Considering stages of web application development, first of all, it’s worth dwelling on its main differences from a regular website. A web application is a special program that can be launched in any browser. All elements and components are displayed on the screen of a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or any other gadget, outwardly practically no different from a web page.
An important feature of this digital solution is that it contains not only content, but also various windows and functional buttons designed to perform certain actions. Social networks, online offices and enterprise management platforms, online stores, photo/video editors, educational products, booking and information collection systems, games, as well as many other services familiar to the modern user – all these are web applications.
They involve a more complex configuration compared to standard information resources, since here the user is not just a consumer of content, but a participant in the process, interacting with the company.
Each of these digital solutions consists of two parts: an external one, which opens in the browser at the moment the command is sent, and an internal one, located on the server and including all the data embedded in the program. The interface is created using programming languages such as Javascript, CSS, HTML, the server part is written based on Ruby, Python, PhP, Java and other technologies.
For a business, this option becomes an excellent opportunity to attract new customers, facilitate communication, implement an algorithm for ordering and receiving a service or product, provide feedback and perform a host of other tasks, significantly reducing the costs of creating and maintaining the system. Advantages for the client – no need to download and install the program, easy and quick launch, ease of use without any requirements for the device and its resources.
Applications open on all gadgets in different browsers, allow you to perform a wide range of tasks, and function correctly if developed correctly.
Basic stages of creating a web application:
- Planning – conducting research and collecting information, analyzing and creating a list of tasks.
- Design is the direct process of working on a project.
- Testing is a trial run to find and eliminate bugs, determine the need for improvement, etc.
- Launch is the final step, if successfully completed everything works stably.
A variety of specialists are working on the application, each of whom is responsible for their own front: analysts, UX/UI designers, front-end/back-end developers, testers, etc.
Analytics
Creating a web application begins with information collection and analysis – studio specialists study the company’s field of activity, business features, get acquainted with its values and goods/services, analyze competitors and their products. The main attention is paid to the target audience – a portrait of a potential user is formed, his preferences and requests are studied.
A briefing is held with the customer, during which all requirements and wishes for the future project are recorded, functions and algorithms are clearly defined. Here it is important to decide what goals the web application should fulfill – what business tasks it is needed to implement. This could be e-commerce (online store, marketplace, etc.), a game, a hotel/ticket booking system, a social network, etc.
Planning
Now the agency is working on documentation – it is selected technology for creating web applications, a detailed list of all elements is compiled, page or website styles are thought out for specific functions, and a team of specialists is formed who can do all this.
Programs can be single-page (SPA) or multi-page (MPA). You can make a simple MPV for specific tasks. It is also possible to use PWA, a progressive technology that transforms a website into a mobile application without interacting with markets, downloading and installing content.
The result of planning is a clear understanding of goals and objectives, a technical specification drawn up and approved, on the basis of which the budget is planned, and deadlines are set. Therefore, before prototyping, it is important to decide on the basic parameters, discuss every detail in detail and arrange everything accordingly.
Prototyping
Prototyping is definitely included inweb application design and is designed to visualize the idea: determine the structure of all components and elements, functionality, interface type, navigation. The customer gets the opportunity to understand how everything will look, understand the principle of the algorithm, make edits, refine or change something.
In addition, prototyping is necessary for:
- Checking the performance of the idea, testing, assessing prospects, analyzing compliance with the needs of the target audience and the ability to complete the tasks set by the business.
- Searching and detecting problem areas, making changes before full development begins, which significantly saves time and resources in the future.
- Creation and approval of the finished layout – a visual representation of the technical specifications, according to which the customer then accepts the work.
- The ability to accurately calculate the final price of work and the number of hours spent on it.
In the case of creating interesting startups, a prototype can become part of a presentation for future investors, clearly showing the advantages and features of the idea, the prospects of the idea for the implementation of which funds are being raised.
UX-design
Considering the application development stage, it is impossible to call just one the most important – everything is interconnected here: the professionalism of performing one of them affects both the subsequent steps and the entire project as a whole. The efforts of a UX design are aimed at designing the user experience – he comes up with how a visitor can interact with the algorithm and how easily he can take the desired action.
The level of detail can vary: from drawing sketches of screens and a few simple buttons to go to certain functions to auditing competitors and testing interfaces on target audience representatives with further processing of feedback.
UI design
The next step is for the UI designer to create a visual style. Once completed, it should be clear how the application will look and function. Using UX developments, the UI designer selects a suitable color scheme and fonts, develops icons and button designs, builds a grid, and draws screens and all elements in more detail.
Competent internet application development involves close interaction between UX and UI specialists, as the efforts of both are aimed at finding the best design solutions for the best final result. Design should be based on principles such as clarity and accessibility, consistency and consistency, ease of feedback, flexibility and responsiveness, aesthetics and visual appeal.
Readable and easy-to-understand fonts,not bright and eye-pleasing color schemes, adequate keyboard navigation, logical structure of content, consistency and simplicity of layout of elements – all this helps people with any level of cognitive development to use the program without any difficulties.
Frontend
A front-end developer creates the front end of the product. This is what clients can directly interact with: the interface, character input windows, buttons, navigation, animated elements, etc.
What is used in the frontend:
- CSS – is responsible for styling the page and everything located on it, setting the design (size, color, etc.) and visual appeal. Without CSS, everything would look like a bunch of diagrams and confusing symbols.
- HTML – determines the arrangement of elements on the page and relative to each other.
- JavaScript – helps to “revive” the space of the page, ensures the response of components to specified visitor actions. It is this technology that is responsible for pop-up messages when you hover the cursor over them, for the ability to drag and click, enter text, request commands, etc.
In addition, modern developers use frameworks, libraries, and other tools that allow them to achieve amazing results at minimal cost. But many of these technologies are based on the same solutions.
Adaptive design, rules for loading and displaying elements, clickability, the presence of animation, all kinds of components for interaction – all this is of key importance and is selected individually for each case.
Backend
Thoughtful functionality needs to be technically designed correctly – the backend developer is responsible for this. He decides how the application is connected to databases, how specific actions are carried out (paying for a training course, booking a hotel room, for example), and how adequately all processes are structured.
Back-end developers use various server-side languages (Java, Python, Golang, etc.), thanks to which they can build the necessary functionality and provide custom logic. In combination with server-side frameworks (Spring, Django, Laravel, etc.), these languages help to significantly simplify the process and make the final product scalable, easy to maintain, and efficient.
One of the required backend components is a database, which covers the issues of storing and managing all information. It can be relational or non-relational – the choice of option depends on the project parameters and its requirements. It is also important to take care of security – protecting collected confidential data, eliminating vulnerabilities, combating scripting attacks and SQL injections are implemented through solutions related to encryption, authorization, authentication, etc.
A backend specialist is responsible for the stable and correct functioning of the entire system, building connections between all its components, integration with certain services and services, structure and storage of information, logic of calculations and algorithms. And therefore, maximum attention is paid to the issue of internal architecture.
Testing
Local testing is one of the most important steps, the quality of which determines the final result. Specialists launch the product with careful monitoring of all processes and functions.
In this case, we are not talking about the usual user testing, during which simply clicks on buttons and navigates through pages. For a deep and comprehensive test, the tester must have basic knowledge of a whole range of methods and tools. First, a plan is drawn up, preparation is carried out, and suitable tools and automated tools are selected.
Testing can be regression, integration, load, performed automatically or manually, related to performance, databases, compatibility with browsers and gadgets, interface, web security, etc. All bugs found are corrected, solutions are improved if necessary. As a result, a report is generated.
Launching a web project
When all application development stages have passed, the product can be launched and presented to the customer and users. Despite the fact that everything is ready, specialists still have to perform certain work related to configuring servers, uploading the program to the hosting, setting it up and other operations.
Immediately after launch and debugging, the stability and correct functioning of the application is monitored. After making sure that everything works, the project is handed over to the customer. Now he needs to take care of providing support and maintenance, regular updates, and eliminating errors if they appear during operation. In addition, for many projects it is important to promote them in the services market.
Today web application development is one of the most popular destinations. With the development of information technology, businesses have to respond to many complex challenges: optimize processes, develop, change flexibly and use maximum opportunities to attract and retain customers. And a product created by professionals can be one of the effective ways to achieve your goals.