If you’re like most of us, you’ve been using the Web for a while. But have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes when you’re working on the Web? Have you ever wondered about the various web technologies working to give you a seamless and superior experience? Probably not…Well, this guide will tell you more about all of the different web technologies as well as what the future holds…
But first, let’s talk a little bit about the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web, or simply the Web, is a global information medium which users can read and write via computers connected to the Internet. The term is often mistakenly used for the Internet itself, but the two are different. The Web is a service that operates over the Internet, just as email does.
According to Microsoft, web technologies include the following:
- Mark-up languages, such as HTML, CSS, XML, CGI, and HTTP (Front-end or Client-side technologies).
- Programming languages and technologies that help create applications for the web. Some of these are Perl, C#, Java, Visual Basic, and .NET (Back-end or Server-side technologies)
- Web server and server technologies that enable request handling on a network, where different users have to share the same resources and communicate with each other
- Databases, which are extremely important for data and information storage on a computer network
- Business applications that are customized for specific execution of tasks on a network
There are several programming languages and technologies for the Web. Some of the most popular websites, ranging from Google to YouTube and from Amazon to twitter are built using these server-side technologies. The latter include ASP.NET, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, PERL, Python, PHP, Ruby, and more. We shall discuss the most popular current website technologies in this guide. So, without further ado, let’s begin…
The top website technologies
- HTML5: If you know this programming language, knowing all the others is a walk in the park. This recent addition to the HTML family is very equipped and potent in assisting in web development activities.
- JavaScript: This programming language lets you make communication for your website. It was developed by Netscape and borrows a lot of its syntax from the C language. Using JavaScript, you can manage your browser, edit content on a document, let client-side scripts interact with users, and also enable asynchronous communication. JavaScript is generally used for including animations on web pages, loading new images, scripts or objects onto a web page, and creating extremely receptive user interfaces.
- Java: This is the top programming language in the industry and is currently the perfect language for web development. Created by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s, this language is not platform dependent, so using Java and creating Java-based applications is extremely easy.
- PHP: This stands for PHP Hypertext Processor. It is one of the widely-used languages for web development and was created in 2004. It is an HTML-embedded scripting language and is useful for creating dynamic web pages. Using this language you can expand a web app very quickly. This language has been used to create websites such as WordPress, Digg, and Facebook.
- Python: This is an advanced programming language and is used for creating websites and mobile apps. It is very flexible and has a broad range of applications. It can run on both Linux and Windows-based servers. Some of the sites powered by Python include Instagram and Pinterest, both social media sites.
- Ruby: This is a user-friendly language for beginners. It is used for the programming of mobile apps and websites. Created in 1993, Ruby is an open-source platform that is not only easy to understand, but also to write. For those who are interested in creating small business software or for those who are into creative designing, Ruby is the perfect programming language.
- .NET: This was created by Microsoft in the year 2000. Though it is used primarily in systems running on Windows, this language is used in scientific research and academic fields, thereby more than making up for this feature.
- Perl: This is an interpreted script language and presents unique tools for system programming.
- C: This is a standard programming language created in the 1970s. It is appreciated for its efficiency and is known for writing system software. It is also used for writing applications. This language can be easily compiled by using a simple compiler. It support cross-platform programming.
- C++: This is an intermediary programming language, initially designed to boost the C language. Created in the year 1979, it is a very powerful language, and is used in very important operating systems, such as Windows.
- C#: This is a multi-paradigm programming language and is a general-purpose language, used to build up software for the Microsoft and Windows platforms.
- SQL: This stands for Structured Query Language and is a necessary part of web development. Using this language, web developers can obtain data from large and multifaceted databases.
What the future holds
These are the top 12 website programming languages and technologies. However, many web developers attest that JavaScript is the future of web development. This is because it is the standard scripting language in our browsers for the foreseeable future. However, with Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 a distinct reality, it is possible that a programming language that is not one of the above 12 will rule the roost in the future.
Also, mobile technology will becoming increasingly popular, with more and more websites becoming responsive and mobile-enabled. Another application will be the proliferation of social media sites, with one or more of these programming languages being used to power these sites.
So, now you know all about the different website technologies and how they are powering the Web. If you’re a programmer, there has never been a better time to work in web development. With website technologies evolving by the day, the field is increasingly becoming not only more popular but also more exciting, with newer websites being created all the time. Here’s to a seamless World Wide Web experience for everyone!