Latest standards and proposals aim at leading to browsers' ability
to deliver a wide variety of media and accessibility options to the client
possibly without employing plug-ins.
Typically web pages are classified as static or dynamic.
Static pages don't change content and layout with every request unless a human
(web master/programmer) manually updates the page.
Dynamic pages adapt their content and/or appearance depending on end-user's
input/interaction or changes in the computing environment (user, time, database
modifications, etc.) Content can be changed on the client side (end-user's
computer) by using client-side scripting languages (JavaScript, JScript,
Actionscript, etc.) to alter DOM elements.
Dynamic content is often compiled on the server utilizing server-side scripting
languages (Perl, PHP, ASP, JSP, ColdFusion, etc.). Both approaches are usually
used in complex applications.
With growing specialization in the information technology field there is a
strong tendency to draw a clear line between web design and web development.
The Content of your Web Site
Content evaluation and organization requires that the purpose of the website be
clearly defined. Collecting a list of the necessary content then organizing it
according to the audience's needs is a key step in website planning.
In the process of gathering the content being offered, any items that do not
support the defined purpose or accomplish target audience objectives should be
removed.
It is a good idea to test the content and purpose on a focus group and compare
the offerings to the audience needs.
The next step is to organize the basic information structure by categorizing the
content and organizing it according to user needs.
Each category should be named with a concise and descriptive title that will
become a link on the website.
Planning for the site's content ensures that the wants/needs of the target
audience and the purpose of the site will be fulfilled.
Planning documentation
Documentation is used to visually plan the site while taking into account the
purpose, audience and content, to design the site structure, content and
interactions that are most suitable for the website. Documentation may be
considered a prototype for the website – a model which allows the website layout
to be reviewed, resulting in suggested changes, improvements and/or
enhancements.
This review process increases the likelihood of success of the website.
First, the content is categorized and the information structure is formulated.
The information structure is used to develop a document or visual diagram called
a site map. This creates a visual of how the web pages will be interconnected,
which helps in deciding what content will be placed on what pages. There are
three main ways of diagramming the website structure:
Linear Website Diagrams will allow the users to move in a predetermined
sequence;
Hierarchical structures (of Tree Design Website Diagrams) provide more than one
path for users to take to their destination;
Branch Design Website Diagrams allow for many interconnections between web pages
such as hyperlinks within sentences.
In addition to planning the structure, the layout and interface of individual
pages may be planned using a storyboard. In the process of storyboarding, a
record is made of the description, purpose and title of each page in the site,
and they are linked together according to the most effective and logical diagram
type. Depending on the number of pages required for the website, documentation
methods may include using pieces of paper and drawing lines to connect them, or
creating the storyboard using computer software.
Some or all of the individual pages may be designed in greater detail as a
website wireframe, a mock up model or comprehensive layout of what the page will
actually look like.
This is often done in a graphic program, or layout design program.
The wireframe has no working functionality, only planning.
