Since its inception in 1983, the internet has grown to include over 1.58 billion websites and approximately 5 billion daily active users. Over the years, website development has changed and evolved, and it continues to do so. You should be informed of evolving trends in website creation as a website developer. Failure to keep up with changing trends will have a detrimental influence on the company’s bottom line. There’s also the risk of slipping behind your competition and losing traffic to sites that provide superior experiences. The greatest method to stay competitive in your business area is to develop and maintain your website’s performance in line with current trends.
Stuart Morris developed the world’s first single-page web application in 2002. This influenced web development patterns and led to the creation of frameworks such as Angular, Node, and React. Web development innovation has never slowed, and new trends and technology are released on a daily basis to make websites more dynamic, user-friendly, interactive, and fast. Let’s have a look at some of the most key developments that will drive the website development business forward in the coming years.
- Dark mode
- AI chatbots
- Progressive Web applications (PWA)
- Accelerated Mobile Page (AMP)
- Single Page Applications
- Voice Search Optimization
- Motion UI
- Serverless architecture
- Mobile-friendly development
- Automation testing
- Multi – experience
- Web assembly
Dark mode
This idea was launched a few years earlier, but the wave began in 2020 and lasted until 2021 when it became a widespread web development trend. The dark mode is essentially a color scheme in which the website has a darker backdrop and the texts and other UI components are presented in a lighter hue. This tendency is taken into account by all applications (mobile and web).
According to surveys, the majority of users prefer dark mode to light mode. Users can choose between dark and light modes from the settings according to their preferences. Some systems, on the other hand, make dark mode the only color theme available. Whatever method is used, there is little doubt that the dark mode will be a much-requested feature among all developers worldwide. Dark mode adapters include Apple, Google, YouTube, and Instagram, to name a few.
Benefits of dark mode
- Reduces eye strain, especially in low-light conditions.
- Consumers have less power in the dark mode rather than the light mode.
- Helpful for people with visual problems.
- Low blue light emission when the dark mode is activated.
AI chatbots
Do you know how these bots will aid in the development of websites? It is envisaged that bots will become self-learning and respond to the demands and wants of individual users. Through natural language processing, machine learning, and data retrieval technologies, AI-enabled chatbots have become more adaptable in meeting users’ matching expectations. Chatbots powered by AI can help organizations grow while also improving the user experience. They can gather data, resolve issues, respond quickly to inquiries, and provide a seamless digital experience. As a result, many competent B2C businesses use chatbots on social media platforms like Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook to assist their customers. More enterprises are expected to use AI-enabled chatbots, and industries such as banking, travel, education, and healthcare will benefit from the trend. The AI-powered bots can solve problems around the clock, provide detailed consumer behavior statistics, and provide an immersive human-like experience. The following are some of the advantages of employing AI-powered chatbots:
- Easy website developments by replacing navigational website elements.
- Deliver exceptional user experience.
- Application development as chatbots is integrated with messengers.
Progressive Web applications (PWA)
PWA will replace web pages with a good impact, which is not a new trend for developers. A Progressive Web Application (PWA) is a sort of web application created with basic web technologies such as HTML and JavaScript. PWAs speed up the loading of websites and can even be used offline in apps like Google Maps. This application can be used on any device that has a web browser. PWAs are used by Starbucks, Uber, Pinterest, and Twitter, to name a few. Mobile devices accounted for 54% of global internet traffic as of 2021. It is critical to converting web applications into PWAs as the use of smartphones and tablets for various online tasks grows.
Even when users are offline or on an unreliable network, PWA provides a fast experience. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, or Angular is expected to be utilized to create PWAs in the next few years. Many web design firms around the world have begun to offer PWA solutions to their clients. Starbucks and Spotify are two companies that use PWAs. PWAs provide features like push notifications and offline access to cached material in addition to offering a good user experience. The following are some of the benefits of utilizing PWA in web development:
- Creating an immersive user experience.
- Increasing user engagement and conversion rates.
- Comparatively low costs.
- Can be used without depending on app distribution services like Appstore or Play.
- Saves device storage and power.
- Offers installation automatic updating features.
Accelerated Mobile Page (AMP)
AMP is a similar concept to PWA and is one of the newest website development trends. It was first introduced by Google in 2015 with the goal of providing a consistent user experience and lowering bounces rates. Google’s AMP can help improve key business indicators like the amount of web page conversions. Since 2020, the use of AMP has been on the rise, and it is still the most widely utilized mobile technology on the planet. This technology is used on 35% of websites that use mobile technologies, as well as over 10,000 of the most popular websites.
