Web Technology- A Comprehensive Overview

Web technology is one of the most rapidly growing and evolving fields in the modern world. From the early days of the World Wide Web to today's complex and sophisticated web applications, the evolution of web technology has been nothing short of incredible.

An integral part of our routine, the web is now used for everything from shopping and entertainment to education and communication. It encompasses a wide range of technologies, including web development, web design, and web security,

Web development functions with methodologies and designs. To become an up-to-date web developer, you should be well-conversed with the latest tools and best practices to remain competitive in this dynamic industry and to model a website as your wish.

What is Web Technology?

Unlike humans, who converse verbally, computer systems require codes and programming languages to communicate. It also refers to tools and technologies used for developing and delivering websites, web applications, and other online content over the internet.

Technologies help in creating and structuring content (such as HTML, CSS, and XML), scripting languages for adding interactivity and dynamic behavior (such as JavaScript), and server-side technologies for managing data and delivering content to the user's browser (such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Node.js). Also, web technology includes data storage and management (such as databases and cloud storage), web security and encryption protocols, and network and infrastructure technologies for web support.

Web Technologies every web developer needs to know:

1. Browsers

Browsers are software applications used to access and display web content on the internet. They are the primary interface between users and the World Wide Web, providing a platform for users to interact with web pages, view multimedia content, and run web-based applications. The popular browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

2. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

HTML is the foundation of the web. It comprises markup language and hypertext, which provides a standardized way of describing the structure and content of a web page, including headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, and other media. Hypertext determines links between two or more pages, and the markup language defines the text documentation within the tag, deciding web page structure.

Web browsers interpret the HTML code and display it as a visual web page for users to interact. HTML has evolved over the years, with the latest version being HTML5, which introduces new elements and attributes for creating dynamic and interactive web pages.

3. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to describe the look and format of a web page. CSS separates the presentation and design of a web page from the content. With CSS, web developers can control the layout, color, font, and other visual elements of the web page, creating a consistent and visually appealing user experience. CSS also allows for responsive design, enabling web pages to adapt to different screen sizes and devices, making them accessible on desktop computers, smartphones, and other devices.

CSS has evolved with time and is currently in its third version (CSS3). It offers new features and capabilities, such as support for media queries, animation, and the latest layout models for developers to create visually engaging and responsive web pages. CSS is an essential technology for web development and is used in conjunction with HTML and JavaScript to create dynamic and interactive web pages.

What is Web Development Framework?

A web development framework comes up with a set of libraries, tools, and best practices that simplify the building and maintenance of web applications for developers to focus on creating the application logic.

Web development frameworks are available in large amounts with many features and capabilities. Some popular frameworks include Ruby on Rails, Angular, Django, Laravel, and Express.js. The choice of a framework depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project, such as the size and complexity of the project, the programming language used, and the target platform.

1. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is a web development framework in the Ruby programming language. Designed to simplify the building and maintenance of web applications, it provides a set of conventions for developing them. It proffers a rich set of libraries and tools that build complex and feature-rich web applications, such as databases, authentication, and authorization. It also has a medium to create RESTful APIs that allow web-based applications to communicate with each other and share data and functionality.

Many companies and startups use Ruby on Rails to build web-based applications such as Airbnb, GitHub, and Shopify. Widely regarded as one of the best web development frameworks for building fast and efficient web applications, it is a popular choice for startups and smaller projects.

2. Angular

Angular is a popular open-source JavaScript framework for building dynamic and scalable single-page applications (SPAs). Developed by Google, it is one of the most widely used front-end development frameworks.

Angular is based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and provides tools and components for building complex and feature-rich web applications.

Many organizations and companies use Angular- Google, Microsoft, and IBM. It is also a popular choice for building cross-platform applications, as it supports web and mobile platforms to create applications that work on multiple platforms.

