coding

Web development is very much different now than what it used to be a decade ago. Various helpful front-end frameworks are currently available that can assist with the web development services process. 

For instance, you have a web application to build. Now, would you like to start with a blank piece of paper? Or would rather have an existing frame and then customize it according to the new requirement? Unless the requirements and specifications are extremely niche, you would likely choose the latter.    

In web projects, instead of starting from scratch, following the basic web development practices will save you resources and time and provide you with a structure upon which you can build your application.  

Another example is that you can choose ReactJS for a scalable front-end for web and mobile applications. This JavaScript library, developed by Facebook, offers a robust and responsive user interface. 

Who defines these practices?

Over the years, these practices have been gathered by the developers and companies that the industry has approved. They determine the most effective course of action. These practices are nothing but an efficient way to accomplish the desired results.

Proactive measures can be implemented right from the beginning of the project to improve the chances of a successful product. A proper structure and framework help developers prevent making big-time errors. In addition, thanks to comparatively modest labor needed at the beginning, frameworks save many developers’ time.

 9 Best Web Development practices

1. Plan first –plan well

No matter how big of a developer or how experienced you are as a web developer, you should never jump directly into coding your project. You might think it will save your time from unnecessary planning, but getting right into coding can result in rewriting the code repeatedly. 

Ideally, planning your web development services project should start with understanding what the end goal is going to be. What do you want to achieve by developing this particular application? 

So begin the process by determining the goal. Then create a user-friendly and intuitive interface that matches the project’s requirements. 

Identifying the goal is a complex step. Once you figure that out, you can plan how to achieve it. 

2. Keep the web development standards in mind

There is no question that creativity and innovative technologies have fueled the growth of the web development solutions industry. Having said that, standard procedures should also be considered no matter how drastically coding has changed. 

Following web development standards will help you build a website that can be utilized across the globe. Similarly, developers can keep their creativity while avoiding unwanted complexities by sticking to industry standards. 

Let’s take a look at some of the standards of web development. 

• Easy identification of hyperlinks
• Contact number, address, and other details of the business should be placed at the top-right of the page
• Top left corner should be reserved for the business’s logo. If the user isn’t on the landing page/homepage, clicking the logo should direct the user back to the homepage
• Navigation map should be the same across the website for consistency and uniformity

3. Consider user experience

Instead of jumping with assumptions in web development projects, it’s good to spend 65% of development efforts on research and design and the rest 35% on coding or programming. 

Understanding the user expectations and then developing a user-friendly design will make the whole process much less complicated. 

One of the easiest ways to achieve a user-friendly interface is by writing clean, clear, and short codes. 

4. Avoid writing long codes

Shorter codes are always better for building a high-quality, high-performance website. The longer the code, the greater the possibility of having bugs and errors. 

A good tip for writing smart codes is ensuring every code solves a problem or serves a purpose. For instance, your code should work for a specific feature or functionality. 

In addition, while writing smart, short codes, try to implement code commenting. 

But, what is code commenting?

Code commenting is where developers usually try to add short notes via code to ensure they understand why a code works in a particular manner. This also allows developers to understand what a specific code is for. 

Apart from a user-friendly interface, short codes also help your team easily read and understand the code as you will later proofread and edit if needed. 

5. Consider multi-device compatibility 

Since smartphones are taking over the world by storm, your website should be accessed across multiple devices. From laptops and tablets to various kinds of smartphones. 

Make sure the website is 100% responsive and looks the same way across different devices. Otherwise, you might risk your client losing potential customers if you build a website that only works well for a specific device. 

6. Scalable UI

Yes, you can’t think of every possible requirement that may arise in the future, but at the same time, you also cannot limit your website’s capability to just today’s trends and expectations. 

No matter how trendy or futuristic the website is, it will become obsolete in a decade if not in a few years. 

Ensure the website’s design and backend are made so that you can easily upgrade or modify the user interface without having to do an entire overhaul. Apart from resources and time, a complete revamp of the website will substantially cost the client. 

Don’t forget the occasional software updates, whether a minor font change or entirely new functionality. 

7. Use a testable code

Testing is one of the vital aspects of the web development process. However, some codes are developed so that testing becomes one complex task. Therefore, as a developer, you must follow testing practices to your best for clean and readable code. 

8. Avoid mixing JavaScript with HTML  

Mixing JavaScript with HTML is as bad as mixing HTML with CSS code. Consider the below example for better understanding.

<a id="cwc" href="https://catswhocode.com" onclick="alert('I love this site!');">Cats Who Code</a>

Reference purpose only

Now, the same result can be achieved via undisturbed JavaScript. Another example for this is:

$(document).ready(function() {  $('#cwc').click(function() {    alert('I love this website');  });});

In the above example, the famous jQuery framework was utilized. 

You may think this is complex, but it’s certainly not. Following this practice will ensure your HTML document is clean. 

9. Test while you build

Don’t wait to test your code on multiple browsers until it is done. Because cross-browser issues constitute a significant concern in web development projects. If you test your code on various browsers as and when you write it, it becomes easier to fix problems as you will know where to modify it. Otherwise, you will spend hours and hours on a completed code to fix it if it has cross-browser issues. 

Closing thoughts

There is no end to learning. Developers must practice, grow, and continually improve as new trends keep coming in and with changing technologies. The more expertise, knowledge, and understanding developers have, there are fewer chances of getting bugs or defects in the code, and more likely, as a developer, you will be able to complete the web development project without any significant issues. Hope you found these practices helpful. Happy coding!

Author Bio:

Margareta Anthemis is a freelance writer and web designer for hire with specialization in digital marketing, branding and general marketing tips. She works closely with B2B and B2C companies providing useful and engaging content that converts viewers into customers. Contact Margareta by visiting her website at Need A Design Maam for more information on her services.