Are you confused as to the distinction between web design and web development? If so, don’t fret – it happens to the best of us!

Web development and web design are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two distinct aspects of creating a website. While both are important to the success of a website, they involve different skills, processes, and goals. In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between web development and web design and their respective roles in creating a website.

What does Web Development mean?

Web development is the process of building and maintaining the back-end of a website. This includes the front-end development, server-side programming, databases, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable the website to function. Web developers use programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby to create dynamic web pages and web applications.

Web development involves several stages, including planning, designing, coding, testing, and deployment. Web developers work closely with web designers, content creators, and other stakeholders to ensure that the website meets the client’s needs and goals.

Let’s look at some of the tasks that web developers typically handle.

1. Building the website’s architecture and infrastructure

The architecture of a website refers to its structure and organization, which includes the different pages, components, and features that make up the website. Before working on the architecture, it is important to understand the customer and the user requirements. 

Once we have the requirements, web developers work on designing the website’s architecture, which involves determining the overall layout, navigation, and functionality of the website. They need to ensure that the architecture is user-friendly and intuitive, so that users can easily find what they are looking for on the website. 

The infrastructure of a website refers to the underlying technology that enables the website to function. Web developers work on building and managing the infrastructure, which includes the servers, databases, APIs, and other software components that are needed to run the website. They need to ensure that the infrastructure is scalable and secure, so that the website can handle a large amount of traffic and protect user data.

2. Building the code for the application

Once the architecture is defined, web developers are responsible for writing the code that powers web applications, which includes the underlying logic, functionality, and user interface. 

The development life cycle can be divided into below categories and generally teams follow an Agile process like Scrum: 

  1. Analyzing requirements: Web developers need to understand the requirements of the web application, which may involve working with project managers, stakeholders, and other team members to gather information and define the scope of the project.
  2. Writing code: Web developers need to write the code that powers the web application. This may involve writing server-side code to handle requests and perform actions, as well as front-end code to create the user interface and handle user interactions. The code is typically written in programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, or Java. Additionally front-end developers may use frameworks such as Angular, React, Backbone, Vue.js, and others based on their needs. Typically, writing code is split between front-end and back-end developers.
  3. Creating databases: Creating and managing databases is a crucial part of web development. It requires a strong understanding of database management systems and SQL, as well as an ability to integrate the database with web applications using programming languages and web frameworks. Web developers must also have a keen attention to detail and a commitment to ensuring the security and performance of the database.
  4. Testing the application: Web developers need to test the web application to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meets the requirements of the client. This may involve using automated testing tools or manually testing the application to identify and fix bugs and errors.
  5. Documenting the code: Web developers need to document the code they write to make it easier for other developers to understand and maintain the code in the future. This may involve writing comments, creating diagrams, or using other documentation tools.
  6. Deploying the application: Web developers need to deploy the web application to a production environment, which may involve working with system administrators to set up servers, databases, and other infrastructure components.

3. Integrating third-party tools and APIs

APIs are used to connect different software applications and enable them to exchange data and functionality. Web developers need to identify and understand the documentation the third-party tools and APIs that are needed to add the desired functionality to the web application. This may involve researching different options and selecting the most appropriate tools and APIs for the project.

Once the appropriate third-party tools and APIs are identified, web developers need to integrate them into the web application. This may involve writing code to connect the API to the web application, and testing the integration to ensure that it is functioning correctly.

Web developers must also have a keen attention to detail and a commitment to ensuring the compatibility, reliability, and security of the integrated third-party tools and APIs.

4. Optimizing website performance and security

Optimizing website performance and security is a critical responsibility of web developers. They need to ensure that web applications load quickly, respond to user interactions efficiently, and provide a secure and reliable experience for users.

To optimize website performance, web developers need to minimize the size and complexity of the web application’s code, optimize images and other media assets, and use caching and compression techniques to reduce load times. They also need to optimize the website’s infrastructure, including the server and database, to ensure that it can handle high volumes of traffic and requests.

To optimize website security, web developers need to implement a range of security measures, including using secure communication protocols, encrypting data, implementing access controls, and using tools to scan for vulnerabilities and prevent attacks. They also need to keep software components up-to-date, regularly backup data, and have a disaster recovery plan in place.

Web Design

Web design, on the other hand, is the process of creating the front-end of a website, which is what users see and interact with. Web designers use graphic design software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Sketch, to create the visual elements of a website, including layouts, color schemes, typography, and images.

Web design involves several stages, including planning, wireframing, mockups, and prototyping. Web designers work closely with web developers, content creators, and other stakeholders to ensure that the website’s design meets the client’s needs and goals.

Some of the tasks that web designers typically handle include:

  • Creating the website’s visual style and brand identity
  • Designing layouts based on user experience
  • Selecting typography and color palettes
  • Creating and optimizing images and graphics
  • Ensuring accessibility and usability of the website

Is web design technical?

Yes, web design is a technical field that requires a combination of creative and technical skills. Web designer role is a culmination of multiple roles in one and typically includes UX designers, UI designers, graphic designers, visual designers, and more. While web design is primarily focused on creating the visual and interactive elements of a website, it also involves a range of technical considerations.

For example, web designers need to have a strong understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the primary technologies used to build websites. They also need to be familiar with web development frameworks, such as Bootstrap and Foundation, which can be used to streamline the design and development process.

Web designers also need to be familiar with responsive design techniques, which allow websites to adjust their layout and content based on the screen size and resolution of the device being used. They also need to be familiar with usability and accessibility best practices, which ensure that websites are easy to use and accessible to people with disabilities.

Web Development vs. Web Design

Skills: The main difference between web development and web design is that web development is focused on the coding skills for creating a website, while web design is focused on the visual and interactive aspects. Web development involves writing code to create the front-end and back-end of a website, while web design involves using visual tools to create the front-end.

Lifecycle: Web design and web development represent two distinct stages of production in a website’s lifecycle. Web design involves the creation of a layout, colors, fonts and images that will suitably reflect the brand’s aesthetic; meanwhile web development involves ensuring that this is all seamlessly integrated with functionality such as functionality for visitors’ needs. 

Designations: Web designers are commonly referred to as “graphic designers” or “page designers”, while web developers are known as programmers or software engineers (often having advanced degrees). Web designers should know html, css and javascript, and web developers fall under the category of front-end, back-end or full-stack developers.

Related: How to become a Full Stack Developer.

Work needed: Those who design websites are responsible for the creative aspects including look and feel of the site. Web developers are in charge of making sure everything works properly (and quickly) on their client’s website – be it security features; user interaction; media uploads; etc.

Pay Scale: As per Talent.com, the average salary in the USA for Web designer is $63,372 and that of a web developer is $92,519.

However, web development and web design are not mutually exclusive. They often overlap and need collaboration skill sets to create a website that is both functional and visually appealing.

Conclusion

In summary, web development and web design are two distinct aspects of software development. Web development involves the front-end and back-end programming and technical aspects, while web design involves the front-end visual and interactive aspects. Both are important to the success of a website and require collaboration to create a website that meets the client’s needs and goals.

Further Reading:

How to increase your productivity as a developer and stay at the top of your game.

The 5 Best Programming Languages That Will Help You Become a Cloud Developer.