The web development is a frequently changing field that introduces several new tools and best practices for constructing usable web solutions. So, it becomes a little tough to foretell the trends that will be shaping the web development industry. However, based on the pattern of recent trends that have been maturing, I’ve listed some of the biggest trends that will be dominating (and more likely shape) the web development in the coming years:
1. The Need for Wearable Apps Will Increase
According to a market report, ‘the wearable technology market is projected to reach USD 31.27 Billion by 2020.’ The growth of the market can be attributed to the increasing preference of smart devices among the majority of mobile users today. In fact, smartwatches, wrist bands and other wearable devices have already gained immense popularity and acceptance in the consumer market.
While the wearable devices seem to be sweeping away all the media attention, however, Forrester has reported that wearable apps are what drive connection with the audience. This means that to effectively interact with consumers in the long run, web developers will need to build apps for wearable besides the wearable hardware.
2. Internet of Things (IoT) Will Grow
With a decrease in the cost of Internet connection, a greater number of people are having smartphones with Wi-Fi capabilities. As a fact, today, you can connect any device to the Internet easily – be it a cell phone, wearable devices, and several other products. Now, the network of all the connected ‘things’ (or devices) is known as the IoT. The Internet of Things is significantly growing, as businesses, consumers and organizations are realizing the benefits of IoT. A report published by TechNavio states that ‘the global market for Internet of Things is likely to grow at a CAGR of 31.72 percent between 2014 and 2019.’
Considering the growth of IoT and increase of network-accessible devices, web developers will possibly be assigned the task of creating solutions that enable users to communicate with their devices (like cars, washing machine, etc.).
3. Foundation for Apps to Build Responsive Web Apps
Just like responsive websites, the need for responsive web applications is also on a rise these days and will continue to expand in the coming years as well. While several different tools are available on the web, well suited for building responsive apps, but the new framework called ‘Foundation for Apps’ is becoming the preferred choice for building responsive (and single page) web apps. The framework is based on the leading technologies (including AngularJS and Flexbox) and comes loaded with all the necessary features that make the task of developing responsive application(s) in an easy and quick manner.
The exemplary set of features and the capabilities that the Foundation for Apps framework introduces still needs to be explored. Thus, you may see many web app development companies utilizing the framework for their projects.
4. ReactJS Will Be Used For Designing App UI
The popularity of ReactJS is and will continue to grow, as developers are becoming more inclined towards using reusable components to build user interfaces. Every web application is comprised of UI elements – that helps users in controlling the app or the device used for accessing the application. While most of the apps differ in terms of use and functionality, still a few contain similar UI components. Thus, using React a lot of development time can be saved, as it helps re-use the UI elements in your new app from any existing application.
5. Greater Focus on Mobile Security
We all know how mobile devices have become the primary source for most users to access the web and perform online activities. With such a rapid increase in the use of mobile phones, the risk of security breaches is also escalating. Of course, you don’t want hackers to crack your customers’ sensitive information, since it can risk your company’s reputation. Unfortunately, most of the developers don’t seem to pay much heed to creating security prevention software to avoid security attacks. However, with the development of security apps, you can expect better protection against vulnerabilities.
Remember, security has always been a common concern among users since the past few years, and it will remain so in the distant future. So, in case you belong to a web development company and would like to grow as a developer, building security apps can help you succeed in your endeavors.
Wrapping Up
The web development trends covered in this post tell about the challenges that developers will face in the future to meet the constantly varying consumer demands. Also, the trends provides a clear picture of how the new technology developments will make the process of developing web solutions a lot simple and easy. But, remember there are still a lot of trends that will likely dominate the web development industry, which includes the growth of more advanced tools and platforms.
