More than 40 years ago, the technology we all now call the Internet came into existence, and it is now used by more than 5 billion people every day. These technologies evolved so rapidly in recent years that developers and businesses need to keep their finger on the pulse and follow the latest trends in web development to create efficient and user-friendly products.
In this article, we will give a brief history of web development trends over the past 40 years, look at popular trends and important areas for 2023 that every web developer needs to know, and make predictions about what web development will be like in 2024.
Table of content
History of web development trends
Web 1.0: static and dynamic sites (1980 – 2006)
Web 2.0: social networks era (2007 – present)
Web 3.0: semantic web with machine-readable data (near future?)
Popular web development areas and standards of 2023
Single page websites and web applications
Progressive Web Applications (PWA)
Core Web Vitals metrics and Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Multi-experience web applications
Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR)
JAMstack and MEAN/MERN/MEVN stacks
Cloud computing and serverless architecture
No-code/Low-code development tools
Predictions for web development in 2024
History of web development trends
Websites and web applications have come a long way in more than 40 years, and in that time the Internet went through several stages of development from static web pages to full-fledged web applications and SaaS solutions and changed to meet the needs of users and the current level of technology development. Let’s look at each stage separately.
Web 1.0: static and dynamic sites (1980 – 2006)
In the early days of the Internet, web pages were static, consisted mostly of textual content, and were created using the HTML language and HTTP protocol. These sites did not have much user interaction and were mainly designed to distribute information. This period is called Web 1.0 and it was mostly focused on large companies and meeting their simple business needs: internal communication via e-mail and posting information on the site.
Developers had very limited technology and tools, but with the advent of CSS and JavaScript in the 90-00s it was possible to create more complex sites with elements of interaction with them. A little later, databases such as MySQL and server-side programming languages such as PHP became available to developers, allowing them to create dynamic websites with changing information.
Web 2.0: social networks era (2007 – present)
The current development of Internet technology is called Web 2.0 and it is still going on since 2007. The rapid development of technology allows us to create websites with content that is created directly by users.
Web 2.0 is the point when social networks and various content platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and many others appeared, where users can post their own content and communicate with each other. Technologies simplified the creation and management of websites for users who are far from being fluent in development tools. Content management systems like WordPress and Drupal, among others, provided this opportunity.
In the 2010s, smartphones began to be widely used which led to the need to create mobile versions of websites and mobile applications. This is why developers began to emphasize the adaptability of their products to different devices, mobile operating systems and screen sizes.
Web 3.0: semantic web with machine-readable data (near future?)
Even though current Internet technologies belong to Web 2.0, users, developers, and businesses are already actively fantasizing and designing what the next Internet concept, Web 3.0, will look like. Web 1.0 focused on companies, Web 2.0 focused on communities, and Web 3.0 will be personalized as much as possible.
To briefly describe Web 3.0, it is a data network where information on websites is not only available for reading and viewing by users, but can also be understood by computers. If the data in the original source is changed, it will automatically change where it is mentioned. The main idea behind Web 3.0 is to provide more intelligent and contextual interactions on the Internet, improving information retrieval, analysis and processing. The new concept covers a large number of standards like Linked Data and RDF (Resource Description Framework), Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Another concept that has been invented in the 21st century is called web3, and it has been around for many years and has many differences with the Web 3.0 concept. It is a technology based on blockchain and a system of decentralized applications that gives back control over their personal data to users, which will solve several problems of the current Internet, such as copyright protection. It will be a network of small modular services that will be connected to each other, but will be able to operate independently of each other if any of the modules are shut down.
To summarize, Web 3.0 is about data processing and interpretation, and web3 is about the way data is stored in a decentralized form.
Popular web development areas and standards of 2023
The new concept of the Web 3.0 Internet and web3 technologies are associated with more decentralized services and more personalization for the user, which means that the right approaches and technologies are needed to competently implement such products. Voice and AI assistants, the introduction of meta-universes and augmented reality, the creation of software for IoT devices and much more will form our technical future and at some point are already forming the present.
Let’s take a look at a few recently emerged web development areas that are important for web developers to understand and know in 2023.
Single page websites and web applications
SPA is now one of the major types of web applications in web development that was introduced by several major companies such as Google, Netflix, Meta and Twitter. At its core, SPA is an HTML page with data that is loaded and updated while the user interacts with the site. They are created using JAMstack (JavaScript-API-Markup) with HTML5 and CSS for markup to adapt applications better, the entire core of such sites are created with JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React, Vue, and different APIs are used for data requests.
