How is a Website Created: A Simple Guide

By |Last Updated: May 26th, 2022|

Over half a million new websites are created every single day. And with the advent of new website creation tools and platforms, it has become easier than ever for just about anyone to create a website in minutes.

But how is a website created?

Before diving into the technical aspects of website creation, it is important to understand the basics of how a website works.

What is a Website?

How is a Website Created

A website is a collection of web pages and digital files like text, images, and other multimedia content, that are stored on a web server and accessible to users via the Internet.

Web pages are linked together with hyperlinks, and can be accesses via a domain name (e.g., www.example.com).

Websites are created using a variety of different programming languages and software. The most common language for website development is HTML, which stands for Hyper Text Markup Language.

Other common languages used for website development include CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript, and PHP. Most websites are created using a combination of these various languages.

How are Websites Created?

A website is created using code that gets hosted on a web server. The code is written and then saved as files on a web server.

A web server is a computer that is connected to the Internet. When someone types in a web address into their browser, they are sending a request for these files that are stored on that web server.

The web server then sends these files to the user’s browser and the website is displayed.

You can think of it like renting an office space for your business. Just like you need a physical space to conduct business, you need a space on the Internet to host your website.

Domain names are how people find your website on the internet. A domain name is like an address for your website. Just like you need an address to find a building, people need a domain name to find your website.

Domain names are purchased from domain registrars, and then pointed to the web server where your website is hosted.

Creating a website can be as simple as creating a few HTML files and uploading them to a web server. Or, it can be a complex process involving multiple team members and hundreds of lines of code.

The size and complexity of a website is often determined by the purpose or goals of the website. A simple website for a small business might only require a handful of pages, while a more complex website for an online store might require hundreds or even thousands of pages.

The process of creating a website can be divided into four basic steps:

1. Planning: This is the first step in creating a website, and involves determining the purpose, goals, target audience, and overall structure of the site.

2. Design: The design phase includes creating a visual mockup of the website and deciding on the overall look and feel.

3. Development: This phase is when the actual code for the website is written.

4. Launch: The launch phase is when the website is made live and accessible to the public.

These four steps are not always followed in a linear fashion, and there is often overlap between the different phases.

For example, the development phase might begin before the design is completed. Or, the launch phase might be delayed while additional features are added to the site.

The process of creating a website can be complex, but understanding the basics will help you better understand how websites are made.

Creating a Website Step by Step

The first step in creating a website is to register a domain name. This is the address that users will type into their web browser to access your site. Once you have registered a domain name, you need to set up web hosting.

The web host is the company that will provide you with the space on their server where your website will live. Some web hosting providers also offer domain name registration, which means you can buy your domain name directly from them and also host with them, killing two birds with one stone.

If you found a different web hosting provider from your domain registrar, you will need to link the two together. This means pointing your domain name’s DNS (domain name system) to the web hosting provider’s servers.

Once your domain is set up with your web hosting provider, you can begin creating your website. But first, you will need to decide what platform or software you want to use.

At this point, there are 3 options for creating a website:

  • Use a Website Builder
  • Use a Content Management System (CMS)
  • Hand-code Website from Scratch

Website Builder

Website builders are all-in-one platforms that allow you to create a website without any coding or design experience. The process is fairly simple and straightforward. Most of these platforms have drag-and-drop editors that make it easy to add content and design your website.

The most popular website builders are

  • Wix
  • Weebly
  • Squarespace

While there are other website builders out there, those three are by far the most popular and used by millions of people around the world looking to create a website.

Pros:

Easiest to use: You have nothing to install or any technical settings to fiddle with. Just login to your website builder dashboard and start designing with wizards and templates that include easy drag and drop functionality.

No web development knowledge needed: You need absolutely zero coding or web design experience to get a website. The entire process of creating a website is managed by the intuitive user interface that does everything for you. Most builders even automatically include specialized tools and features to make your website ADA compliant for people with disabilities.

Built-in templates: There’s already a wide range of templates available for you to use. Each has its own thematic design consistent with different industries so you get what will work best for your needs. On top of that, you can use the templates as a starting point for you to begin customizing exactly what you want in the end.

Many include eCommerce functionality: If you want to start an online store, it’s as easy as choosing a template, adding your products, and setting up your payment processor. You can do all of this in one day by yourself. You don’t have to worry about how a website is created because the website builder will take care of that for you.

Cons:

Limitations in design and functionality: If you want to have a truly unique website that doesn’t look like every other website built on the same platform, you’re going to have a hard time. This is because you’re limited to the designs, features, and functionalities that the website builder offers. While you can certainly customize your website to a certain degree, there are still limitations.