AMPs, in contrast to full-featured online products, are pages that load quickly and have a simple and intuitive design. The pages become mobile-friendly, which improves content readability. The AMP plugins allow users to access pages at varying speeds depending on their internet connection. Organizations can reduce UX expenditures while boosting reachability. Smaller, niche-oriented products will be forced to compete with market giants as a result of this. AMP sites load in roughly 2 seconds, compared to up to 22 seconds for traditional web pages. Early adopters of this technology include CNBC and The Washington Post. The advantages of taking AMP are as follows:
- Easy optimization for search engines.
- Low bounce rates.
- Adjusts to any browser.
Single Page Applications
A Single Page Application is a type of web application that does not require reloading while being used in a browser. It gives a seamless experience for the users. These are JavaScript-based web apps that load a single HTML page into a visitor’s browser and dynamically update the content without having to refresh the page. The developers chose SPA because it is quick to load and has a higher possibility of keeping consumers’ interest than other technologies. This technology not only gives more information than standard websites, but it also keeps people engaged. The single–pages are feature-rich and may function without the requirement of server-side programming or API technologies.
SPAs have been a popular tool among developers, and tech companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, PayPal, and Netflix were among the first to adopt the trend. It takes up less space and gives consumers information on a single page, eliminating the need for additional navigation. In the following years, this tendency is projected to continue. SPA Advantages:
- Better SEO optimization features.
- Less complex implementation and debugging.
- Better reusability and caching.
Voice Search Optimization
The process of improving web pages for voice search is known as voice search optimization. This trend was first launched by Google in 2011, and it has grown in popularity since then. Voice-recognition gadgets are becoming increasingly popular in today’s fast-paced society, and advanced technologies such as voice assistants and the Internet of Things are on the rise. According to Truelist Co. research, over 58% of consumers throughout the world use voice assistants, and this number is expected to rise in the future years. By 2023, it is expected that 8 billion digital voice assistants will be in use.
Since 2019, intelligent virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri have experienced remarkable market growth, which is projected to continue in the demanding digital world. Customers get the finest user experience from Google since it can help them rank better in the SERPs. Having a voice-optimized search will assist the company in staying ahead of the competition. Technology is continuously evolving, and in the near future, technology will be able to recognize different people’s voices and provide a personalized AI-based experience. The following are some of the advantages of using Voice Search Optimization in site development:
- Makes local SEO campaigns more effective.
- Can answer customer queries quickly.
- Develop more trust and increase customer loyalty.
Motion UI
Motion UI is a front-end framework for creating completely responsive websites. Developers can use the technology to create motion within native apps. Because today’s consumers seek richer and more engaging experiences in addition to speedier and mobile-friendly experiences, Motion UI has gained traction in the digital world. A website must not only give the information that the user seeks, but it must also be visually appealing. Users are more likely to pay attention to websites that are attractive. Motion UI’s technology makes things look beautiful, intuitive, and user-friendly.
Motion UI’s framework can be used to create an element slide, spin, bounce, transition, and many other things. To keep things simple, the framework uses custom animation integration and CSS transitions from SAAS libraries, as well as a variety of animated elements. Motion UI assists in the creation of a simple interface that will take users through an entertaining experience. It is one of the most important web development trends since it makes a user interface design faster and easier. Motion UI will be in higher demand in 2022 and the following years. Using Motion UI has a number of benefits, including:
- Easy to implement: There is no need for expertise in JavaScript or jQuery libraries.
- Makes web design more effective by helping users find the exact information they are looking for.
- Enables prototyping of animated elements at a faster pace.
Serverless architecture
The world has been looking for a solution to deal with system overloading, data loss, and development costs. This pursuit has led to the development of technologies that do not require the use of servers. On cloud technologies, the serverless architecture allows customers to run code for nearly any form of application or backend service with zero administration. The introduction of WFH shifts has raised the demand for cloud SaaS solutions. The Web, as one of the fastest-growing areas, has seen a surge in demand for server-less design. According to Flexera’s State of the Cloud Report, 99% of businesses use one or more private or public clouds. This demonstrates that cloud computing is the way of the future for web development.
