A digital presence is critical now—even more so than before the pandemic wreaked havoc on our world. And yet only 71% of small businesses have their own website.
This could be, at least in part, because web development is not an easy or quick task. While low-code and no-code platforms have made the process more accessible to laypeople, creating an attractive, functional, high-performance, and usable website or web application still requires extensive expertise and programming knowledge. Fortunately, the latest web development technologies are helping the development process, making it less complicated and time-consuming.
How does the web development process work? And what can we expect it to look like in the future? Here’s what you should know.
What is the future of web development in 2023?
Web development is still evolving. New web development technologies are constantly being introduced and gaining ground every day. What’s next for the industry?
Artificial Intelligence
One study found that 88% of consumers had at least one conversation with a chatbot in the previous year. And what is the backbone of chatbots? Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Artificial intelligence already has a larger-than-life presence on websites and web apps. In 2023, web development must include this important product modernization tool. This will go well beyond chatbots, although in the not-too-distant future we can imagine virtually every website, regardless of industry or niche, using a virtual customer service agent. We will also see the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as semantic search tools and more personalized experiences.
Progressive web applications
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), which are built using languages such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, have been around for several years. These programs work like native applications, but there is no need to download or install them. This means significantly faster loading times and a smoother user experience. They can even be used offline. But at its core, it’s actually a website – a website that looks like an app and behaves like an app.
Big companies like Uber, Forbes, Starbucks, Instagram, Spotify and Twitter already offer PWAs. And in 2023, they could very well change the very concept of app and web development.
Voice technology
You’re probably familiar with voice interfaces like Siri, Alexa, Echo, and the like. They are your digital personal assistants to take care of your most pressing needs. And they’re also set to redesign your interactions with websites.
As with chatbots, voice technology can handle your needs, offering increasingly complex instructions and responses. They can be conversational and approachable – and can take most of the work off the plate of human representatives. Thanks to artificial intelligence and automation, they will become a staple on many websites in the coming year.
Responsive design
Users today access websites and web applications in many different ways. They are viewed on mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers. They use a number of operating systems. They use different brands and products. And companies must ensure that they provide a consistent and optimal experience regardless of how consumers access their web platforms.
Thanks to responsive design, it is possible to deliver a unified experience. The latest web development technologies allow websites to adapt to a variety of scenarios, interfaces, settings, operating systems and so on. This will become increasingly important as more and more technologies are introduced to optimize the user experience. Personalization, customization, adaptability and versatility are key.
How to choose technology for your company’s web development
When you’re considering how to choose web development technology, there are a few different categories you’ll need to think about. We’ll look at the 2 most important tools that are essentially the building blocks of web development: languages and frameworks.
Programming languages
When developing a website, you will need to use 3 main languages: HTML, CSS and JavaScript. HTML creates the structure, CSS lends visual appeal to the product, and JavaScript basically brings the website to life and adds interactive and engaging features.
However, you will need to incorporate other programming languages into your toolkit to make your website not only functional, but also user-friendly and engaging.
Common web development languages include:
Python
PHP
Java
Ruby
TypeScript
When choosing the best language for your project, consider factors such as the community and resources that accompany it, the language’s strengths—and what you need from it—its maturity, its scalability, and its security.
Frames
Web frameworks make development easier and offer resources and tools that allow you to build your project faster and without as many hiccups. Common web development frameworks are:
Respond
Vue
Flutter
Node
Django
WebAssembly
Spring
Express
ASP.NET Core
When choosing frameworks for your project, think about elements like:
Adaptability
Community support available
Hosting Requirements
Industry and niche
Licensing
Available resources
Ubiquity
Usability and learning curve
There is no one best technology for web development. Instead, developers use a variety of languages, frameworks, environments, and other tools to create user-friendly, high-performance, well-designed websites or web applications—platforms that will respond to the needs and wants of computers.
However, digital technology is constantly changing, so it’s important to keep up with industry trends and news to ensure the most optimal experience and create a strong online presence for your brand.