SPAs work much faster than their multi-page counterparts because of Jamstack and are much less demanding on server resources. On the other hand, creating such applications requires much more developer effort because using JAMstack requires a good knowledge of JavaScript, however, as practice shows, such costs are more than justified, as SPA offers users a more convenient and faster user experience.
Progressive Web Applications (PWA)
Another kind of the most important type of web applications in 2023 is progressive web application. PWAs combine all the benefits of stationary programs and apps for your computer or phone with the speed and accessibility of websites.
If you’ve used Google services, Pinterest, Uber or the web version of Spotify, you probably know what PWAs are. They provide a top-notch user experience, great functionality, and yet they are accessible from any device and can even work offline as a full-fledged stationary application.
On the one hand, this type of web application has been around for a relatively long time, and in 2023, it is no longer unusual for a user to use a PWA, and PWAs may become one of the standards for software in the future. On the other hand, PWA sounds trendy in terms of technology standardization, yet it is still an awkward technology for businesses as it is severely limited in functionality and metrics than native apps for mobile devices and computers. Therefore, small companies are very unlikely to switch to this technology, and only large corporations like Google, Uber or Figma are creating PWAs.
Core Web Vitals metrics and Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Since 2018 we have seen the trend of web content consumption moving to mobile devices, but at that time there were a lot of both low-powered and high-performance devices, because of which there was a need to create sites that load and respond quickly.
In 2018, the first criteria for ranking sites appeared, which were called User Experience Metrics, based on which Web Vitals was created. It included the following metrics:
- Largest Content Paint (LCP) shows how long the largest element of a web page loads.
- First Input Delay (FID) shows how quickly the browser begins to process user interaction with the interface.
- Cumulative Layout Change (CLS) shows how stable the interface is after interaction and changes.
What technologies exist to meet the recommended Core Web Vitals metrics? One of the most well-known and popular is Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). Such websites load in seconds which is several times faster than usual websites due to the simplicity of design and the information placed on them: most often these are pages with text and multimedia. AMP optimizes the loading of a mobile web page, allows developers to save resources on UX, bring it higher in search results due to fast loading and attract new users, especially those who cannot access high speed Internet access.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and ML have managed to make significant contributions to the creation and development of everything from content generation to the development of uncomplicated extensions and software. A huge number of companies and startups are looking to incorporate AI tools into their processes and products to increase efficiency and usability metrics and improve personalization for users.
Developers are now trying AI tools as assistants in product development: algorithms write simple and routine pieces of code, give technical recommendations, look for bugs in the code and much more. In web development, artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used in several ways, which we will highlight separately:
- Smart chatbots and assistants;
- Voice search;
- Personalized content recommendations.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these directions.
AI chatbots and assistants
In 2022, ChatGPT showed the power of new generative neural networks and gave users and developers hope in this technology. Since it is a chatbot, it makes sense to utilize the technology in a similar functionality that will help users solve their questions and problems quickly with high quality and anytime solutions, and help businesses interact effectively with customers, reduce user support costs and shift support staff to more complex and sophisticated issues. Juniper Research estimates that the adoption of chatbots in software products in the commerce, banking and healthcare industries, will save about $10 billion USD this year.
Smart chatbots and assistants are powered by artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and information retrieval algorithms. Such tools can help customize efficient navigation of websites and web applications and provide personalized experiences for users.
Voice search
Another way to improve user experience with AI and ML tools is to implement and optimize voice search in the web application, which has made it noticeably easier to find information and perform some commands and tasks. Google statistics show that about 30% of users regularly use voice search on their smartphone smart devices such as speakers, watches, and this number is growing year on year by 7-8%.
The other side of voice search technology is adapting websites to voice search, which significantly increases conversion rates and enables users of voice-activated smart devices and visually impaired people to use your service.
Personal recommendations
Perhaps the main way now to use AI and ML on a website, as well as in mobile and web apps, is through personalized content recommendations and improved user experience, which Netflix and Airbnb have implemented into their products.
ML algorithms make it possible to meet a user’s interests and suggest new content based on their previous actions on the website. These technologies also allow companies to more effectively collect information about users: what they watch, read, and which features they interact with more often. This helps build further product development strategies, create the most interesting content for users and offer them more accurate results.
Design trends
In 2023, users expect not only fast and convenient functionality in web applications, but also a beautiful interactive appearance, and that’s why dynamic interface and dark design became so popular.
