Regardless of the type of website you wish to create, it is important to stay up to date with web development trends. This allows you to meet the needs of your website visitors, which will increase conversions as well as return traffic.

Professional web developers make it a point to always be aware of the most recent trends, so they can deliver innovative websites that stand out from the competition. However, it does not hurt for you to also be familiar with the current trends. This way, you know what to expect from your web developer and can better understand their suggestions.

Artificial intelligence

Every aspect of technology has started relying on artificial intelligence more, including web development. Experts predict that artificial intelligence is not just a passing fad; it is a full-fledged trend. AI is likely to be a trendy part of web development until it becomes more mainstream.

Whether it is trendy or mainstream, companies will want to include some element of artificial intelligence in their websites. The question is, what is the best way to go about incorporating AI into web development?

Chatbots

Among modern web design features, live chat is among the most used and appreciated inclusions from the perspective of a website visitor. In the past, live chats could only function when a member of the website’s team was available to talk, but artificial intelligence has changed this. So far, this is perhaps the most common integration of AI into web development for 2019.

Chatbots combine machine learning and artificial intelligence to reduce the resources that a company needs to communicate with website visitors and answer basic queries. At the moment, the use of chatbots will still stick to relatively basic things, such as offering surveys and answering FAQs. However, this will likely continue to expand in 2019 as AI and machine learning technology advance.

Dedicated designs that are mobile-friendly

Web developers recognise that a significant amount of online browsing now occurs on smartphones instead of computers. When computers were the primary access method, web developers would focus on creating a website that worked well on a range of browsers and worked tolerably well on mobile devices. Now, however, this is not enough since a lacklustre mobile website will result in loss of traffic.

This means that the trend of designing a website specifically to be mobile-friendly has grown and will continue to do so in 2019. While this has been the case for several years, making a dedicated design that excels on mobile devices is becoming critical.

Progressive web apps

With the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, some web development trends are related to mobile access to the website. Progressive web apps (PWAs) are growing in popularity. These are websites that appear as well as act like a conventional or native mobile application. These websites deliver the benefits of browser technology combined with those of a mobile experience. Progressive web apps also tend to be more secure, faster, and light on usage.

A progressive web application is based on CSS, JS, and HTML. It follows the basic principles of autonomy, being native, and full adaptability to smart devices. Keep in mind that progressive web apps have actually been an important trend for at least a year now, but they are still growing in popularity.

Push notifications

When browsing the internet, it becomes clear that a growing number of websites ask permission to send push notifications. This began as a simple method of asking website viewers to act, but it is now a key trend that will continue well into 2019.

Push notifications are particularly useful for mobile devices since they provide the same advantages as push notifications from applications without having to download an app. Web developers have increased the incorporation of this feature thanks to its popularity among users who appreciate the convenience.

Single-page websites

When websites first appeared, most were a single page. This eventually changed, and nearly all websites had multiple pages. This allowed for improved organisation and targeted landing pages. However, web developers and agencies have begun to move back toward single-page websites, which are growing in popularity.

Web developers in 2019 will begin to seriously consider whether a given website is best as a single page or multiple pages. This transition comes down to user convenience since people no longer want to have to click through multiple pages to find the information they need. This is particularly true on mobile devices since it is inconvenient to constantly return to the main menu.

Voice search optimisation

Voice searches also are growing in popularity. This trend requires web developers to incorporate elements that make it easier to use voice searches. Between smartphone assistants, such as Siri and Cortana, and home device assistants, such as Alexa, voice search is becoming a part of life. In 2019, many web developers will begin incorporating some element of voice search onto their websites, either via a voice search recognition API or another solution.

Use of web modules for page creation

While professional web developers will remain in high demand in 2019, more and more people will try to design their websites themselves. This has consistently become easier thanks to the prevalence of modules and similar platforms that allow users to construct their own websites with minimal or no coding knowledge. WordPress is among the most commonly used modules at the moment. In 2019, the list will continue to grow as more competitors, such as Gutenberg, earn recognition.

As has always been the case, the websites made using these modules will not have as many features or as much appeal as those that are professionally developed. However, the expansion of and improvements to web modules will actually push web developers to enhance their own offerings to stay competitive and prove the added value of their services. This will lead to the successful development of even more web design innovations, including those we cannot yet imagine.