Web Development Evolution 2021

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Over halfway through 2021, the future of web development continues to be influenced by the Internet of Things (IoT). Advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the growing use of Voice Search, the continued importance of Mobile-friendly design, more dependence on cloud-based architecture, and the increasing necessity of cyber-security, continue to grow in importance.

2021 has introduced a few new buzzwords into the nomenclature of current web development techniques. Progressive Work Application (PWA), Single-page Application (SPA), and Motion UI, seem to be emerging in relevance.

Though not necessarily new in concept, here is brief synopsis of 5 recently introduced web development trends.

  1. Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)

    Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web apps that use service workers, manifests, and other web-platform features in combination with progressive enhancement to give users an experience on par with native apps.

    Benefits of Progressive Web Applications:

    • Reduced development and support costs;
    • Quicker launch to the market;
    • Easier distribution;
    • Smooth installation;
    • Saving device power and storage;
    • Seamless maintenance and updating.

    PWAs provide a number of advantages to users by being installable, progressively enhanced, responsively designed, re-engageable, linkable, discoverable, network independent, and secure.

    Why should you care about progressive web apps?

    According to Ericsson’s research, global mobile data traffic is projected to become 4.5x larger and reach a monthly amount of 226 EB in 2026. It means that people will start using their mobile devices more to satisfy different needs. By 2026, 5G networks will carry 54% of total mobile data traffic that will provide faster and more responsive mobile services.

    Ab important aspect s of building a PWA is creating a UX/UI design that emphasizes user experience. Progressive web apps should be as close as possible to native apps in their look and feel, and it is important to create intuitive UX and visually-appealing UI design.

  2. Single-page Applications (SPAs)

    Single-page apps (SPA) remain one of the most important current technology trends in web development. A SPA is a JavaScript-based web application. It avoids loading separate HTML pages from a server to show a certain page to a visitor. Instead, a SPA loads only markup and data to dynamically render them on a single web page.

    Using this latest website development technology, visitors feel like they browse a single page for all their needs. Among the most famous single-page applications, we can mention Gmail, Google Drive, Facebook, and Twitter. Besides, SPA technology can boast of great cross-platform nature as it is supported by most devices.

    The main benefits of SPAs include:

    • Simplified and streamlined development;
    • Increased performance;
    • Reduced interferences related to page reloading.
    • A perfect choice when you create responsive websites with the support of mobile, tablet & desktop apps. The latest developments on SPAs are made using React library that make it functional and suitable for hybrid apps.

    All this makes single-page applications one of the top web development trends as of 2021.

  3. Motion UI

    A website shouldn’t only have all of the information someone is searching for; it should also be aesthetically pleasing. Increasing emphasis is being placed on the user interface, and motion UI is the next stage ripe for explosion.

    When a user visits a website, they don’t want to have to wonder where to go. Motion design helps create an intuitive interface that guides users, telling them what to do and where to focus on the page.

    Motion UI involves the use of visual cues and makes it possible for web applications to respond to users, creating a more fluid and enjoyable user experience.

  4. Serverless Architecture

    2020 was marked by the enforced work-from-home shift due to the spread of Covid-19. That is why cloud SaaS solutions have expanded even more during this year. And the Web, as one of the most rapidly evolving domains, documented a large increase in the demand for serverless architecture.

    The State of the cloud report by Flexera states that 98% of enterprises use at least one public or private cloud. It only proves that cloud architecture is one of the main future trends in web development.

    Serverless computing, being one of the most interesting current web trends, can boast of many benefits. The main advantages of this approach are as follows:

    • Enhanced scalability;
    • Faster time-to-market;
    • Cost-effectiveness;
    • Delegated maintenance.

    Serverless development implies that programmers build and run their web apps without a need to think about servers. In fact, these apps still run on servers, but they are supported by cloud providers.

    This way, the business logic of serverless software systems is executed by the provider, and the same goes with server management. Among the serverless computing services providers, we should mention Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.

  5. API-first Development

    As new applications and technologies emerge, the need to connect these technologies continues to increase. New IoT devices, web interfaces, and software tools all contain APIs that enable them to connect to each other.

    Previously, many developers may have focused on the product first and then treated the fact that it needed to be connected to other devices as an afterthought. However, APIs are now front and center as companies look for ways to increase interconnectivity.

    API-first development puts the user first and has other benefits, such as allowing development teams to work in parallel, reducing app development costs, and increasing speed to market.

    Not to mention, an API-first design enables new products and interfaces to become potential avenues for content delivery. For example, with an API-first CMS, what might have been just an application for a mobile device can now be used in kiosks, smart cars, and other areas.

References:

10 Web Development Trends Every CTO Should Expect in 2021.

The Latest Trends in Web Development to Follow in 2021.

Image source: “tileMoonlightPrint” – Jared Tarbell, http://levitated.net.

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