In this blog, we’ll explore the key web development trends that will shape the industry in 2024.

Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web applications that are built using modern web technologies and are designed to work on any platform with a standards-compliant browser. PWAs are intended to be installable, fast, reliable, and engaging. They are also capable of working offline and can be updated automatically.

Here are some of the benefits of using PWAs:

  • They can be installed on devices, just like native apps. This means that users can access them from their home screens and even receive push notifications.
  • They are fast, even on slow internet connections. This is because they can cache data and resources locally.
  • They are reliable and can work offline. This is because they can use service workers to handle network requests and deliver content even when the device is offline.
  • They are engaging and can provide a native app-like experience. This is because they can use modern web technologies such as push notifications, web app banners, and the AppShellModel.

Some examples include:

  • X
  • Forbes
  • Starbucks
  • Flipkart

 

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is an open-source HTML framework that is designed to make web pages load faster on mobile devices. AMP pages are stripped down versions of regular web pages that use a subset of HTML tags and JavaScript that are known to be performance on mobile devices. AMP pages can also be cached by Google and other search engines, which can further improve loading speed.

Benefits of using AMP:

  • Faster loading times
  • Improved user experience
  • Increased visibility

How to create an AMP page:

There are a few different ways, but the easiest is to use a plugin or extension for your content management system (CMS). There are also several tools available online that can help you convert existing web pages to AMP.

Some examples of websites that include AMP include:

  • CNN
  • The New York Times
  • The Guardian
  • BBC News

 

Single Page Applications (SPA)

A single page application (SPA) is a web application that loads a single HTML page and dynamically updates the page as the user interacts with it. This contrasts with traditional web applications, where each page load involves a full page reload from the server.

Benefits of using SPAs:

  • Faster loading times
  • Improved user experience
  • Better performance

Challenges of developing SPAs:

  • SEO: SPAs can be more difficult to optimise for search engines because their content is not always visible to search engine crawlers.
  • Complexity: SPAs can be more complex to develop than traditional web applications because they require more JavaScript code.
  • Debugging: SPAs can be more difficult to debug because errors can be more difficult to track down.

Examples include:

  • Gmail
  • Google Maps
  • Airbnb
  • Netflix

 

JavaScript Frameworks

The Rise of Low Code and No-code Development

Low code and no-code development platforms are becoming increasingly popular, which is likely to lead to an increased demand for JavaScript frameworks that are easy to use and integrate with these platforms.

Growth of WebAssembly

WebAssembly became part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 2019 and is a new binary instruction format can be run in web browsers. It makes it possible to develop web applications using various programming languages other than JavaScript.

Benefits include:

  • Improved performance
  • Reduced development time
  • Increased security
  • Greater portability

Continued Adoption of Typescript

Typescript is a superset of JavaScript that adds optional static typing. This means that TypeScript code is JavaScript code, but it also has type annotations that help to catch errors early in the development process. TypeScript is designed to improve the reliability and maintainability of JavaScript code.

 

API First Development

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules and specifications that define how two pieces of software can communicate with each other. APIs are like the messengers that deliver requests from one application to another and bring back responses. They allow different applications to exchange data and functionality without having to know the inner workings of each other.

There are several reasons why API-first development is becoming increasingly popular:

  • APIs are becoming more important. APIs are the key to enabling communication between different applications and systems. As businesses become more interconnected, the need for APIs is growing.
  • API-first development can improve the speed and agility of development. By focusing on APIs first, developers can start working on new features and functionality sooner. This can lead to faster release cycles and a more responsive development process.
  • API-first development can improve the quality of software. By thinking about APIs early in the development process, developers can make sure that their code is well-architected and easy to use. This can lead to more maintainable and scalable software.
  • API-first development can make it easier to reuse software components. By creating well-defined APIs, developers can make it easier to reuse software components across different projects. This can save time and effort, and it can also lead to more consistent and reliable software.

 

Voice Search Optimisation

Voice search optimisation is expected to be a significant trend in web development in 2024 due to several factors, including:

  • Increased adoption of voice assistants
  • Convenience of hands-free interaction
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) advancements
  • Accessibility

 

Serverless Architecture

Serverless architecture is a cloud computing execution model that eliminates the need to manage servers. Instead, developers can focus on writing code for specific functions or services, where cloud providers handle the infrastructure, scaling, and maintenance. This approach offers several advantages, including:

  • Cost efficiency
  • Scalability
  • Flexibility
  • Reduced operational burden
  • Faster development cycles
  • Improved developer experience

 

Dark Mode Standardisation

In recent years, dark and low-light websites have gained popularity. 2024 will continue to see websites and apps offering dark mode user interfaces (UIs), as studies have found that at least 8 in 10 users prefer to use dark mode wherever possible.

As more developers continue to provide a built-in feature to switch between light and dark modes, it will become the norm for websites and web applications.

 

AI Chatbots

In 2024, AI bots are expected to play a significant role in web development, particularly in areas such as customer service and operational efficiency. AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 customer support, answer frequently asked questions, and resolve simple customer issues, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex tasks. Additionally, AI bots can automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry and report generation, allowing developers to focus on more creative and strategic work.