With fast-paced digitalization, web applications are becoming the lifeline for businesses that want to stay ahead of their competitors. But how an idea is converted into a tangible software product with a well-proved track record of excellent service delivery? What is the web development process? What are the steps involved in the web application development? If you know the answer to such questions, you are right place.
Scroll down, and you will have all of your questions answered simply.
Let’s get started!
What Are Web Applications?
Before we move ahead to hit the nail, it would be a good idea to look at what web application is and why all businesses are striving to lay a hand on them.
Web applications or web apps are often designed as interactive programs built with the help of various technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Web applications are designed and implemented to provide specific functionalities and features to users over the Internet.
They are different from traditional desktop applications that are installed locally on computers, web applications can only be accessed through a browser over the internet.
Types of Web Applications:
They are of multiple types including but not limited to:
-
- Static Web Applications
- Dynamic Web Applications
- E-Commerce Applications
- Social Networking Applications
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Web Portals
- Online Banking and Financing Applications
- Web-based Gaming Applications
Some Examples of Web Applications:
- Google Docs
- Netflix
- Amazon
- Social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. TikTok
- Spotify
- Evernote
And the list goes on.
Web Application Development Process
Now we move to our main topic of discussion which is how to build a web application from scratch. Is there any easiest way to build a web app? Yes, there are. We are going to enlist 12 steps that enable web developers to make a web application easily and quickly. But one should be careful while building apps as a minor act of negligence or omission may cost you dearly. Ready?
Here you go!
Step #1: Validation and Sourcing of An Idea:
You first need to define a problem and narrow down the purpose for which you want to build a web app. You should be thinking from the perspective of your customers. You first need to identify the problem and solution.
It would be better if you take into loop those who are facing or faced such problem. Discuss with them, and share your idea as to how the app is going to tackle the problem. This is the most important step in the web app development process.
If you are satisfied that your idea will streamline the work, and would be a great problem-solver, proceed to the next stage, which is market research.
Step #2: Market Research:
Market research is the second step in which you have to consider two things:
- There exists a market for your product or Product-Market Fit
- Is there any existing product similar to yours in the market?
How to conduct a market search?
There are multiple options and tools for giving enough information and data. For instance
- Simply Google the idea or service you want to work with, the results will show you whether a market and similar product is available or not.
- Use keywords linked with your idea in SEO tools such as Semrush or Ahrefs. In case, there is a lot of searches are being done against your keywords, there certainly a market available and you can tap it.
- Start searching for your target audience in social media groups, contact them, interview them, and get suggestions and feedback to further refine your idea.
- Use Google, Patent and Trademark Research, Betalist, and Product Hunt for determining whether any similar web app product exists in the market or not.
If there is no product, it is a masterstroke. You will be a pioneer. And if there is already a product, that is also great. Because your competitors have already established a market, educated the people. All you need is to dive in and steal the thunder.
After the market search, you will have enough information and data. This information will in return impact the functionality, price, design, promotion, and other aspects.
Now, after knowing that there is an established market for your idea, you can move into the third stage, which is a determination of web application features and functionalities.
Step #3: Determination of Functionalities of Web Application:
Now, the most important task. Define the list of functionalities that your web app will be capable of doing. A few points must be kept in mind in this regard,
- Don’t be carried away by the temptation to add endless features. You should remain focused on adding those features which directly address your target market problem.
- The more features you add, the longer a web takes to build. This will add to the frustration. Be straightforward.
Some basic functionalities that you should begin with:
- User Account
- User Log-in Feature
- Feature for retrieving lost user password or changing user password
- Option for adding referral code
- Payment options
- The unique functionality is related to the resolution of the target market problem.
Step #4: Designing Your Web Application (UX & UI)
Designing a web app is carried out in different stages. The first stage is sketching. You can use either a simple plain paper and pencil or you can a digital tool such as Balsamiq, Mockitt, etc. Now that you have information about the target audience and the features you will add to the app. You must now focus on sketching.
For sketching, here are some important tips.
- Branding, forms, buttons, social media icons, and other factors should be taken into account for a better User Experience;
- You should be clear about where texts, images, and other stuff would go;
- The sketch should be simple and only features should be added which are solutions to the target market problem. It is only for communication and experimentation, not for sale.
- Sketch all the pages in the web application and arrange the sheets in that order.
- Sketch different versions of the web app and determine how functionalities will impact the overall design of your web app.
Now, it is time for the next step. That is planning the workflow of your web app.
Step #5: Planning the Workflow of Your Web App:
Now it is time for deciding the workflow of your app. First, analyze the workflow of your competitors. Note down what is good and what is bad. Then make a list and make the different workflow of your app. You have to consider the following points while deciding the workflow.
