8 Common Mistakes Web Developers Make and How They Can Be Avoided

Creating web applications is an intricate and time-consuming process. For a web application to work, developers need to write error-free code, which may be easier said than done.

No matter how well-trained or experienced a web developer may be, mistakes are inevitable and may severely affect the development process.

These mistakes may cause bugs, poor functionality, and security loopholes, which may lead to a poor user experience. Therefore, it's essential to avoid such mistakes at all costs.

This minimizes the likelihood of setbacks in the web development process and ensures the optimal functionality of an app.

Here are the eight common mistakes web developers make and how they can be avoided:

1. Not Having an Error Handling Mechanism

When creating a web application, developers often neglect the importance of having an error handling mechanism in place.

An error handling mechanism makes it possible for you to detect and resolve errors as soon as they occur.

These errors may lead to a clunky user experience and severely affect the performance of a web application. They may also cause security vulnerabilities and make an application susceptible to unauthorized information access.

However, an error handling mechanism makes it possible for an app to quickly recover from such errors and offer a seamless experience to its users. Hence, implementing a robust error handling mechanism in your code is highly recommended.

2. Poor Documentation

Another common mistake that web developers often make is poor documentation, which may severely affect collaboration and project scalability.

Sometimes, a web application may require multiple developers to work on it. So, not having proper documentation may cause confusion and make things difficult for developers working on the codebase.

This may either cause developers to make mistakes when working on the project or take more time to complete it.

Therefore, it's highly recommended that you document your code in a standardized way and share in-depth details about the project by adding comments within the code.

This facilitates team collaboration and makes it easier for you to leverage external human resources.

3. Inappropriate Testing

Another common mistake web developers often make is deploying the code without properly testing it.

This may cause glitches and affect the functionality of your web app. The appropriate way of doing things is to get the code reviewed by the peers first in order to gather meaningful insights and identify potential issues.

The next thing you should do is conduct a series of tests. This will help you identify the errors early on and take appropriate measures to rectify them.

Testing ensures that your code is fully functional and stable, making it possible for you to create a stellar and glitch-free web application.

4. Ignoring Code Optimization

Leaving your code unoptimized may lead to poor performance and a glitchy user experience. This is one of the reasons why websites often struggle with poor load times and fail to engage the intended audience.

It's reported that a 1-second delay in your website's load time may cause up to 11% loss in page views and a drop in conversions by up to 7%.

Neglecting code optimization not only affects the performance of websites but may also lead you to develop apps full of bugs. This may be one of the major contributors to your churn rate as you struggle to retain users.

So, it's a mistake you should always avoid, and remember to optimize your code to ensure the best performance of your app.

5. Not Catering to Security Vulnerabilities

Security is of the utmost importance when developing a web application. If you don't take appropriate measures, you may end up developing an app with vulnerabilities that can easily be exploited by cybercriminals.

This makes your app susceptible to hacking attempts and data breach incidents, compromising sensitive information about your business and users.

Therefore, it's highly recommended that you get acquainted with the potential security threats and deploy fitting countermeasures during the development process.

6. Sticking to the Old Ways of Coding

Just because a code works doesn't mean that you can't optimize it. The way developers used to code is evolving. So, if you don't stick to the latest web design trends and best practices, you may end up writing code that may work but not give you the best output.

This may lead to issues like code bloat, which may end up affecting the performance of the web applications developed. So, it's best to stay tuned to the latest frameworks and methodologies.

There are many ways you can do this. Attending webinars and conferences may prove to be beneficial. Plus, you can join relevant online communities and connect with other developers to learn what they've been doing.

Continuous improvement is the key to success here. So, it's best that you keep improving your skills and leverage the current best practices to get the best results from your efforts.

7. Not Taking Screen Size into Consideration

Another common mistake web developers often make is not taking different screen sizes into consideration when developing apps.

People have diverse preferences and may use different devices with varying screen sizes to access apps or websites.

This means you should always consider creating apps with a responsive design to make up for different screen resolutions.

This is how you offer a seamless experience to users accessing your apps using different types of devices, such as desktops, smartphones, and tablets.

You can create responsive web applications through a variety of development platforms. All you need to do is choose the one best suited for you and stick to the best practices when building your application.

8. Ignoring Browser Compatibility

People's preferences aren't limited to accessing web applications through different devices. They may also prefer different web browsers. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that the web applications developed are compatible with all leading web browsers.

You may use your preferred browser during the development process. But as the app nears completion, you should consider testing it using the rest of the browsers.

The goal here is to identify and fix the issues before you've finished creating the app, as it will save a lot of time and effort.

Creating an app compatible with all leading browsers ensures high satisfaction among users, which in turn helps you boost retention.

Final Words

There you have it: the eight common mistakes web developers make and how they can be avoided.

Avoiding such mistakes helps you create stellar web applications that are capable of offering a seamless experience to their users and preventing them from exploring other alternatives.