Web technologies

 To create a functional website or application, it is important to master various web technologies. It is essential to make the right choice of web technology with the help of which you will build your website, online store or application. The choice depends primarily on the type of site you are creating, but also on your needs and the content that will be included in your new web project. To fully understand what is involved in using a particular web technology, it is important to define them clearly. In the following article, we will look at commonly used web technologies. However, before we discuss each technology, we will explain how a server works.

How does a server work?

A server is a device that provides information to other devices (called clients) and then processes it according to the requests made. In everyday life, every time you use your computer or smartphone, your browser is just that – a client. When you type in the address of a website, it sends a request to the server that “hosts” that website or application. When the server receives the request, it accepts it and provides the browser with the appropriate information. At this point, the website page appears on your device’s screen. 

This example perfectly illustrates the difference between the front end and the back end when using websites. Every website and also web application basically consists of two parts:

• visible to the user (front end), which is what the user interacts with;
• invisible to the user (back end), which is the engine of the web project and makes the entire interface of the website or application work properly.

According to this division, there are two types of web technologies. The first – front-end – are those responsible for the appearance of a website. The second type of web technology – back-end – operates on the server side and is used to process data and user requests. Their operation is invisible, as the whole execution process takes place outside the browser. It goes without saying that creating a website requires the development team to be proficient in both types of web technologies. With the theory behind us, let’s look at the characteristics of each solution. 

What are web technologies?

As defined, web technologies are the programming languages used to develop websites, web applications and stores. Developing the various elements of a web project often requires the use of different web technologies. Whether it’s layout, animation, content structure, or user interaction management, the use of different solutions enables the creation of a cohesive website as a whole. Webmasters have a wide range of different solutions to choose from.

Web technologies we use: front end 

Web front end technologies are responsible for the interface of the website. However, it’s important to emphasize that it’s not just about the graphics, but about the entire UX (user experience), i.e. the user experience to make using the website or application enjoyable and functional. Basic programming languages include: 

HTML 

HTML is a markup language that defines and organizes the structure of a website’s content, and allows text or visual content to be inserted on the page. It is responsible for what is visible and readable by browsers. Virtually all websites are built using HTML.

CSS 

It defines the visual structure of different parts of a web page. In other words, CSS defines how a page is perceived (i.e. its appearance) by specifying the colors, fonts, or background types used. It is therefore a complementary language to HTML.

JS (JavaScript)

JS is a language that has proven to be a driver of web development because it allows interactive and dynamic elements, such as pop-ups and animations, to be inserted into websites. JavaScript is also used to manage the interaction between elements and the user. JS is mistakenly sometimes referred to as Java, but this technology is used for application development and is a back-end technology solution.

Web technologies: back end

A back end developer works “behind the scenes” when creating software. He or she actually takes care of the server-side operation of a website or web application. Among the most commonly requested backend technologies are PHP, Java, Python, and Ruby.

Java

Java is sometimes called an indispensable language in programmer’s work, because of its independence from operating systems. It is most often used to create modern applications.

PHP

PHP is a scripting language that makes websites dynamic. It is responsible for returning the result of the script to the client. It is also used to create server-side web applic

Python

Python is a technology considered to be a “rival” of Java. It is used mainly to create applications, but due to very good frameworks, such as Django or Flask, Python is successfully used to build dynamic websites and web services, rich in features. It also plays an important role in data analysis and even artificial intelligence.

Ruby

Ruby is used for rapid development of web applications. Nothing stands in the way of creating an e-commerce project or a simple business card using it. The technology effectively speeds up the creation of web projects, and it only requires a web server and a database to run. Ruby also offers programmers several frameworks, the most famous of which is Ruby on Rails. 

Choosing the wrong technology for a web project – what impact does it have?

Regardless of the web project being developed, using the right web technology has a significant impact on its performance. Therefore, even before writing the first line of code, it is necessary to determine the best technology stack. It is not always obvious, but using the right solutions can determine the success or failure of the entire project. Choosing an inadequate language or framework can have serious consequences. Wrong decisions can be not only waste money, time and resources, but can also generate: 

• Problems hiring developers to extend an existing site or application,
• The need to rewrite the web design to a new technology stack,
• Problems with securing the site or application, 
• difficulties in creating and adding new features. 

How to choose the most suitable technology?

In the business world today, an online presence is almost essential. A website or web application brings many benefits to businesses, including allowing potential customers to find a particular brand, creating a corporate image, and enabling communication with consumers and business partners. However, not all websites are created equal. There are different types of sites (showcase, blog, e-commerce, etc.), and thus we distinguish many technologies with which to create them. 

Creating a web solution can be compared to building a house. If you are building a house, you probably want it to be built using the best materials. This should also be the case with websites or applications. So it is good to rely on experts in this field. In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about WordPress, a platform that allows you to design websites or online stores. However, it is not the only solution, and sometimes not even the best one. Each project requires an individual approach. Professional webdevelopers or interactive agencies, such as DaVinci Studio, have knowledge of all kinds of available technologies and thus will be able to offer you the best solution for your web project.

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Are these all web technologies?

Creating a website or a web application requires the use of many different technologies. The above list, of course, does not include all available solutions. Web technologies are a rapidly developing field of programming, which is sometimes difficult to keep up with. However, we hope that this article helped you understand how to approach the creation of a new website or web application.

When choosing a technology stack, it is worth considering the real needs of the project, analyzing the pros and cons of each possible solution. If you need support in this area, you can count on us. Da Vinci Studio, as a leading producer of web and mobile application solutions, will help you choose the right technologies to create a scalable and highly usable web application that will put you ahead of your competition.

Contact us and tell us about your project! You can be sure that we will offer you the best possible solutions.