3. Django

Django is a Python web framework that builds web applications. Created in 2003, it is a popular choice for complex web projects in the Python community. It uses the MVT pattern and provides pre-built components and libraries for web development tasks such as user authentication, dynamic content serving, and database connection. Django prioritizes security with built-in features like XSS and CSRF protection.

Many organizations, including NASA, Mozilla, and Instagram, use Django to build and host their web applications, including news websites and content management systems (CMS).

4. Laravel

Laravel is a free, open-source PHP framework for web development. Created in 2011, it's now one of the most popular PHP frameworks. Laravel offers elegant and expressive code, tools, and components for web development tasks (such as handling user authentication, serving dynamic content, and connecting to databases), a flexible routing system, and a powerful template engine.

Laravel is used by many organizations and companies, including Ford, GE, and Intel, to model web applications for building and hosting e-commerce websites and content management systems (CMS).

5. Express.js

Express.js is a fast and flexible web framework for Node.js, a popular open-source platform for scalable network applications. It offers minimalism and flexibility with a simple routing system to build clean and readable URLs for web applications and the ability to handle various web development tasks like serving dynamic content, user authentication, and database connections. It also has middleware components for added functionality.

Programming Languages

1. JavaScript
JavaScript is a high-level, dynamic, and interpreted programming language. It adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to web pages, such as responding to user actions, updating content in real-time, and creating animations. JavaScript code is executed directly in the user's browser allowing fast and responsive user interactions. JavaScript is an essential technology for modern web development in conjunction with HTML and CSS. Exerted to develop web-based and single-page applications (SPAs), it provides a fast and seamless user experience.

2. Python
Python is a widely-used, high-level programming language for web development and other software. First released in 1991, It's known for its readability, large community, and ease of use. For Python, many libraries and frameworks for web development have been created, including Django for comprehensive web app building and Flask- designed to be lightweight and flexible, making it ideal for building simple and scalable web applications.

3. Java
Java is a high-level, widely used object-oriented language capable of running anywhere on devices with JVM. It's in demand for web development tasks like dynamic content, user authentication, and database connections. Java has a strong community of developers, leading to the creation of many frameworks, such as Spring- a lightweight, flexible option for simple and scalable web apps.

Terms to keep in mind while designing websites:

1. Web design
Web design refers to the process of creating and designing the visual and graphical elements of a website. It involves creative and technical skills, including graphic design, user experience design, typography, etc. Web design is to create visually appealing and functional websites that provide a positive user experience and effectively communicate a message or brand.

Web designers use tools and techniques to create websites, including graphic design software, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They also consider factors such as accessibility, responsive design, and search engine optimization (SEO) when creating websites. A good web design can make a website more attractive, engaging, and user-friendly, leading to increased traffic, customer engagement, and conversions.

2. Web support
Web support refers to the services and resources provided by a company or organization to help individuals and businesses with their web-related needs. It includes technical support for website and web application issues, website maintenance and updates, web hosting services, and assisting website design and development. Web support helps to ensure websites and web applications are functioning smoothly and effectively and provide users with the resources they need to get the most out of their online presence.

3. Web security
Web security helps to protect web pages, applications, and confidential data they handle from unauthorized access, theft, and harm. It involves a range of technologies, procedures, and practices to prevent cyberattacks and keep sensitive data secure. Measures include SSL encryption, firewalls, security updates, secure coding, employee training, and security protocols like two-factor authentication, backups, and intrusion detection. Staying informed and proactive is crucial as the threats evolve.

4. Active server
An active server runs, actively processes, and handles client requests, such as web browsers. In web technology, an active server is a component of the server-side architecture that serves dynamic web pages and applications. The active server, which runs on a physical or virtual machine, processes requests and returns responses to clients in real-time. The processing and handling of requests typically involve retrieving and processing data from a database, executing business logic, and rendering dynamic web pages. The active server is usually implemented using server-side scripting languages, such as PHP, Python, or Ruby, and web application frameworks, such as Django, Laravel, or Express.js.