What Is Web Development: An Introduction

All websites and web applications on the internet, from basic brochure websites to the apps you use everyday on your phone, require structure and logic to turn from lines of code into the usable websites we all know and love.

That’s where web development comes in. There are many aspects of web development, and they all combine to create websites that drive interaction and, ultimately, stimulate business growth.

As an experienced team with many years experience in website development, Right Hook has created this guide to the web development process.

What Is Web Development?

Web development is the process of creating websites and online applications. It also involves maintaining websites and database management, as well as coding and server configuration.

It encompasses a variety of different fields and skills. Many successful web developers focus on one specific skill, programming language or niche, but some have diverse skillsets.

From processing data to taking payments and more, web applications do a lot of tasks, and each one requires programming and managing to ensure security, functionality and safety for web users.

Why Is Web Development Important for Businesses?

Web development is crucial for businesses because having a strong online presence is vital. In today’s modern age, any business without a website won’t get very far.

When you consider that online sales make up over 28% of all UK retail sales as of 2025, and that 75% of consumers judge a business’s credibility by its website, it’s clear that you need a well-made website.

Web development is constantly evolving, which is why working closely with web developers is essential. While there are website theme builders you can use, these often have significant limitations, meaning you won’t be able to adapt and upgrade your site to meet your specific needs.

Web Development vs Web Design: What’s the Difference?

While many people might have heard of website development and website design, they often use the terms interchangeably. However, these two practices are completely different.

Website design is focuses on user experience and layout, including images, colours, fonts and other components.

Web development involves more technical knowledge and understanding of different programming languages. As such, this is a more technical discipline. Some web designers may also carry out web development, and vice versa, but in most web development teams there will be team members with specific jobs to carry out.

Types Of Web Development

There are two main types of web development: front end (user facing) or back end (server side). Additionally, some web developers work across both sides, known as full stack development.

Some web developers create specific types of web applications, such as content management systems, online stores, or they may specialise in mobile development or web apps.

Here are the main types of web development, as well as a brief overview of how each works and the skills it requires.

Front-End Development

Front-end web development involves carrying out work on the user interface, which is the features and functionality that users use. This work typically requires understanding of:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): to structure text on web pages.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): to style the layout and ensure responsive attributes for different screen sizes.
• Javascript: to add interactive elements and dynamic behaviour to the website.

Back-End Development

Back-end or server side development involves dealing with web server side logic, dealing with database management, hidden logic and website architecture. While back-end web development isn’t language specific, some of the programming languages and tasks carried out by back-end developers include:

• PHP: a common programming language used on the server side that can easily be embedded to HTML.
• API Communications: used to a network between different applications, this task is vital for building online stores and other sites that accept payments.
• Infrastructure: alongside APIs, back-end web development also involves building other components such as servers and databases.
• Third Party Integration: to make the most of third party web applications, such as digital tools or plugins that carry out a specific function.

Full-Stack Development

Full-stack developers carry out both front and back end web development tasks, operating across both sides of the ‘stack’. While most web developers have knowledge of both sides of the stack, they often specialise in one, whereas full stack developers work on both. This doesn’t necessarily mean you only need one web developer, as you may need multiple team members to carry out all the web programming tasks required to build your new website.

The Web Development Process

Every website is different, depending on the type of website you need, and the functionality required. As such, the web development process will vary, but this is a rough overview of the tasks required.

Planning

During the planning and discovery phase, web developers ask questions about the end user, what they need from the site and how it will meet expectations. This will help them to start building a plan for how your website looks and functions.

Website Design

Once the web developers have an understanding of the requirements for the site and the brand it will represent, they can start designing it. There are 2 stages to website design. UX, or user experience, focuses on navigation, accessibility and the general performance of the site. UI, or user interface, deals with colours, visual components and branding.

Front-End and Back-End Development

This stage involves building the website’s structure across both the front and back ends. It also involves integrating third-party tools to ensure the site works effectively and is fully secure.

Website Testing

Every website needs testing to ensure that the every component aligns to create a functional but also visually appealing website. For large websites, there will usually be multiple stages of website testing, with the site held on a staging platform while it is being tested.

Launch

When the website is ready to be shown to end-users, it will be launched. During the initial launch period, website developers will monitor the site closely to check for any issues. Some tasks, such as setting up logs and sending the site for indexing on Google can only be achieved once the website is live, so these tasks will be carried out as part of the website launch process.

Ongoing Website Maintenance

Websites require ongoing maintenance to implement new security measures and optimise performance. Regular maintenance is essential, as the internet is ever-evolving and users have increasingly high expectations.

How Long Does Web Development Take?

Website development can take anywhere from 1-2 months for a small, simple website to 3-6 months or longer for larger, more complex web applications, such as interactive apps.

Web development timelines also depend on how long it takes for internal teams to sign off design elements and approve formats.

Get Expert Web Development Support From Right Hook

Whatever kind of website you need, it’s vital that you work with experienced website developers who can create and manage your site throughout your business growth.

With Right Hook, you can rest assured that you’ll get the ongoing support you need as your site changes and evolves over time. Our in-house team can carry out front end development and back end development, with experience building everything from progressive web apps to online stores, calculators, and other complex digital solutions.

For expert website development, as well as digital marketing services or branding support, we’re the perfect partner.

We’ll take care of everything, from understanding your target audience to displaying key information clearly, so from conception to design and launch, we’re here for you. Once the site is live, we can continue managing databases and maintaining your website to ensure ongoing security, safety, version control and more.

If you’re ready to start building a website to grow your trade business or finding someone to make the most of your existing site, book a call today to get Right Hook in your corner.