11 Steps of Web Application Development

Web application development is the process of developing web application programs. In other words, the Web application has become a vital tool for business day by day.

Nowadays we can not imagine us without the web. Whenever we face any problem - we find its solutions through the web.

The web application is a major part of this web field. We can manage our regular work at ease through the web application.

Life is going so easily day by day. Web application makes any web-based work easy to do and at comfort.

It does not depend only on the coding process. It depends on a short life cycle lead by a small development team.

A web application does not need to download. The user can access a web application through a web browser. They can access through Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox etc.

Now, we will take a look at how the general web development process works.

Website Development Timeline

At first, we need to establish our goals and purposes.

Web application development time frame depends on two major facts. First one is price and the second one is time.

These two values are depended on the size of the project.
If the project is small it will take less time. Maybe two or three months depends on clients demand. If the website is large it will take more time.

Website Development Life Cycle

Essential steps of web application development given below:

Step 1 - Collecting or Gathering Information

What is the main purpose of the website?

We have to find it out. Without purpose, we can not reach our goal. For achieving a goal, we need to do research and have to discover the exact next step.

Need to determine how could we collect informative information shortly?

At this stage, the most important part is to get a clear idea of our future website purpose.

Why do we want to develop the website? What are the main goals of these projects? Who will be our audience?

We have to gather these types of basic information. We have to be sure about our purpose and goals of that website. Otherwise, we failed to achieve our targeted audience.

Step 2 - Target Audience

We have to focus on our target audience.

Who would be our audience? Which users are searching for these types of product?

Firstly, we have to find out different types of audience. Have to generate ideas about their gender and age. Also, the percentage of initial, average and advanced users.

How many audiences are capable of web access?

Statistics define that - the targeted audience can access to the internet. Can access to the intranet. And multi-level extranet.

Now, arise a question about the level of security(??)

Risk statistics vary from security to security. But in order to get maximum protection, we need to use security in the application.

Risk statistics define that - security needs to be integrated based on various area.

Those areas can be-

- Security breaches.
- Fraud level.
- Or the user’s nature.

Displaying potential visitors depends on a report of a temporary time frame.

The main goals are to get the target audience. We want to attract them through our site.

Different types of the website provide different types of functional activity. We need to specify - What the audience wants? What types of functional activity do they prefer? from this application.

Once we can predict our majority of audiences, we will be able to achieve our goals.

Step 3 - Planning for the Application

In this phase, the developer creates the data for the customer. Here customer has an option to review the site. The customer gets that chance to judge the site.

This information comes from the previous phase. We need to create a sitemap based on previously gathered information. Sitemap describes the relationship between main areas of the website.

This description represents the usability of the final product.

Step 4 - App's UI Flow Planning

At this moment, we have a proper idea for our app and how our apps look. Also, the elements which are working on it.

That way a user can easily interact with our app.

So It’s time to figure out the app’s UI flow. From here a user can adapt the flow of work. They will be able to image these steps -

- The app’s - start to end the process.
- Every scenario of the coming app.
- Every step they have to take.
- Have to include all actions that a user can take from the flowchart.

From that flowchart, a user can visualize the whole process. If the app requires users to log in, how do they create an account? If they forget the password, how will they recover it?

As an overview, the app should be simple and fair. If the diagram or flow is easy to look at, it will make a whole lot of sense. The diagram should not be massive.

Step 5 - Select tools to get started

We are planning to make a web app. For this, we need some helping kit. Only then we will be able to complete our project in less time frame.

We can use some popular tools-

- HTML5Boilerplate and Bootstrap are popular front-end templates for the application.
- Gulp or Grunt use for task management.
- Bower for dependency management.

We have many awesome resources on the internet, which makes our development easy.

Step 6 - Design

One of the most difficult and critical stage of web app development. We have to start with a visual guide or sketch of a UI.

For designing, need to follow this way -

- Need to sketch of UI.
- Need to approve the interface and interaction models.
- Implement the design.
- Review the layout.
- Get the client’s feedback.
- Change the layout when required.

Website layouts result depends on the designer’s work.

Step 7 - Content Writing

Content plays a major role in a web application. We can not give it any less priority. Content can uphold the main purpose of the website.

Without content, many major concepts will be invisible. It is impossible to predict the main word of the web app.

In this phase, we need to create quality content for the web app.

Step 8 - Coding

In this step, we create a website. We have a graphics interface. We need to implement it on the actual website.

Need to start with the home page. Then eventually implement to the other subpage.

Coding phase depends on -

- Create a web application’s architecture.
- Create a framework.
- Design the database structure.
- Develop the module, classes, and libraries.
- Implement the whole functional work.

Step 9 - Check Responsive Design

Once finished developing the product, we need to review the full website app.

We need to check cross-browser utility. For every device, we need to check the website.

Need to check the design of the full website. And need to check, whether all functional work is perfect or not!

Step 10 - Testing, Review, and Launch

Testing is the most important routine process of web app development. It depends on QA testing and bug fixing.

We have to ensure that, every link, forms, scripts are errorless.

Need to use code validation for a current web standard. Need to check spell-checker for content. Also, cross-browser utility checking is necessary.

After confirming check and re-check, it's time to upload it to a server. After deploying the files, we should run it for another final test. We have to confirm that, files are installed without any error.

Step 11 - Maintenance

It times to remember that a website is a service than a product. It’s not just limited to delivering the product.

We should make sure that it is working perfectly. We can not afford to disappoint our clients. Our highest priority should be the client. So we need to satisfy them.

We need to keep our website up to date. If we develop it by any CMS, It needs regular updates. Regular update prevent bugs. And also helps to decrease the security risks.

Conclusion

Web development project doesn’t start with just coding. And it doesn’t end with the launch the website.

It has some phases. We should follow those phases. This phase preparation depends on all subsequent stages. It defines how productive the development process will be.

Hopefully, this blog provided a lot of valuable information for all. Anyone can easily gather knowledge about web apps development through this article.