# Web development > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Web_development > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Web_development.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_development > Source revision: 1350113123 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Development of websites and web apps}} {{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} '''Web development''' is the process of designing, developing and maintaining [website](/source/website)s and [web apps](/source/Web_application).{{Cite web |title=What Is Web Development? (Definition, Types, Career) |url=https://builtin.com/software-engineering-perspectives/web-development |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=Built In |language=en}} Web development encompasses several different fields, most commonly referring to the [programming](/source/Computer_programming) of websites. [Front-end development](/source/Front-end_development) is the act of developing the user interface and [client-side](/source/client-side) code, while [back-end development](/source/Front_end_and_back_end) focuses on the infrastructure behind a website, mainly [server-side](/source/server-side) code. Since the World Wide Web was released publicly in 1993, web development has evolved greatly, with websites changing from a collection of static HTML pages to complex projects using [frameworks](/source/Web_framework), [servers](/source/Web_server), and databases. == Overview == Web development includes many individual tasks, including [web design](/source/web_design), [web content development](/source/web_content_development), [networking](/source/Computer_network), and [coding](/source/Computer_programming).{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Ryah Cooley |date=29 December 2023 |title=What Is Web Development, And Why Might You Pursue It? |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/it-and-tech/what-is-web-development/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803193155/https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/what-is-web-development/ |archive-date=3 August 2023 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=forbes.com}} Among web professionals, "web development" usually refers to the main non-design aspects of building websites: writing [markup](/source/Markup_language) and coding.{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Jennifer |title=Web Design: Introductory |publisher=Cengage Learning |year=2017 |pages=27}} Web development is generally split into two fields: [front-end development](/source/front-end_development) and [back-end development](/source/Front_end_and_back_end). Front-end developers create the [user interface](/source/user_interface) of websites, turning web designs into [HTML](/source/HTML), [CSS](/source/CSS), and [JavaScript](/source/JavaScript) code. Front-end developers must also make sure that websites work consistently across different browsers and devices.{{Cite web |last=Missman |first=Kayla |date=22 May 2023 |title=Front-End Vs. Back-End Developers: What's The Difference? |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/front-end-vs-back-end-developer/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523043811/https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/front-end-vs-back-end-developer/ |archive-date=23 May 2023 |access-date=8 March 2026 |website=forbes.com}} Back-end development, also known as server-side development, focuses on the infrastructure behind a website, including [API](/source/API)s, [database](/source/database) management, and [security](/source/Computer_security). Some choose to be [full-stack developers](/source/Solution_stack), meaning they work on both the front-end and back-end. ==History== {{Further|History of the World Wide Web}} thumb|300x300px|Timeline of web development The World Wide Web is often categorised into three generations: Web 1.0, [Web 2.0](/source/Web_2.0), and [Web 3.0](/source/Web3) (or Web3).{{Cite web |last=Essex |first=David |date=9 September 2023 |title=What is Web 3.0 (Web3)? Definition, guide and history |url=https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Web-30 |access-date=19 March 2026 |website=techtarget.com}} It was invented in 1989, and released to the public in 1993.{{Cite web |date=30 March 2020 |title=World Wide Web (WWW) launches in the public domain {{!}} April 30, 1993 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-wide-web-launches-in-public-domain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206200329/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-wide-web-launches-in-public-domain |archive-date=6 February 2025 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=HISTORY |language=en}} In the early years of the web, [restrospecitvely](/source/Retronym) referred to as Web 1.0,{{Cite journal |last=Balachander Krishnamurthy |first=Graham Cormode |date=2 June 2008 |title=Key differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 |url=http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2125/1972 |url-status=dead |journal=First Monday |volume=13 |issue=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025113431/http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2125/1972 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |access-date=23 September 2014 |df=dmy-all}} websites were simply a collection of static [HTML](/source/HTML) files, and had limited interactivity.{{Cite journal |last=Balachander Krishnamurthy |first=Graham Cormode |date=2 June 2008 |title=Key differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 |url=http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2125/1972 |url-status=dead |journal=First Monday |volume=13 |issue=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025113431/http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2125/1972 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |access-date=23 September 2014 |df=dmy-all}} After the introduction of [JavaScript](/source/JavaScript) in 1995,{{cite web |title=Chapter 4. How JavaScript Was Created |url=https://exploringjs.com/es5/ch04.