Creating a website that is both visually appealing and functional is crucial for success, and the process of creating such a project can be complex. No matter how experienced a web developer may be, there are some common web development and coding mistakes that can be easily made that can hinder the effectiveness of your site.
In this blog, we highlight six common web development mistakes and coding mistakes that should be avoided along with some practical tips on how to steer clear of them. Let’s get straight into it.
1. Naming things incorrectly
This may sound trivial, but naming things is one of the hardest things to do in web development. When naming variables, functions, classes, or any other elements of your code, it’s important for developers to choose clear and descriptive names that accurately reflect their purpose.
For example, imagine you have a web page with a header, a footer, and a content area. On the outside, this sounds simple, however the content area features an image to the left and some text sitting on the right. Now imagine below the first image and text, you have a second row of image and text, but this time it’s alternated right to left. This is where things can start to get tricky.
Header
—
text – image (row 1)
image – text (row 2)
—
Footer
In this case, you want to give CSS classes to each element in that web page, so the text would have a CSS class of “text” or “content” and the image “image”. However, this doesn’t differentiate the second alternated image and text. This can leave developers falling into the trap of adding a second class to the second image of something along the lines of “left” and this should be avoided.
This is because “left” is an extremely vague name and could mean a number of things such as the image is on the left, or the image is aligned to the left. The CSS class name of “left” doesn’t actually specify that it applies only to an image and so can be very confusing.
How to avoid this web development mistake:
The best way to avoid this mistake is to adopt what is known as a naming convention in your code. A naming convention is a systematic method for naming files and data that make it easier for you to find and retrieve them at a later stage. There are many naming conventions you could use including BEM, SMACSS, KISS, and OOCSS for example. Adopting this organised way of working can help you quickly and easily manage and identify your web page elements and reduce confusion when building a website.
2. Using old code
Using old code is one of the biggest coding mistakes a developer can make. Just because old code works doesn’t mean it actually works. Outdated code can lead to several problems with your site such as security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and overall poor performance of your website. With new technologies emerging all the time, the way developers code in today’s digital world is evolving and in order for your site to succeed, you should be staying away from old code.
How to avoid this coding mistake:
It’s highly recommended to stay updated with the latest coding practices, technologies, and frameworks to ensure seamless functionality with your website. Attending webinars, reading articles, and even connecting with online web development communities are all great ways of doing this.
You should also regularly review and update your codebase to ensure that you are using modern standards and best practices. Using version control systems like Git allows you to track changes easily and efficiently. Doing this will keep your codebase fresh and up-to-date, which will enhance the functionality and longevity of your website while minimising potential technical difficulties down the road.
3. Copying and pasting code
When it comes to learning a particular skill, many people learn by doing, and when you’re unsure on something, you’ll more than often not turn to Google for an answer. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with doing this, in the world of web development this can pose a few issues.
Using Google or even Stack Overflow to find an answer to a particular problem is all well and good – especially when you find a nice chunk of code to go with it – but if you don’t do your research, you could be blindly copying and pasting code without fully understanding how it works. This could potentially introduce bugs, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility issues with parts of your website.
How to avoid this web development mistake:
The first thing you should do to avoid web development mistakes like this is ask yourself these questions:
- How do I know this code is safe and it’s doing exactly what I need it to do?
- Does the copied code clash with the style of coding I’m writing and naming conventions?
- Am I actually learning anything about how to solve my problem if I copy and paste that code into my project?
As mentioned, searching for an answer is encouraged if you have a problem. However once you find the answer, you must ensure you read the explanation attached to it, rather than simply copying and pasting the supplied code.
Be sure you understand why it works the way it does and how it works, as this can allow you to tailor it to fit the specific requirements of your project. You could also make a note of how the particular problem was solved so the next time you experience the same issue, you should be able to solve it without assistance.
4. Saying “works for me”
There’s no denying that almost every developer will have uttered these words, which can be a double-edged sword. While something may appear to function correctly on your end, it’s important to remember that other people will be using different devices, browsers, and settings that could affect how something “works”.
As well as this, the developer knows exactly how their website was made, and therefore knows exactly how it is designed to work, which other people may not necessarily understand.
How to avoid this web development mistake:
Instead of just dismissing a problem with a simple “works for me”, investigate further. Use browser testing services to see if you can use the website in a way it was not designed to work to try and replicate the issue. You could also consider getting feedback from a diverse group of people who use different technologies and platforms to ensure your site works for everyone and not just you.
5. Incorrectly implementing SEO
Incorrectly implementing SEO best practices to your site can significantly hinder the success of it when launched. Many web developers believe SEO isn’t that complex and they know enough to be able to implement best practices when building a website. However, this isn’t true.
With ever-changing rules and algorithms on how search engines index a website, page load times, clever backlinking, and crawlable site architecture to keep in mind, it would be naive to think a web developer can be both a developer and an SEO specialist.
How to avoid this web development mistake:
Work with an SEO specialist right from the outset when building your website. It can be mistaken that SEO doesn’t need to be implemented until after a website is created but this isn’t true. Speaking with a specialist that can advise you on best practices right from the start, allows you to combine your knowledge to create a powerhouse of a website and also removes the risk of having to make any changes to your web build.
6. Not properly testing code
One of the most common coding mistakes is deploying code without properly testing it. Testing code is a crucial step in any development project and skipping this step can lead to a whole host of problems such as glitches with your site and functionality issues. By carrying out rigorous testing of your code, you can ensure a seamless user experience and that your site is functional and stable.
How to avoid this coding mistake:
The obvious answer here is to test your code! But there are a few ways in which you can do this. For example, you could consider implementing automated testing tools like unit tests and integration tests as these can help catch any bugs and errors with your code. Speak to other web developers too to gain valuable feedback and insight into your code.
You should also make sure you test your code across different browsers and devices to ensure your website is responsive and offers a consistent user experience for all visitors, regardless of how they access your site.
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We hope that by highlighting some of the most common web development mistakes and coding mistakes, along with ways to avoid them, helps you create outstanding results from your next project – whether that’s a new website, a mobile app, or a bespoke CRM software.
If you’re about to embark on a web development project and you’re looking for a professional web development agency, speak to us today. Our specialist web developers have a wealth of experience in creating flawless and functional websites, mobile applications, and more. Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements in more detail and learn how your online success is our shared mission.