A Beginner's Guide to Website Coding

You're in the right place if you are new to web development. This blog is meant for beginner web developers for the basics of coding. Here, we will talk about basic coding like HTML. CSS, which stands for cascading style sheets.

You may wonder what it means if you're entirely new to website coding. What does it involve, and how is it beneficial today? Website coding refers to the creation, design, and maintenance of websites by using different technologies and tools. It is almost impossible to imagine a business without an online presence. This is where web development comes in. Web development can be divided into two main categories: front-end and backend. Front-end development is the process of creating the visual elements of a website. That users interact with, including the layout, design, and functionality. This usually involves using programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Backend development deals with the behind-the-scenes work of a website, such as databases, server configuration, and web frameworks. This includes languages such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Python.

Basic CSS

CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a language. Used for describing the presentation of a document and written in a markup language such as HTML or XML. CSS describes how HTML elements are displayed on screen, paper, or other media. For example, if you want to change a text's fonts or the header's color. CSS allows you to do this by typing in the code that changes either one of the two. This saves a lot of work and controls the layout of many web pages simultaneously. According to Indeed's career guide, web developers who know CSS are in high demand. CSS also allows for adaptability, making it possible to create responsive designs. That adapts to different screen sizes and devices.

CSS can be applied in style sheets that are either external, internal, or inline code:

• External CSS: This is created in a word processor and saved in .css format. These files can be used to code the design of an entire site. A header section in the HTML code that links to a style sheet is also required.
• Internal CSS: The CSS code is written in the header of an HTML web page.
• Inline CSS: This is when the CSS code is written into the line of the HTML code it defines.

CSS plays a significant role. Allowing developers to transform simple HTML documents into appealing websites. Its syntax is easy to grasp. Understanding CSS is fundamental for anyone working with web development and design.

Advanced CSS

Basic CSS is essential for styling web content. Advanced CSS techniques take web design to the next level. Offering greater creativity, flexibility, and interactivity. Advanced CSS techniques such as cross-browser compatibility Are crucial for maintaining. Consistent user experience across different web browsers and devices. Another technique used is CSS minification and efficient selectors, which contribute to faster loading times, which are critical for retaining visitors. When it comes to responsive designs. Advanced CSS ensures that websites look and function. Well, on various screen sizes, from mobile devices to desktops.

Advanced CSS has preprocessors. Like Sass and less that extend the capabilities of CSS. By adding aspects like variables and functions. Nesting makes stylesheets more maintainable and efficient. Some blend modes allow for creative layering and blending of elements - enhancing the visual appeal of websites.

HTML 5 aspects

HTML 5 is the fifth and latest iteration of the Hypertext Markup Language. The code that describes the structure of and presentation of web pages. It has introduced a multitude of aspects. That has changed how web developers create, design, and interact with web content. One of the many HTML 5 aspects is the support for audio and video. It has reduced the hassle of relying upon third-party services such as Adobe Flash Player. You must use <audio> and <video> tags to embed audio and video into an HTML document. Another aspect is the Geolocation API. That is used to assess the geographical position of a user. Yet, it is only accessed once the user approves of it.

Local storage is a modern aspect of HTML and several browsers. They store data in the user's browsers and can access them with the help of JavaScript APIs. This aspect helps create offline applications. Where data needs to be stored, this aspect also helps reduce the transactions, for example, between the application and the backend server.

HTML 5 has reshaped the landscape of web development. Its support for multimedia, graphics, and many more has empowered web developers. To create richer and more interactive web experiences.

JavasScript

Created by Brendan Eich in 1995. JavaScript has become one of the most popular web technologies over the years. It is a powerful scripting language. Designed for adding interactivity to web pages and web applications. Also, it is the foundation of front-end web development. A key ingredient in frameworks like ReactJS, Angular, and VueJS. Not only that, but it can also help create solid backends with platforms. Like NodeJs, run desktop applications like Slack, Atom, and Spotify. And even run mobile phones as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). Like HTML, JavaScript is written in plain text with a .js extension.