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227184037/https://speakingjs.com/es5/ch04.html |archive-date=2020-02-27 |access-date=2017-11-21 |website=speakingjs.com}} websites could contain logic, allowing for interactivity.{{Cite journal |last=Fahad |first=Md Amir Hossain |last2=Chowdhury |first2=Redoyan |last3=Hasan-Al–Shabbir |date=2022-05-19 |title=Evolution and Future Trends in Web Development: A Comprehensive Review |url=https://pathfinderpub.com/index.php/pathfinder-of-research/article/view/35 |journal=Pathfinder of Research |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=13–13 |doi=10.69937/pf.por.3.1.35 |issn=3007-3863}} The following year [CSS](/source/CSS) was released,{{cite web |title=Cascading Style Sheets, level 1 |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-CSS1-19990111 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409234430/https://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-CSS1-19990111 |archive-date=2014-04-09 |access-date=2014-03-07 |publisher=World Wide Web Consortium}} allowing greater control over the styling of web pages. In 1999, the term ''Web 2.0'' was coined by [Darcy DiNucci](/source/Darcy_DiNucci).{{cite journal |last=DiNucci |first=Darcy |year=1999 |title=Fragmented Future |url=http://darcyd.com/fragmented_future.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Print |volume=53 |issue=4 |page=32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110143942/http://darcyd.com/fragmented_future.pdf |archive-date=2011-11-10 |access-date=2011-11-04}} The term later resurfaced in the early 2000s,{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Graham (programmer) |date=November 2005 |title=Web 2.0 |url=http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010024704/http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html |archive-date=2012-10-10 |access-date=2006-08-02 |quote=I first heard the phrase 'Web 2.0' in the name of the Web 2.0 conference in 2004.}} as websites started to increase in complexity, requiring [server-side](/source/server-side) services in addition to JavaScript. This led to the emergence of various new [programming language](/source/programming_language)s and [frameworks](/source/Framework_(computer_science)) designed for [backend](/source/Backend_(computing)) services, such as [PHP](/source/PHP), [Active Server Pages](/source/Active_Server_Pages), and [Jakarta Server Pages](/source/Jakarta_Server_Pages). This enabled websites to do additional server-side processing, such as accessing [database](/source/database)s.{{Cite journal |last=Shukla |first=Devendra Kumar |last2=Maurya |first2=Akash |last3=Pal |first3=Madhav |last4=Shivahare |first4=Basu Dev |title=A Survey on Exploring the Evolution and Trends of Web Development |url=https://www.authorea.com/doi/full/10.36227/techrxiv.23976048.v1?commit=8cacb5f6d16fff639067ac0b5ff426b909a1a674 |journal=Authorea Preprints |doi=10.36227/techrxiv.23976048|doi-access=free }} Another shift in web development was the release of the [iPhone](/source/iPhone_(1st_generation)) in 2007. This created a new medium for accessing the web, requiring a new approach to web development, and resulting in [responsive web design](/source/responsive_web_design),{{Cite web |last=Momunaliev |first=Adilet |date=31 October 2025 |title=How has web development transformed in the last 20 years? |url=https://www.cuinsight.com/how-has-web-development-transformed-in-the-last-20-years/ |website=cuinsight.com}} which allows a single website to appear different depending on the device running it.{{cite web |last=Marcotte |first=Ethan |date=May 25, 2010 |title=Responsive Web design |url=http://www.alistapart.com/articles/responsive-web-design/ |work=A List Apart}} Later, [progressive web app](/source/progressive_web_app)s were introduced, allowing websites to be installed on a device as an independent application.{{Cite web |title=Progressive Web Apps {{!}} Software AG |url=https://techradar.softwareag.com/technology/progressive-web-apps/ |access-date=2020-09-25 |website=techradar.softwareag.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323074519/https://techradar.softwareag.com/technology/progressive-web-apps/ |archive-date=2025-03-23}} In the 2010s, [JavaScript frameworks](/source/Web_framework) began to emerge, creating new ways to manipulate web pages, and increasing compatibility between [web browser](/source/web_browser)s. [JQuery](/source/JQuery) was popular in the early 2010s, but was later surpassed by other frameworks such as [React](/source/React_(software)) and [Vue.js](/source/Vue.js).{{Cite web |last=Morehead |first=Jason |date=2026-01-22 |title=jQuery Turns 20 |url=https://opus.ing/posts/jquery-turns-20 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Opus |language=en}} In the mid 2020s, use of [AI](/source/AI) became prevalent among web developers, with the 2025 [Stack Overflow](/source/Stack_Overflow) survey showing over 80% of developers saying the use AI at least monthly in their development process.{{Cite web |last=Kundariya |first=Harikrishna |date=2025-07-18 |title=Can AI Replace Web Developers: A Practical Look at Current Tools and Limitations |url=https://www.sitepoint.com/can-ai-replace-web-developers/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=www.sitepoint.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=AI {{!}} 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/ai |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=survey.stackoverflow.co |publisher=[Stack Overflow](/source/Stack_Overflow) |language=en}} ==See also== * [Outline of web design and web development](/source/Outline_of_web_design_and_web_development) * [Web design](/source/Web_design) * [Web development tools](/source/Web_development_tools) * [Web application development](/source/Web_application_development) * [Web developer](/source/Web_developer) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Authority control}} Category:Web development Category:Software development Category:Website management Category:World Wide Web Category:Web applications --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Web development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_development) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_development?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.