Web Development

Web Development Review

What is HTML, and why is it important in web development?

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. This coding language is used to structure web content. Here, you can specify what content appears and where — that includes placing images, text, and links. HTML forms the building blocks of web pages. The latest version of this language is HTML5.

What is CSS, and how does it contribute to web development?

If HTML builds the foundational elements of a site, CSS allows you to decorate. CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is used to make your content visually appealing. You can choose colors, fonts, spacing, and more. CSS also allows you to build columns and grid layouts across your site.

Explain the role of JavaScript in web development.

JavaScript adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to websites. You can use this language to create dynamic content updates and validate information from forms. JavaScript also powers a number of interactive elements you see online. That includes dropdown menus and image carousels. This client-side scripting language runs directly in the user's web browser.

What is an API, and what role does it play in web development?

APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, allow software applications to interact with each other. In web development, APIs allow you to integrate different systems and services into your project. Developers can retrieve data from external sources through APIs. They can then perform actions on remote servers or databases.

APIs also let you integrate third-party services into applications. That's helpful if you need payment gateways, map services, or email providers. This empowers developers to leverage existing functionalities with ease. You can then build feature-rich web applications without starting from scratch.

What is AJAX, and how does it work?

AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. This technique used in web development creates dynamic and interactive web applications.

The result? Web applications that have a smoother and more responsive user experience. That’s because only the necessary data or content is updated. There's no need to reload the entire page. AJAX does this by using a combination of JavaScript, XML, or JSON), HTML, and CSS.

What does DOM stand for, and what does it do?

DOM stands for Document Object Model. This is a programming interface that represents the structure of an HTML or XML document as a tree.

The DOM tree consists of nodes. Each node represents an HTML element or other types of content in the document. Nodes have parent-child relationships. The top-level node is called the document node, which represents the entire HTML or XML document.

The DOM provides a way for programs, such as JavaScript, to access and manipulate the content of a web page.

What does the term web hosting mean in web development?

Web hosting companies provide storage and servers, allowing customers to publish websites or applications on the internet. Websites consist of many files, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and databases. These files must be stored on a server so they can be accessed by visitors. Web hosting companies provide the infrastructure that makes this possible.

Hosting providers allocate server space and bandwidth for different websites. You can pick between different plans and packages offered by the company.

Explain the concept of “browser compatibility.”

Browser compatibility refers to a website’s ability to work correctly across different web browsers. Visitors may be using Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. You want your websites and applications to work well on all these different browsers. By guaranteeing compatibility, you can build a better experience for all of your users.

What is a responsive website, and why is it essential?

People may visit your website from their desktop, on the go from their phones, or on tablets of different sizes. You want your content to look great on all of these different screens. A responsive website makes all of this possible.

Responsive sites adapt their layout and design for different screen sizes. You’ll have user-friendly experiences, even when users are on the go — conveying professionalism across the board.

What is a tag in HTML, and how is it used?

In HTML, tags are markup elements used to define the structure and content of a page. HTML tags are enclosed within angle brackets (“< >”) and come in pairs — an opening tag and a closing tag. Opening tags indicate the start of an element, and closing tags signify its end. Some self-closing HTML tags do not require a closing tag.

Let’s look at the following line of code.

• <p>This is a line of <strong>code</strong> in HTML.</p>

<p> and <strong> are two HTML tags.

Describe the differences between responsive and adaptive web design.

To answer this question, let’s check out two definitions. Responsive web design uses fluid grids and flexible layouts to change websites for different screen sizes.

With responsive design, the layout of the webpage adjusts dynamically based on the device's screen size. This means that the same HTML and CSS code are delivered to all devices. The webpage adjusts its presentation accordingly. Media queries are used in this process.

Meanwhile, adaptive web design involves creating multiple versions of a website. Each version is specifically designed and optimized for different screen sizes. This approach detects the characteristics of the user's device and delivers the version of the website that matches. JavaScript is often used in this process.

What is a web browser, and how does it work?

Web browsers are software applications that let you access the internet. When you enter a website address, your browser sends a request to a web server. The server then sends the requested data back to the browser. Your browser then interprets that information. Then, what you're looking for is displayed on your screen.

Explain the concept of “cache” in web browsers.

The browser cache is like a temporary storage space for web files — that includes images and stylesheets.

Let’s say you just fixed a problem in your source code, but it has not been resolved on your website. Clearing the cache can resolve webpage issues by ensuring that you have the most up-to-date version of a webpage. This eliminates any conflicting or outdated data stored in your browser.

What is a web server in the context of web development?

Web servers refer to both software and hardware components that host and deliver web content to users. Servers handle requests from web browsers and serve webpages, files, and other resources over the internet.

Web server software, such as Apache HTTP Server or Nginx, runs on a physical server or cloud platform. It listens for incoming requests on specific ports and then delivers content.

In terms of hardware, web servers can be physical machines located in data centers or virtual machines running on cloud infrastructure. The hardware resources and specifications of a web server depend on the expected traffic and workload.

What is a callback function in JavaScript?

In JavaScript, a callback function is given to another function so that it can call it later. Callback functions handle tasks that might take some time to finish, like fetching data from a server or responding to a click.

Callbacks are useful in situations where you want your program to keep running smoothly without waiting for a time-consuming task to complete.

Explain the difference between session storage and local storage.

These storage options are both available in modern web browsers to store data on the user's device.

Session storage is specific to each individual browser tab or window within a particular browsing session. Each tab or window maintains its own separate session storage area. The data stored in one session storage is not accessible by other tabs or windows.

Local storage is shared among all tabs and windows within the same origin. This means that data stored here can be accessed and shared across multiple tabs or windows.