Introduction to Web Development

Introduction

Web development is the foundation of the internet, a vast and dynamic field that enables the creation of websites and applications. It's divided into front-end (client-side) and back-end (server-side) development. Understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is essential for anyone looking to become a web developer. These technologies allow for the creation of interactive, engaging websites and are the stepping stones to mastering web development.

Prerequisites

Basic computer literacy
Familiarity with the internet

Content

The Building Blocks of Web Development

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The skeleton of a website. Defines the structure and content.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): The styling layer. Controls the layout and appearance.
JavaScript: Adds interactivity. Makes websites dynamic and responsive to user actions.

Front-end vs. Back-end Development

Front-end Development: Focuses on the client side, dealing with everything users interact with directly in their web browser. It involves the design and development of interfaces using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Back-end Development: Manages the server side, including databases, servers, and applications. It ensures that data or services requested by the front end are delivered through application programming interfaces (APIs).

Hands-on Examples and Exercises

HTML: Create a basic webpage with paragraphs, headings, links, and images.
CSS: Style the webpage with different colors, fonts, and layouts.
JavaScript: Add a simple script to change a webpage's content based on user input.

Conclusion

This introduction to web development covers the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with an overview of front-end and back-end development. These fundamentals are crucial for anyone aspiring to become a web developer. Next, we'll dive deeper into HTML and CSS, exploring how to structure web pages and style them effectively.

Getting Started Building and Styling Web Pages