A lot has changed in web development during the last decade or so. From the way websites are designed and developed to the way they are marketed, significant changes have occurred. The web development techniques used ten years ago are either completely obsolete or rarely used. This is because of the radical changes in customer behaviour and search algorithms. Customers today want fast, interactive, and user-friendly websites while search engines favour trust, originality, and authority.

So what are the web development trends in 2021, and what trends do experts foresee beyond? Let's take a look.

1. No/Less Code Development

Web development used to be heavily code-oriented, and only proficient developers were able to develop websites. This trend has changed lately. With the introduction and rapid growth of platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Weebly, even non-technical people can now develop fully functional quality websites. These platforms have predefined templates and drag and drop functionality. Ease of use is the #1 reason why WordPress alone has captured almost 45% market share.

2. Voice Search

Future websites will be less text and more voicy. Rather than typing, people will be able to give voice commands. The AI-powered websites will also recognize the voices of different people and provide a personalized experience. This is not only convenient and saves time but will also increase eCommerce sales. The growth of the smart speakers market is a clear indication that voice search is going to be a dominating feature in websites. According to an Adobe study, 47% of users perform a voice-based online search.

3. AI-Powered Chatbots

Chatbots are common in today’s websites. It is because this is the latest web development trend and improves customer service and reduces cost. Chatbots are there 24/7 and answer customer queries without delay, so the abandonment rate is kept to a minimum. Chatbots are now more reliable with speech recognition and advanced cognitive intelligence. Although they can’t fully replace human interaction, their all the time availability and instantaneous answers to a few basic questions make them highly useful for service-oriented websites.

4. Mobile-First Development

More than half of online traffic comes from mobile devices. You lose more than half of your visitors if your website is not mobile optimized. Mobile-first development means that you design/develop your website for mobile before developing it for desktop. You make sure that it looks good and operates well on mobile devices, i.e. the content is readable, menus are visible, and call to action (CTAs) are clear. Google also uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking. Since the use of mobile devices will only increase, the mobile-first development trend will continue in 2021 and beyond.

5. Responsive Web Design

A responsive website is one that adapts to multiple screen sizes. Responsive web design is another latest web development trend given the significant increase in mobile browsing. You should not confuse mobile-first development with responsive web design. A mobile-first website is always responsive but a responsive website is not always mobile-first. A mobile-first website always looks different on mobile and desktop as it has been developed for mobile users in mind, while a responsive website just changes its dimensions according to the screen size. In 2021 and beyond, more and more websites will be responsive. All websites developed by FMEextensions, a leading web development company in Dubai are responsive by default.

6. Cybersecurity

There is going to be more focus on data security. This makes sense because cyberattacks have caused both companies and customers valuable data and substantial financial losses. Health, retail, and banking websites store sensitive customer data, which they can’t afford to compromise. Also, Google does not suggest websites that don’t have HTTPS. So companies are going to invest in proper SSL certificates and make sure their websites abide by the required data security standards.

7. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Google favours speed, whether it’s on mobile or desktop. A PWA is an application that works as a website with a native mobile experience. It is fast, can work online or with a poor internet connection, and is a relatively low expense. It supports interactions and is easier to install and distribute. Although the technology of PWAs is new, its development is easy. PWAs are extremely useful for eCommerce and News websites and those with low development budgets. It allows businesses to stay competitive in the modern market.

8. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing grew immensely in 2021 and will continue to grow. This growth can be attributed to the global pandemic that forced organizations to work remotely. One of the cloud computing statistics reveals that the cloud services infrastructure spending increased to $41.8 billion in the first quarter of 2021. This growth will increase in future years as cloud computing brings various advantages, including preventing data loss and data overloading. This trend will transform the approach to web development in the coming years as it reduces development costs and strengthens the entire web architecture.