The phrases “web development” and “web design” are often used interchangeably. What you might not realize, however, is that they have fairly different meanings.
Below, we’re going to get into their differences, showing you exactly what web development vs web design entails. Let’s go!
What Is Web Design?
Web design refers to the visual aspects of a website or app. It includes everything from the website’s color scheme to its menu layout to its photos to its background to the positioning of its content and more.
Web designers don’t always work with code. Many of them draw up designs in graphic design programs such as Adobe. Their designs are then viewed by web developers and built out through code.
Though web design doesn’t require the extreme technical expertise required for web development, it’s no less important. The aesthetic and layout of a website can have major ramifications for its success and usability. As such, web designers are an integral part of any web development team.
Learn more about web design here.
What Is Web Development?
Whereas web design refers to the aesthetic or cosmetic aspects of a website, web development refers to the underlying aspects of a website. In particular, it refers to the building and maintenance of the website’s codebase.
See, to build a website or app, you must strategically write out thousands (and sometimes millions) of lines of code. This code provides directions to the web browser, telling it how to handle and display the website’s layout and functionality.
In essence, web developers make websites a reality. They take the designs drawn up by web designers and then formulate code to make those web designs into actual websites.
However, they don’t stop at aesthetics. They also handle the operational aspects of websites, such as creating links, embedding databases, and instituting interactivity.
Web development requires a great deal of technical expertise. Not only do web developers need to know how to write effective code but they also need to be able to optimize it to create as quick and as efficient a website as possible.
Some of the coding languages that web developers work with include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, C++, and Java. They also work with coding libraries such as React and Angular.
Web developers fall into two major groups: back-end developers and front-end developers. Whereas front-end developers focus primarily on the visual aspects of producing a website, back-end developers focus primarily on the underlying mechanisms that make a website functional.
Web Development vs Web Design: Similar But Different
And there it is, the difference in web development vs web design. As you can see, these two terms carry similar but quite different meanings. So, when you’re reading up on or studying web development or web design, keep this article in mind.
On the hunt for similar info? Our website has you covered. Take a look at our other articles right now!
_______________________________________________________________________
Some other articles you might find of interest:
Would you like to better understand how to drive and increase traffic to your startup website?
How to Drive & Increase Traffic to Your Startup Website
Do you have what it takes to start and run an online business?
5 Key Skills You Must Have to Start & Run an Online Home Based Business
