8 fundamental stages in the web application development process

To survive the fast-paced market competition, web application development is a fundamental tool for every business. To a large extent, the development process is based on a three-tier software development model that includes users, businesses, and data services. This type of design is used to separate a web application into service provider and customer networks.

Here we will know some essential phases to follow in the web development process.

• Brainstorming an agenda: This is the first step, which is to establish the goal and purpose of developing the particular web application. Basically, the definition of a roadmap will be followed to draw an appropriate direction for the project.

• Identification of the target audience: This phase usually involves defining the intended audience for your web application. This step requires you to prepare a proper analytics report, which includes information such as the type of audience, their web access capabilities, their security levels, and quantitative audience statistics.

• Creating a document for detailed functional specifications or featured summary: The functional specification document is among the most important documents in an application development project. This is designed to eliminate any confusion in the future. This document lists all the technical specifications and functionalities of the web application under development. Although in the case of large projects, it is quite difficult to detail the behavior of each user. For such projects, a featured summary document can be prepared and used.

• Identify and analyze any external providers: Developing a web application is often an inexpensive process, especially when outsourced. So, third-party providers are identified here including: web application development companies, payment gateways and merchant accounts, SSL service providers, fulfillment centers, and service providers for servers, firewalls, networking, and load balancing equipment.

• Selection of technology and specification of the time frame and the structure of the application: It is the step where the application development platform, technology, framework and environment are defined. Along with this, the schedule within which the development of the web application will be achieved is determined.

• Layout design and wire frame: Interface design and layout is considered as the most critical stages of any development project. It starts with creating a simple UI sketch and some visual instructions. After the approval of the interface and interaction models, the implementation of the project design follows.

• Applications development: This stage deals with the creation of the architecture and framework of the application, the design of its database structure, the development of modules, classes and libraries, and the implementation of the functionalities mentioned in the specification document.

• Testing: It is the final step in the web application development project. It involves QA testing and bug fixing. Every application under development must go through all the proper testing techniques, including load testing, stress testing, performance, and usability testing.

An application that is well-tested is ready for deployment and release, after which the appropriate implementation steps can be followed.