traffic

Some of the recent responsive web development trends that developers should keep in mind include the need to focus on vertical orientation instead of the traditional horizontal screens used on computers, meta viewports to support browsers rescaling websites. The need to have tags, to modify things based on the capabilities of CSS tools

4. Developers still need to code to improve page speed.

The more modern websites become, and the faster users' bandwidths get, the more impatient people become with slow-loading websites. People expect fast experiences and are quick to give up on a site that takes too long to load. Studies show that people expect websites to load in less than two seconds, and people tend to leave after waiting three seconds. Google recognized this a few years ago and began including page speed as one of their ranking factors, specifically penalizing slow-loading web pages in their mobile search engine. .