Some Basic Information You Need to Know Before You Code

Whether you’re in the middle of coding a website or planning to hire a professional developer for custom coding, you need to make sure you understand the core principles behind a web development project. Coding a website these days seem easy because of all the WYSIWYG editors that come with content management systems. However, custom coding is necessary if the goal is to create a website with custom options, faster loading speeds, better SEO performance, etc. Here is some basic foundational knowledge you need to know if you’re getting involved with a development project.

Foundation 1: HTML

The main language used for coding is HTML. Although most websites today are created using content management systems, the coding standard is still HTML. For example, if you are developing a custom theme for WordPress, you are taking the PHP file and using HTML language to develop the header portion of the theme. The same thing applies to other popular CMS platforms like Joomla, Drupal, and Magento. Therefore, expert-level HTML knowledge is a definite must when looking for a coder.

Foundation 2: Javascript

Javascript is the programming language of HTML. There are many freely available javascript codes that you can copy and paste straight into your content management system. Somewhere down the line, you’ll probably need a custom javascript code for your website for specific functionality. Another language called jQuery is a Javascript framework that is incredibly useful for websites. It can be used for everything from allowing users to customize a site, provide cleaner navigation, to improving the user experience in various ways. The bottom line is that Javascript knowledge is essential and jQuery is indispensable in modern web development/design.

Foundation 3: CSS

Cascading Style Sheets or CSS is a style sheet language that allows you to control how a website looks. Using this language, you’ll be able to determine the color, layout, font size, font style, etc. CSS is not written in with the rest of the HTML code but called from a separate file. This allows your website to load faster and code to stay organized. Proper CSS coding is vital to get the most out of your SEO campaigns as well.

Foundation 4: Programming Language

If there is a complex functionality that you need for your website, you will need to use a programming language to create it. PHP, Ruby, C#, and Python are all examples of programming languages. There are advantages and disadvantages of using certain languages over others. It really depends on the situation, so it helps to consult with a developer on what the best course of action is. Designing a custom application for a website is one of the most challenging aspects of web development. That’s why it’s important to find a qualified and experienced developer for such projects.

Foundation 5: Design

Design is a big part of the development process although it seems like it’s something you focus on after most of the project is done. It’s important to have a well-articulated concept of what the final version of the website should look like before development or at least early into the development. This way, the developer and designer can work together to create the right structure of a website or web application.

These are some of the foundational ideas and concepts that you should be aware of if you are developing a website or looking to hire a coder for your project. Hopefully, it has given you a quick run-through of the basics so that you can make more informed decisions for your project.