Technology is becoming more and more prevalent across industries, and end-users are developing specific expectations from web development teams. Engineers should follow web development best practices to create products that effectively align with the industry standard and user expectations.
Updated August 24, 2022
Technology is becoming a bigger and more important part of our world with every passing day, with web engineers and developers playing increasingly significant roles as a result. As a developer, you might work on all kinds of web projects, some being relatively simple and others being more complex.
Regardless of the type or scale of the project you're working on, it's a good idea to get into some good habits and follow web development best practices as much as possible to minimize mistakes, cut down on wasted time, and ensure that all of your work is delivered to a good standard within the development process.
Web development best practices are basically the smartest and most sensible ways of doing things in web development, no matter if it is for frontend development or backend work. Tested and trusted by developers who specialize in e-commerce, Python, PHP, and more all over the globe, they represent the most efficient and effective ways of getting things done.
This guide will go over some of the best web development practices for developers to stick to.
7 Best Practices for Web Development
- Always have a plan and purpose
- Remember the importance of accessibility and user-friendly practices
- Always keep UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) in mind
- Stay focused on established standards
- Keep code and markup language concise and clear
- Consider compatibility across multiple devices
- Don't fix different programming languages
1. Always Have a Plan and Purpose
Developers tend to work much more efficiently when they have a plan in mind and a purpose to aim and optimize for.
So, don't make the mistake of simply diving in and starting coding without taking the time to plan out what you're doing, why you're doing out, and how you're going to go about it. The first step of any web project should always be identifying the end goal, so you always know what you're working towards and have clear targets to keep in mind throughout the process.
2. Don't Forget About Accessibility
Web design is gradually becoming much more inclusive, but only 1% of the world's top websites actually meet modern accessibility standards.
With one billion people worldwide having some sort of disability, it's a really good idea to make sure that your sites and apps are comfortable for everyone to use. Some ways to do this include adding ALT text to images so that screen readers can explain them and making designs friendly for those with color-blindness too.
Consider design elements when putting together your website redesign checklist.
3. Always Keep the User Experience in Mind
Another of the web development best practices that is generally agreed upon by developers and engineers all over the world is the importance of always focusing on the end game and user experience.
Don't lose yourself in coding for no reason; always keep the user in mind with mockups, thinking of how they'll interact with your pages or apps and making sure that you provide the best possible experiences for all. This is what will make your app and all your efforts actually worthwhile.
Additional Reading: '5 Best Practices for Website User Experience'
4. Don't Deviate Too Far from Established Standards
It's important to be creative and adaptable as a developer, and a little imagination can sometimes be necessary to solve problems and create innovations. However, you don't want to deviate too far from the norm on most projects.
Rules, standards, and frameworks exist for a reason: they work. So don't feel like you need to be too quirky or "break all the rules" in your web projects, as some rules, such as keeping global navigation menus and maps the same across a site or ensuring that hyperlink text size is appropriate, are not meant to be broken.
Additional Reading: '5 Most Important Parts of a Web Page'
5. Keep Code Concise and Useful
One of the golden rules that many developers try to live by is this: make every line of code count. It can be easy to fall into the trap of "over-coding", or writing more code than you really need.
In reality, while complex codes can look more impressive, they're usually much riskier than simpler alternatives, as they open the doors to more opportunities for unexpected bugs and issues. So try to avoid this. Keep your code concise and make sure that every line actually matters.
Thinking of using templates? Read this: '3 Divi Landing Page Examples to Inspire Your Web Design'
6. Consider Compatibility Across Multiple Devices
The number of mobile device users is on the rise and expected to continue rising in the years to come, with more and more people using phones and tablets to access sites and services online.
Because of this, it's important to ensure when developing web apps and pages to ensure that they can be accurately and appropriately displayed across screens of different sizes. Make sure you're taking different devices into consideration to give your apps the biggest possible audience.
7. Don't Mix HTML With CSS or JavaScript
Correct use of HTML is essential for any coder, and it's one of the first things most developers learn.
Over time, you'll also learn additional programming languages, such as CSS, JavaScript, and so on. While languages can cross over in certain ways, it's important to try and avoid combining them when they don't work well together.
HTML and CSS, for example, can get very messy when combined, and it isn't considered good practice to mix JavaScript in with your HTML documents either.
Use the Best Web Development Practices to Succeed
These are just some of the web development best practices that both new and experienced developers should keep in mind as they grow and develop their skills.
There's a lot to learn when it comes to coding, and web dev is one of the fastest evolving fields in the modern world, but if you get into some good habits and follow best industry practices, you'll put yourself in a good position for the future.
Additional Reading: