There are a lot of people who use “web design” and “web development” interchangeably, but in reality, these are two very different skill sets and responsibilities. If you are someone who wants to better understand web design and development, or perhaps you want to hire someone in the industry, it is essential for you to know what you are looking for. Knowing the difference between Web Design and Web Development will help you understand more about the services you need for your business website.
Web Design
Web Designers are the people who are the visual designers who are involved with the graphics aspect of a website. Designers are responsible for making your site attractive to your target audience. Designers determine the appropriate font, colours, and layout that should be used in your website. These are vital factors that can website visitors. They are responsible for the “front-end” of your landing page. When you hire a web designer, they will help you to build an attractive website that people will enjoy looking at. Often, they will also consider the user engagement experience of your website too.
Web Development
Web development involves two categories- the front-end and back-end development. They may overlap, but both serve different purposes.
A front-end designer takes the visual plan of a site and builds it in code. This kind of developer will then use HTML for the structure of the site. For layout and visual styles, CSS is used or Javascript.
When it comes to advanced interactions and programming on web pages, it is the back-end developer that handles that area. They focus on how the website works and individual functionality. This usually involves using codes that interfaces with a database.
You need to know what you are looking for web design or web development. The skills you that you hire for can have a significant impact in determining the outcome of the website that you want. For smaller sites, a web designer or front-end developer is likely sufficient. If it is for bigger projects and site, you may need a whole team that will cover all aspects of creating a website. In Toronto, check out The Story for your web development needs.