Harder to scale: Once your website starts getting more traffic, you may start to feel the limitations of your website builder. If you want to add more features or functionality to your website, you may need to upgrade to a more expensive plan or migrate to a different platform altogether.

Not easy to migrate: Because website builders use proprietary systems, it can be difficult to migrate your website to a different platform if you decide to switch later on. It’s not as easy as just exporting your content and importing it into the new platform. You may need to hire a developer to help you do this.

Overall, website builders are typically very user-friendly and easy to use, making them a good option for those who are not familiar with web development.

Content Management System (CMS)

A CMS is a web platform that enables you to create and manage your website’s content without any coding experience. A CMS is more powerful than a website builder and gives you more control over the look, feel, and functionality of your website.

The most popular CMS platforms are

  • WordPress
  • Joomla
  • Drupal

WordPress is by far the most popular CMS, powering over 30% of all websites on the Internet. While there are other CMS platforms out there, those three are by far the most popular and used by millions of people around the world looking to create a website.

Pros:

More control: With a CMS, you have more control over the design and functionality of your website. This is because you can install themes and plugins to add more features and functionality to your website.

More flexible: A CMS is more flexible than a website builder because you’re not limited to the designs, features, and functionalities that are offered. You can extend your website in any way you want by installing themes and plugins. For example, if you want e-Commerce functionality, you can install a plugin to add that.

Better for SEO: Most CMS platforms are better for SEO than website builders. This is because they’re more flexible and allow you to control things like your website’s URL structure, schema, title tags, and meta descriptions.

Easy to migrate: If you decide to switch to a different website host later on, it’s easy to migrate your website. You can simply export your content and import it into the new platform. This is almost just as easy to migrate between different CMS platforms as well.

Cons:

Requires some technical knowledge: While a CMS is relatively easy to use depending on which one you choose, it does require some technical knowledge to setup and use. You’ll need to know how to install and configure themes and plugins, and how to troubleshoot any errors that you may come across.

Not as user-friendly as a website builder: A CMS is not as user-friendly as a website builder because you need to have some technical knowledge in order to use it. If you’re not at least somewhat familiar with web development, you may find a CMS difficult to use at first.

Overall, a CMS is a good option for those who want more control over the design and functionality of their website. If you don’t mind doing a little bit of technical work, then a CMS may be the right platform to create a website.

Code Website from Scratch

The third option for creating a website is to hand-code it from scratch. This means writing all of the source code for your website from a blank page using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

There are coding frameworks that can make this process easier by providing a basic starting point for your website, but you will still need to have extensive coding experience to use them. Some of the popular coding frameworks are:

  • Bootstrap
  • AngularJS
  • ReactJS
  • jQuery
  • Ruby on Rails
  • CakePHP
  • Laravel
  • Symfony
  • CodeIgniter

If you don’t know what any of these things are then coding a website isn’t for you. This option is best suited for those with experience in web development or coding as it requires a higher level of technical expertise.

Pros:

Complete control: When you hand-code a website from scratch, you have complete control over the design and functionality of your website. You’re not limited by what a website builder or CMS can do because you have a thorough understanding of how websites are created and know exactly what to do to get what you want.

Fully customizable: A hand-coded website is fully customizable because you’re not restricted to using themes or plugins. You can code anything you want into your website.

Cons:

More difficult to do: A hand-coded website is more difficult to create than a website builder or CMS because it requires coding knowledge. If you’re not familiar with HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, databases, MySQL, libraries, FTP, version controls, and server management then you’ll find it difficult to create a website from scratch.

More time consuming: A hand-coded website will also take longer to create because you have to code everything from scratch. This option is not suited for those who want to create a website quickly.

Finally, a hand-coded website is best suited for those with experience in coding or web development. If you’re not familiar with coding, then you should either use a website builder or CMS or just hire a developer create a website for you.

Wrap Up

As you can see, there are three main ways to create a website: using a website builder, using a CMS, or hand-coding it from scratch. Each option has its own set of pros and cons that you’ll need to consider before deciding which one is right for you.

If you want an easy way to create a website with no coding required, then a website builder is the best option. If you’re looking for more control over the design and functionality of your website, then a CMS may be a better choice. Finally, if you have experience in coding or web development, then you may want to hand-code your website from scratch.

And that’s the basics of how a website is created.

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About the Author: Jian Brant

Jian Brant is a blogger at Punch 5 Media where he spends most of his time writing on things that he loves. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, raised in the USA and lived in London, he has worldwide experience working for public and private sector technology companies. Now settled in the Caribbean, he writes original articles focused on Online Marketing strategies for local businesses.

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