Beginning your journey as a web developer is definitely a mix of excitement and a bit of overwhelm. There's just so much out there to learn and discover; it can really make you feel a bit lost sometimes. No need to stress; sticking to best practices can really help you create websites that are better, cleaner, and more efficient. We’re going to discuss a few essential web development best practices that every beginner should be aware of. Let's get started!
 

• Adopt responsive design!

These days, folks are checking out websites on all sorts of devices, big and small. To make sure your website looks awesome on all devices, go for a mobile-first approach and use responsive design techniques. Using CSS frameworks like TailwindCSS can really help you save a lot of time.

Example:

body {
  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
  margin: 0;
}
.container {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .container {
    flex-direction: row;
  }
}

• Use Semantic HTML

Using semantic HTML really helps with accessibility and SEO. Using tags like <header>, <main>, <article>, and <footer> can really help search engines and assistive technologies get a clearer picture of your content.

Here's a little tip for you:
Try not to use <div> or <span> if there are better descriptive tags you can use instead.

• Make Your Images Better

Big image files can really drag down your site’s speed. You might want to try compressing your images with tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim. If you're using modern browsers, try out formats like WebP. They offer better compression and quality!

Also, try using the loading="lazy" attribute to hold off on loading images that aren't in view until they're actually needed. This can really help boost your page speed.

Example:

<img src="image.webp" alt="Descriptive text" loading="lazy">

• Use Git Version Control

Never let your code modifications get lost once again. Learn the foundations of Git and handle your projects using GitLab or GitHub.

Example:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git push origin main

• Follow the DRY Principle

DRY is "Don't Repeat Himself." Create reusable components or functions for jobs you do often to prevent copying codes.

Example:

function formatDate(date) {
  return new Date(date).toLocaleDateString();
}
console.log(formatDate('2023-01-01')); // Outputs: 1/1/2023

• Give Security top importance

To avoid security flaws such SQL Injection or XSS (cross-site scripting), always verify and sanitize user inputs. Libraries like DOMPurify may help HTML inputs be cleaned.

Example:

import DOMPurify from 'dompurify';
const cleanHTML = DOMPurify.sanitize('<script>alert(1)</script>');
console.log(cleanHTML); // Safe output

• Learn the Foundations of SEO

Good SEO techniques raise the search engine result page ranking for your website. Use alt attributes for photos, correct heading structures, and meaningful meta tags.

For instance:

<meta name="description" content="Learn the best practices for web development as a beginner.">

• Reviewing Your Code

Bugs happen, but testing reduces bugs. Test your code for edge situations and functionality with Jest or Cypress.

Example:

test('adds 1 + 2 to equal 3', () => {
  expect(1 + 2).toBe(3);
});

• Pay Attention to Performance

Minify your JavaScript and CSS scripts; lazily load assets; and leverage CDNs for quicker delivery.

Example:

<script src="https://cdn.example.com/library.min.js" defer></script>

• Keep learning!

Web development is always changing. Keep yourself in the loop by checking out blogs, trying out new tools, and getting involved in communities like freeCodeCamp or Stack Overflow.

Here's a little tip for you:
Take some time each week to pick up something new or work on a little project.

To wrap things up

If you stick to these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to creating websites that are better, faster, and more secure. Remember, web development is an ongoing journey, so make sure to keep practicing and getting better!
Enjoy coding! 🎉