Technology for creating websites has been around since the 1990s and remains a key component of the modern web. Whilst these earlier sites may be of interest from a historical perspective, web design has now reached a level of sophistication and functionality that was previously unimaginable.
Static, text-only webpages are now outdated. Dynamic and interactive sites have become the norm, allowing for a range of features from automatic content updates to animated menus and online business transactions. The necessary technical expertise can be provided by an in-house development team or an outsourced web development firm.
It is essential to ensure that software developers recruited have the capability to carry out the task efficiently. This requires that they are knowledgeable in the relevant programming languages, enabling them to produce the most suitable websites for the purpose.
To create cutting-edge, interactive websites, it is important to consider which programming languages your team should master. In this context, we shall look at the top five languages that can help to achieve this goal.
HTML/CSS
The initial stage of any website design project is to understand the basics of HTML and CSS. These two languages are essential for creating customized websites and should not be overlooked. Knowing only English and Spanish is not sufficient to achieve the same results.
Indeed, the development of webpages starts with HTML and CSS. However, these two markup languages are not programming languages – they merely provide the fundamental structure for a website, regardless of its complexity. If necessary, one can always view the source code to find the HTML and CSS codes.
It is essential to have a good knowledge of HTML and CSS as they are the foundations of websites. Having a strong understanding of them will help you to meet your clients’ expectations, whilst providing a strong base from which to continue developing the website.
PHP
Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a server-side scripting language which is used to create dynamic websites and web applications. It is a popular choice amongst several prominent website frameworks, such as Drupal, WordPress, and even Facebook.
PHP is a popular choice amongst web developers due to its wide range of third-party extensions, including those for .NET, Apache and MySQL. Furthermore, PHP can be used as a connector to link various online resources and interact with services such as LDAP, IMAP, SNMP, NNTP, POP3, HTTP and COM (on Windows).
PHP is a highly secure and efficient language, making it an ideal choice for corporate applications. Additionally, it is open-source and free, allowing users to get started right away. With a low barrier to entry, it is a great next step after mastering HTML/CSS. Your engineers should have no issue getting up and running, with the comprehensive yet straightforward documentation provided.
PHP’s ability to create a range of file types beyond HTML is a major advantage. It is capable of producing images, PDFs, text documents and animations on the fly.
Python
Python is widely recognized as an accessible programming language and is highly popular globally. By utilising Python, it is possible to create systems that can monitor and interpret customer interactions concerning a product, as well as incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into websites to gain a deeper understanding of user behaviour. Its effectiveness in backend web development has led to its adoption by a number of significant services, such as Spotify and Instagram.
Python’s support for dynamic typing makes it a great choice for web development, particularly for larger, more complex websites that require frequent updates. This advantage over static-typing languages simplifies the programming process.
JavaScript
JavaScript is highly effective at providing websites with interactivity and dynamism, while HTML is best suited for constructing simple, static websites. For instance, HTML and CSS can be used to develop a straightforward navigation menu. On the other hand, JavaScript can be employed to add animation to the menu, making it more user-friendly. Therefore, JavaScript is not simply for aesthetic purposes, but has a practical application as well.
JavaScript is recognised for its versatility, allowing it to be utilised both on the server-side and client-side. Client-side JavaScript is used to create interactive elements commonly seen on today’s websites and other applications. JavaScript’s numerous libraries and frameworks enable engineers to develop a wide selection of server-side applications and services, such as web and mobile applications.
Web servers, presentations, games, wearable applications, and even quadcopter software may all be developed with the help of JavaScript.
Java
Android has become the most popular language globally, with the largest ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, APIs and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Java is widely popular among web developers due to its capabilities such as multi-threading, enabling it to support multiple users and threads at once. This capability reduces the need to run the same code multiple times on the server, leading to faster website loading times.
Java is a highly versatile language, capable of scaling both vertically and horizontally with minimal alteration of its initial code structure. In terms of web security, it is generally accepted that Java is one of the most reliable languages available. Its support for strong authentication, encryption, secure login protocols, digital signatures, ciphers, security protocols and access restrictions make it an ideal choice for the development of secure, cross-platform web applications.
Conclusion
It is clear that there are a number of languages that can be used for web development, however these five are a great starting point for anyone looking to pursue a successful career in this field. Gaining proficiency in HTML/CSS, PHP, Python, JavaScript and Java will serve as a strong basis for developing more advanced web development projects.