What sets JavaScript apart from other programming languages is its ease of learning. It is compact yet very flexible. Developers have written a variety of tools on top of the core JavaScript language. Unlocking a vast amount of functionality with the least effort. These include:

● Third-party frameworks and libraries that you can apply to HTML. To speed up the work of building sites and applications.

● Third-party APIs allow developers to incorporate functionality. In sites from other content providers, e.g., Twitter.

Backend Languages

When it comes to creating web applications, programmers rely on backend languages. To develop the internal systems that run in the background. The back end of a program refers to the part of the software that remains inaccessible to clients and users. Backend programming involves a set of aspects. That makes it easier to connect servers. To ease data exchange with clients who use the application. On their internet-enabled devices. Some of the most popular backend languages used by programmers include:

• JavaScript
• Python
• Java
• Ruby
• PHP
• C#
• Perl

Search Engine Optimization

You may wonder how Google ranks each webpage in a particular order. The answer to this is search engine optimization. Search engine optimization is getting pages to rank higher in search engines. A higher rank in a search engine may lead to higher traffic to a website. The number one result may receive 40–60% of the traffic. Numbers two and three will receive less traffic. Only 2–3% of searchers click past the first page of results. Even a tiny improvement in search engine ranking. This can result in a website receiving more traffic. For this very reason, it receives more traffic. It would very well mean receiving more business because of this many businesses. Try to increase their search ranking above their competitors. Google uses complex algorithms. To take hundreds or even thousands of different ranking factors.

Responsive web design

There was a time when the internet was only on computers. Nowadays, you can view the internet on many devices. These devices include tablets, phones, and even smartwatches. Now, almost every business wants a mobile version of their website. Screen resolutions must be compatible with all mobile devices. This is where responsive web design comes in. Responsive web design is an approach. That design should respond to the user's screen size and platform. This calls for a mix of flexible grids, layouts, images, and CSS media queries. When a user switches from their laptop to a mobile phone, the website should change to adjust for resolution - image size, and so on. With more and new devices come different screen resolutions and orientations. Some will be in landscape, others in portrait. Also, for orientation, we must consider hundreds of different screen sizes.

Content Management Systems

For those who are new to web development. They may need to learn about content management systems. CMS is a system that helps users create, manage, and change the content on a website without technical knowledge, such as HTML and CSS. An example of a CMS is WordPress. WordPress is written in PHP and uses MYSQL as a database. WordPress is the most easy and powerful website builder. WordPress can be utilized for blogging, e-commerce, business, and portfolio websites. This CMS powers both the back end and front end of the website. You may wonder why WordPress is so popular. Here are some benefits of using WordPress. It is simplistic. It allows you to publish and build your website. The cost of using WordPress is free. You only need to pay for the web hosting and a domain name.

UX/UI

Creating websites involves more than coding. The design aspect is a massive part of the process. Websites also need to have interfaces that help the user. This is where UX/UI design comes into play. They are both used for websites and applications. What is the difference between the two design elements? UX design is about the user's experience and focuses on user satisfaction. Maximizing accessibility and functionality. Wireframes and prototypes are used here to plan a website. UI design focuses on the design aspect of what appeals to the users. Topics such as color scheme, page layout, and fonts are all UI aspects. There is more to UX/UI, such as conducting user research. In short, UX/UI is all about creating the best user experience possible. The main tasks of UX/UI involve identifying user problems and designing solutions to those problems.

E-commerce

Many businesses, small businesses, and individuals do business online through websites. This is called e-commerce. 15% of sales take place online, and that number is increasing. Suppose businesses want to stay competitive. They will need a well-developed e-commerce website. You may wonder what E-commerce is. E-commerce is creating and building online platforms. That lets businesses sell goods or services. The process of designing an E-commerce website involves several steps. These steps include designing and developing interfaces, securing payment processes, managing product catalogs, and designing aspects. To improve the shopping experience for customers. Another step in creating a website for e-commerce involves the shopping cart. Website design, security, search engine optimization, and customer service. How an e-commerce website is developed by buying a domain name. Choose a hosting platform and design the website. Determining how orders are fulfilled and building and launching the website.