The idea of building a website from scratch might seem a daunting prospect if you don’t have any coding skills or know how to configure a network, but there are certain aspects of the task that should be well within your capabilities with a little bit of knowledge.
Getting the best results and creating a website that meets all of your requirements may well need the services of one of the top web development companies, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get yourself a basic grounding in what web development is all about.
First of all, it is worth remembering that the term website development is actually a generalized all-encompassing description that describes the work needed to piece everything together and create a working website. Here is a look at some of those components.
Understanding what a website is
A website is a collection of files that are stored on computers that host this data, known as servers.
All of these servers are then connected to a giant network, otherwise known as the internet.
You need an IP address
To identify each relevant website you will need to allocate an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Each IP address contains a unique set of numbers, allowing it to be distinguished from all the other millions of websites on the internet.
HTTP provides the framework
The way your website files and IP address are connected to the internet is by using HyperText Transfer Protocol(HTTP).
HTTP connects your website to the internet using HTTP protocols. It is a set of rules that stipulates how messages are sent over the internet and help different servers to speak the same language.
In practice, what happens as a result of HTTP is that a computer reading your files can interpret the code and translate it using the rules provided so that it becomes the sort of website page that you routinely access every day.
Coding language
Coding is a more technical aspect of a website. It describes the programming languages and rules used for communicating with other computers.
Coding is used to include any special commands that are only intended to be read by other devices and programs.
The main point to remember is that all software is written in one specific coding language. These languages are based on the operating system and the platform used. They are going to be either front-end or back-end language, which are the only two categories used.
In simple terms, the front-end is the side of the website that you see as an internet user. The back-end is the coding language that you don’t see and works in the background.
Protecting your website
An integral aspect of web development is the need to focus on cybersecurity.
You need to secure your data and network from malicious attacks from cybercriminals who might target your website for any number of reasons.
Even if you are not sure about certain aspects of coding and want to leave that to the professionals, it is essential that you gain a basic understanding of best cybersecurity practices.
Cybersecurity is critical if you want your web development work to be protected.