Dynamic or Motion UI
Dynamic interface has many advantages: firstly, it is beautiful when the elements of the site attractively move or change each other at the action of the user, and secondly, such an interface adapts to different devices. Such functionality is compatible with web technologies, and thanks to SASS-libraries, the development of good looking websites with a dynamic interface has become even easier and more convenient for developers, because you do not need to spend many hours creating complex animations and transitions.
Dark theme
Another important element for a beautiful user interface is the dark design of apps and websites, and statistics show that this trend can no longer be ignored. Android Authority research tells us that more than 80% of users prefer to use dark mode if it is available for use. Part of the services offer users to switch between light and dark modes, but there are a few products like Spotify, Netflix or Steam that offer only a dark interface.
The dark theme looks beautiful and presentable, however, this is not the only reason why users love it so much. The fact is that using a dark interface is more pleasing to the eyes and they are less strained when working in a room with little light. Also, the dark theme reduces battery consumption, as the screen in this mode consumes less power.
Multi-experience web applications
About 15 years ago, software applications were designed for specific devices: computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. Applications were created separately for each type of device and did not imply joint interaction. Today’s trends are moving toward using one product across different devices. For example, using a text editor on a computer, and after some time the user continues working with documents on a smartphone or tablet. Or the user can make an order of his favorite meals through smart devices or with the help of a voice assistant or chatbot.
This experience is becoming increasingly popular with large and small companies, and developers will have to deal with new technologies and devices to create products for them as well.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The IoT can be briefly described as devices with sensors and software that can be connected together via the Internet. Smart speakers, weight scales, light bulbs, clocks, home appliances and more can now be connected to a single network and controlled by a smartphone, computer or other voice-activated and assistant-enabled devices. The number of Internet of Things devices is expected to reach 30 billion by 2030.
Web applications could prove to be very useful for IoT devices, as creating a unified infrastructure of devices and software products will provide more accurate usage information and offer a higher quality user experience.
Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR)
A few years ago, Mark Zuckerberg started talking about creating digital meta-universes: environments with virtual and augmented reality elements that include various services and communication capabilities. And in 2023, Apple presented the concept of its VR/AR device Apple Vision Pro, which further raised the hopes of business representatives and developers in this type of technology.
Statistics confirm the interest in AR technology: Mixed Reality Market research shows this market has grown from $1 billion in 2017 to $10 billion in 2024, and it will be particularly useful in the tourism, commerce, architecture, gaming and social media industries.
Of course AR/VR is a heavy technology for browser engines, but the development of technologies such as WebAR will change the overall picture of web technology development and soon we will see high-performance web applications with elements of AR/VR/MR.
Technology Trends
In 2023, there is a huge variety of different technologies that can be used to create web applications, so many emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all technology stack, the choice depends on the requirements and goals of the business and its budget.
For two years in a row, in 2022 and 2023, the most popular programming languages are JavaScript and Python. Both languages are easy to learn, and each is used in areas of growing interest every year: web applications and AI/ML, respectively. Therefore, we can safely conclude that JavaScript and Python will remain relevant in 2024.
What other technologies, frameworks and stacks based on more than just Python and JavaScript should a web developer pay attention to in 2023? Let’s take a look at a few of them in more detail.
JAMstack and MEAN/MERN/MEVN stacks
We start the review of technology trends with stacks based on JS frameworks, and there’s no way to ignore this technology, as it is one of the most popular programming languages. It is a powerful tool that has largely become the standard for developing complex dynamic web applications with quick response, which is a great advantage for search engine optimization.
Over the past decade, MEAN/MERN/MEVN stacks for web application development that utilize JavaScript have become particularly well established and include the following components:
- Database: MongoDB;
- Backend framework: Express.js
- Frontend framework: Angular.js/ReactJS/Vue.js
- Runtime Environment: Node.js
Many experts consider MEAN/MERN/MEVN stacks too heavy for creating simple websites and web applications because of their monolithic nature. This is why JAMstack, which consists of JavaScript frameworks, HTML and CSS markup languages, and API services for data retrieval, has started to proliferate in recent years.
However, JAMstack differs from MEAN stack in its approach to data and business logic storage and page generation. Earlier the content of the website was stored on the server, but now CMS, Git or cloud storage is used for this purpose. Also in traditional web applications a page is formed through interaction with the server, database and finally an HTML file is generated. JAMstack websites have all HTML files already generated by the static sites generator and are waiting for their request to the hosting, because of which there is almost instant response.
