Think Smart Solutions

There are many websites dedicated to this subject. Why write a blog on what is a website when so many articles exist. I believe because none of them could explain them clearly. I had to learn a lot on my own in developing web pages from scratch. Let me begin by starting off with the basics. Web pages are created using a combination of HTML, CSS and Javascript. Some really technical people might say what about PHP, Perl, CGI, etc. Well those are server side technologies ultimately create dynamic HTML code.

What is HTML?

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language and was invented by Tim Berners-Lee, a physicist working European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland. He wanted to create way for scientists to collaborate and share information. The main part of HTML was the use of links to other pages of work. This was a way for authors of content to give create to sources used in the creation of their piece. Web pages were created by a series of tags which are interpreted by your computer’s browser on the page. Each tag has a specific function for rendering content on the page. Most notable of tags is the table tag. This tag was created for displaying tabular data but early web designers found another function for tables. Displaying graphics and thus the true web was born. Many beautiful and intricate sites used tables for displaying layout and content. This was not what it was designed for and therefore created problems in the future.

Why are table tags bad?

Table tags for displaying tabular data, not for website layout. When the web was invented it was basically a standard way for creating documents that would be shared on the Internet. The created didn’t expect that the web could be so much more, graphics, multimedia, audio could be added to HTML documents. Most people will not even look at a website unless it is graphically appealing. Tables add to the overall size your web page. Screen readers view them as part of the document, not the layout. Accessibility will be an issue for those viewing your website. The more tables that exists the harder it is to process the website.

Why do so many websites still use tables?

Why we still go to McDonalds even though we know that the Big Mac is bad for us. It is because of convenience. Many large websites would have to be totally revamped which costs money. It might not be cost effective to consider those using screen readers to view your website. While I believe that major institutions should improve the accessibility to their websites ultimately very few have complained. A Chief Information Officer for a major institution told me that it wasn’t feasible to create a website completely table less because of the size of their website. I found this argument strange because larger websites would benefit greatly by reducing their code on the server, making it more accessible, easier to index, and reducing the complexity of the website.

Why do so many bad sites look good?

Well that’s because many web designers are not into coding websites. They are into creating really attractive websites with little substance. Websites are about content. Really that was the goal of HTML’s author Tim Berners-Lee. Problem is that nobody wants content that’s bland. We want rich colors, dynamic feedback, and animation. I had redesigned a website for a friend of mine and really liked the Flash animation used at the introduction of the website. It appears as if the authors of this website simply used a template. I came to that conclusion after review the navigation elements and seeing names like menu1, menu2, etc. After navigating the website I had discovered that there were dead-links, generic menu items, Flash based navigation. Using the website as a starting base I had decided to use the main colors in the website and totally redesign the layout. I had removed the flash based navigation, included a sitemap, using CSS for the layout of the page. Here is what the website looks like now.

The limitations of HTML

HTML is a great markup language, simple in its design which is why it became so popular. But because of its simplistic, loose structure, it needed other languages to make it more dynamic, robust. Javascript offered client-side dynamic actions to HTML, coining the term DHTML. Flash was used to create animations that would be extremely complex using DHTML. Flash has evolved to become a multimedia format for presenting programs, games, videos, even websites. Some people have created complete websites from flash. It is my opinion that Flash should not be used for website elements such as navigation or page layout. Flash does have its place in website Introductions, videos, and interactive games.

Introduction of Internet Based Applications

Web based applications have become the gold rush of developers today. This is because we have become a more interconnected society and having access to applications on the web is better than having them installed on your computer because you might not always have access to your computer. You might, for example, be at a friend’s house and need to update a document that you were working on earlier. Having documents online allows you to quickly access information when you need it as well as collaborate with other users, such as class mates. These Internet based applications use a combination of technologies, Apache, PHP, IIS, Ajax, ASP.NET, MySQL, etc. Applications typically need the same things, a platform, database, and host. These technologies are important for web-based application development.

Why are websites great

Websites are a collection of webpages that present a topic, idea, product, etc. The ability to speak to people around the world is priceless. The printing press allowed for mass production of books which improved the spread of ideas. The Internet takes it one step further by allowing content to be displayed around the world. It allows smaller players to have a voice within our society. Great website are created by individuals not large corporations. More and more technology levels the playing field between large institutions and small organizations.