With new coding frameworks and design practices being implemented on a yearly basis, it’s important for webmasters to stay on top of the latest trends. So if you’re looking to build a professional website that’s aligned with the latest web development trends, check out the following tips.

Say Goodbye to Flash

Flash has long been the preferred framework for online media playback, but it’s slowly going the way of the dinosaurs. Both Google and Mozilla have stopped supporting the Flash plugin for their respective browsers, and even developer Adobe is now discouraging webmasters from using it.

HTML5

HTML5 is the latest version of the HyperText Markup Language used to create websites. As noted in an article published by DailyMail, HTML5 is a better solution for media playback than Flash; it’s faster, more secure and doesn’t require plugins. Webmasters can simply use the HTML5-compatible video and audio tags to play media.

Other benefits of HTML5 include the following:

Offline web caching
Compatible with all major web browsers
Cleaner code
Future-proof
SSL Encryption


Mobile Compatibility

We can’t talk about web development trends without mentioning mobile compatibility. It’s estimated that over half of all Internet users now get online via a smartphone or tablet instead of a desktop computer. So webmasters who fail to provide a mobile-friendly environment for their visitors could lose a significant chunk of their traffic. Furthermore, Google has been rolling out mobile-friendly algorithm updates, meaning websites that function on mobile devices will receive a slight boost in their search ranking.

Security everywhere.

Mobile is becoming more and more prevalent and this can have its own downsides. Mobile is becoming a focal point of security breaches and a lot of effort will be put into making sure apps are as secure as they can be.

Internet of Things (IoT) will have a huge impact

The Internet of Things has taken app development to a new level. According to Technavio, IoT will grow by 31.72% (CAGR) between 2015 and 2019. Gartner also predicts that at least half of the IoT development will come from startup companies which are in business for less than 3 years. By linking smart objects to the internet, IoT enables the exchange of data that was never possible before. As more and more devices are being connected and accessible to the network, we’ll find web developers coming up with upgraded solutions to help users control and communicate with their everyday gadgets and equipment.

Flat Web Design

From Google’s Material design to Microsoft’s Metro theme, everyone seems to be using a flat design, and for good reason: it embraces a minimalist approach that eliminates unnecessary graphics and elements. Because it scales with smaller screens, following a similar approach with your web design will reduce the risk of compatibility errors.

Don’t let your website suffer from poor design practices, contact us to learn more about our industry web development services.