- The procedure for user sign-up as well as sign-in
- Whether the user receives a verification email or not
- The payment method
- Procedure for changing user password and canceling a subscription
- And the like settings
These features would make your app multi-page applications. You should make a list of all pages that your app is going to have.
Step #6 Wireframing the Web App:
Building the wireframe or prototype is the next important step. Now you have to turn all your sketches and drawing into wireframes or prototypes.
Wireframe is also a sketch, but it is built on a computer with more details and structure. In other words, it is a blueprint of your web application that shows how your app will look like.
The prototype is one step further. Here you add more features to your wireframe and it displays how your web app will work.
You can deploy multiple tools for wireframing/prototyping. The most common are as follows:
- Sketch: it is used for detailed and vector-based design.
- Adobe XD: it is recommended tool for beginners
- Figma: it is a free tool used for wireframing
- Axure: This tool is used for advanced levels of prototyping.
- InVision Studio: It is a web-based prototyping tool used for building highly-interactive mockups for web applications.
Step #7: Early Validation Using Wireframe/Prototypes:
Now that you have built a prototype of your web application, it is time to get feedback by showing it to the world.
Getting feedback from your friend circles would not be enough. Show the app to your family and colleagues. Explore social media, and find your target audience. Select some representative users, and ask them to express their thoughts about the UX/UI and other functionality of your app.
Collect their feedback, pen it down, and incorporate their suggestions and feedback into the design to make your web app more user-friendly. And don’t forget to build some rapport with them. They could be your first customers.
Now, it is time to develop your web app.
Step #8: Building the Database:
Now you have a well-structured design and knowledge of how many numbers and functionalities your web application will have. It is time now to build a database.
Before you move to the development stage, you will have to decide which database technology you would prefer.
Database as the name implies the collection of data. This collection of data can be stored on a disk, in a cloud, or on a server. It will be data of users of your web application. And the protection of user data is the first and foremost priority of every web app developer.
For efficient management, organization, storage, retrieval, and interaction with a database, a tool named a Database Management System is used. DBMS offers multiple advantages such as enhanced security, easy and efficient maintenance of large databases, simplified data sharing, and the like.
DBMS are of different types. It is the type of data that will determine the ultimate choice of DBMS. Some common database management systems are:
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- SQLite
- Oracle
The most important thing: the protection and security of the database. You must practice best-industry procedures and SOPs for securing the database against unauthorized access.
Step #9: Frontend Development:
Frontend development is the client-side visual element of your web application. It determines what they see and interacts with. This involves coding, creating, and activating visuals and digital interfaces for your web applications based on client specifications and needs.
Before starting working on the front end, you have to decide which programming language you will use such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Then you have to decide on frameworks. Several front-end frameworks are employed nowadays such as
- React: It is a fast, easy-to-learn framework used for building user interfaces with reusable components.
- Angular: This is deployed for building single-page applications with a declarative and modular approach.
- js: this JavaScript-based framework is used for developing ambitious web applications
- Svelte: This framework is simple, fast, and reactive, and is used for turning declarative components into efficient JavaScript codes.
Step#10: Backend Development:
Unlike the client-side front-end, the backend is server-side where web app developers engage in data and server management. Backend development is generally considered one of the toughest and most challenging parts of web app development.
Back-end developers have to make sure that backend performs multiple tasks such as
- Authenticating users to verify them and preempt unauthorized access to app functions.
- Authorization to determine whether logged-in users are allowed to perform requested tasks.
- Provision of HTTP endpoints for the front end.
- Serving the front-end
Back-end developers use several programming languages, the most famous are PHP, Python, Node js, and more.
Similarly, the popular frameworks for backend development are Django, Flask, Express, Spring, and Laravel.
When you have completed the backend, your web app is ready. And you can see your idea in the form of a tangible real-time web application.
Next step? Host it.
Step#11: Hosting the Web Application:
Hosting involves running your web applications on some specific server. For web application hosting, you will have to perform the following tasks:
- Buying a domain name
- Buying an SSL certificate
- Selecting a cloud provider that could be Amazon, MS Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
After you have completed these hosting tasks, you will have everything you need, such as documentation, community support, and more.
Step#12: Deployment of Your Web App:
This is the last step. In this last stage of web application development, your app will go from your local storage control on your computer to a web hosting provider. How does it happen?
You can deploy many deployment tools for carrying out this vital task, such as:
- GitLab
- Bitbucket
- Jenkins
- Beanstalk
Here you go!
You are now a proud owner of a web application. Your web application is ready to go and use.