Programmers construct and execute web apps without thinking about servers in server-less development. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are just a few of the organizations that use and provide serverless architecture. By 2025, the global serverless architecture market is anticipated to reach $21.1 billion. Chatbots, IoT, and APIs are examples of popular technologies that use server-less operations to execute tasks such as downloading file backups, providing notifications, and exporting objects, among others. The following are some of the benefits of employing a server-less architecture in web development:
- Less computing power and human resources.
- More time to focus on UX
- Easy server management
Mobile-friendly development
The rapid growth of mobile users explains why the mobile-first approach to web development will influence the future of the industry. Experts estimate that roughly three-quarters of worldwide eCommerce sales are completed on mobile devices. The importance of a mobile-friendly approach to web development is stated in this statement. Many developers have used this strategy for years, yet the definition of “mobile-friendly” is continually changing. It includes integrating geolocation data to provide highly tailored experiences to consumers, allowing one-click ordering on e-commerce apps, and implementing biometric identification such as fingerprint scanning or voice recognition, among other technologies, in today’s technologically advanced world.
Automation testing
To achieve greater efficiency, automation testing entails executing software testing with minimal or no human input. Testing is an important component of web development, especially when it comes to ensuring a product’s quality before it is delivered. In 2022 and beyond, the conventional manual testing process will not be sufficient to keep up with online development. Developers can complete difficult projects with a small team by automating the development steps. Test automation, on the other hand, assists them in determining whether the product is ready for deployment by increasing test coverage and transparency.
Automation testing can assist the development team in gathering test cases, learning from them, and reducing development time and cost (up to 20%). What is the rationale for automating web development testing? The explanation is simple: as the digital world becomes more competitive, businesses must produce higher-quality products faster. Selenium and Eggplant are two of the tools we utilize in our development. The following are some of the advantages of automated testing in web development:
- Code reusability i.e. the codes are modularized, and thus can be used again when required.
- 24*7 accessibility without monitoring.
- Software tests can focus on more complex things.
Multi – experience
The entire user experience with a single application across numerous digital touchpoints – such as websites, apps, chatbots, wearable devices, and so on – is referred to as multi-experience. The goal of this technology is to provide a consistent and smooth user experience. Multi-experience is currently one of the most in-demand trends. As new technologies emerge, smart devices include more than just smartphones, tablets, and laptops; they also include smartwatches, AR/VR modules, voice assistants, and other IoT-integrated devices.
You should opt for multi-experience, where you can communicate with your clients across all devices they are likely to use, in addition to having a dynamic website that adapts to common devices. In 2022, focusing on developing a multi-experience application can help you become the best firm in your field. Oracle, Appian, Salesforce, and Microsoft are some of the platforms that use multi-experience. Early adopters of this approach include Google Home and ALEXA. The following are some of the ways that multi-experience can help with web development:
- Developers will have access to a variety of front-end tools and back-end services that will help to satisfy all requirements and the technology will enable speedy and scalable development across devices.
- It’s based on low-code frameworks, giving developers more flexibility over deployment.
Web assembly
Web Assembly is a powerful solution that tries to tackle web application performance difficulties. It’s a new language that works in conjunction with JavaScript in the browser. Web Assembly is a high-level language that can speed up the execution of any code, regardless of its programming language. This is not a replacement for JavaScript; rather, it was created to address poor performance issues caused by JavaScript computations. Because Web Assembly uses a binary coding format, it is extremely powerful and fast. It’s also used for computing without a server. AutoCAD and Figma are two companies that have adopted this practice. Web Assembly is becoming more popular in fields such as web games, online editors, and interactive apps. The advantages of Web Assembly are as follows:
- It can run on any web browser, so can be accessed from anywhere.
- Possible to run code at near-native speed.
- It supports multiple programming languages.
Wrap up
Customers’ expectations and demands are constantly evolving, as are website development trends. The latest developments are centered on improving the user experience on the most often used devices, which are mostly mobile smartphones. It could be used by some businesses to improve the user experience on smart wearables or future gadgets. Trends come and go, and it is up to the developer to choose the one that best suits their project. It is not always easy to keep up with the current market trends. We shall witness new trends and technology in our development in 2022 and beyond. Keeping up with these trends can help you provide a better user experience and increase client engagement. The more visitors to your site, the more business you’ll grow and the more competitive you’ll be.