WebAssembly
Web applications created with JavaScript alone are most often slow due to the limitations of the language and its frameworks, which becomes fatal for users. Therefore, developers started looking for technologies that would solve the problem of low performance and speed up websites, which is quite useful for, for example, serverless architecture applications such as online editors and interactive web applications.
The solution to the problem was WebAssembly, which compiles into a binary machine format and is executed very quickly by the browser engine. Developers can create different execution scenarios for different types of devices and browsers. It can be considered that the combination of technology stack with JavaScript framework and WebAssembly has found its application in web application development and will be used more actively in the future.
Cloud computing and serverless architecture
In recent years, web application development has increasingly shifted towards cloud-based technologies. The benefits of this approach were shown by the COVID-19 pandemic, when almost all companies moved to remote working and it became more difficult to maintain servers to run their products correctly. During this time, companies noticed the flexibility of development, support and testing, as well as the ease of scaling their products using cloud storage and began to utilize services like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Microsoft Azure and many others more.
So cloud computing led developers to another trend in web application development, namely serverless architecture, where the tasks of infrastructure deployment, development services and other necessary tools are assumed by a third-party service provider, which significantly saves companies money on product development and server configuration. Serverless architecture also allows companies to scale the infrastructure of their products so that the web application is always available to users even under heavy traffic.
No-code/Low-code development tools
More and more companies are seeking to use tools and technologies that will help them create, customize and automate their information resources and business processes without having to learn programming and software development, and for this purpose, numerous No-Code/Low-Code platforms are coming to the rescue. According to Gartner, in 2024, about 65% of software will be created using low-code development platforms.
These technologies include website builders and content management systems (CMS), the most prominent examples of which are WordPress, Wix, Webflow, Shopify, NoCodeAPI for creating websites and Zapier, n8n and Camunda for workflow automation. Most often these are services with pre-designed elements for the site and ready-made pieces of instructions that users can add to the page or process with a simple drag and drop action.
When using No-Code and Low-Code applications, it is important to understand what they are for and how to use them properly. No-Code services are designed to meet specific business needs and can be used by employees with no or little programming experience. Low-Code tools require knowledge and understanding of how to work with them, so hiring developers is not an option. Moreover, such services are not suitable for more complex and full-featured software, and it is necessary to hire a team of developers to create it, but website builders and CMS can significantly simplify the work and reduce the time spent on writing code.
Predictions for web development in 2024
As you can see, web development has a huge number of areas and a substantial variety of technologies that can be used to create the right type of web application that performs the required tasks. Most of the web development trends, techniques and standards presented above will remain and continue to evolve in the future as businesses have a large number of demands that need to be met.
Let’s take a look at a few areas and see what they will be like in the not too distant future.
More use of No-Code services for business
Businesses are becoming more and more interested in implementing their specific needs as conveniently as possible, which will also reduce the cost of developing the necessary products and company resources. It is important for business representatives to use tools that don’t require to become a programmer or deeply study technologies and programming languages. This will be the reason for greater use of website builders, ready-made tools for process automation and other No-Code services.
More JAMstack products
JAMstack has shown a large number of benefits in products that require not a monolithic architecture, but a system of multiple services connected via APIs. Of course, JAMstack is still difficult to apply to a large, complex and full-featured web application, but this technology is too attractive for web developers and businesses not to develop it further. Therefore, the development of cloud technologies, content management systems and other tools involved in the development of web applications, such as Next.js, HUGO or Jekyll, among others, will help make JAMstack the most popular solution that developers will apply more and more often.
Full implementation of AI tools in development
Over the last year, many developers have actively started using AI tools, and Copilot X in particular, to make software. And despite the fact that it can still cope with small and uncomplicated tasks at the junior developer level, it has already made life much easier for many engineers. And since artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are now actively developing, developers will be able to cope with tasks more efficiently and achieve goals faster. Therefore, the ability to write prompts for AI tools will be a very useful skill.
More use of microservices and related technologies
The use of microservices is related not so much to the desire to decentralize one’s product as to the need to expand software functionality and scaling. It turns out that the use of microservice architecture allows you to successfully implement all this, and the use of high-performance tools, for example, GoLang programming language, will make such software also fast.
Conclusion
Web development is evolving rapidly, and so now technologies are actively improving replacing long-established tools that are no longer the standard for web applications.
Unlike software testing, which is a rather conservative industry, developers have a little more freedom and opportunity to introduce new technologies into their processes and into their developed products. Therefore, you should not overlook new opportunities and it is important to explore them carefully, and then you will have the opportunity to create something unique that will offer a great user experience and high performance.