A brief history of websites

Thu, 15 Aug 2024

It’s a strange thing that we don’t tend to notice the advancement of technology as it happens – we just take it all on board.

Sometimes it’s worth stopping to take a look at how we actually got where we are. The history of websites, for example, is a fascinating journey that mirrors the growth of the internet and the evolution of digital technology as it changed and grew before our eyes. Here, then, is a brief history:

1. Birth of the Internet (1960s-1980s):

The origins of websites can be traced back to the development of the internet in the 1960s. The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), created by the United States Department of Defence, was the precursor to the modern internet. In the 1980s, the World Wide Web (WWW) was invented by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee. He proposed the idea of linking documents using hyperlinks, which laid the foundation for the creation of websites as we know them.

2. The First Website (1991):

On August 6, 1991, Berners-Lee published the world's first website. It was a simple text-based page that explained the World Wide Web project and provided information on how to access documents online. Its address was http://info.cern.ch, and it marked the beginning of the public internet era.

3. HTML and Web Browsers (Early 1990s):

In the early 1990s, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) was developed as the standard language for creating web pages. This allowed designers and developers to structure content and add hyperlinks to create interconnected web pages. During this time, web browsers such as Mosaic (1993) and Netscape Navigator (1994) were introduced, making it easier for users to navigate the web and view web pages with graphical elements.

4. The Dot-Com Boom (Late 1990s):

The late 1990s witnessed the dot-com boom, a period of rapid growth in internet-related businesses and sites. Many companies rushed to establish an online presence, leading to a surge in website development and e-Commerce platforms. Sites became more sophisticated, incorporating images, animated GIFs, and basic JavaScript interactions.

5. Introduction of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and Web Standards (Late 1990s-2000s):

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) were introduced as a way to separate the presentation and layout of web pages from the underlying HTML structure. This improved the consistency and efficiency of web design and allowed for more complex page layouts. Web standards and best practices emerged, promoting accessibility, cross-browser compatibility, and usability.

6. 3Legs Ltd founded (I had to get us in here somewhere…)

7. Rise of Dynamic Content (2000s):

As internet technology advanced, sites began to incorporate dynamic content and database-driven functionality. Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress (2003) and Joomla (2005) made it easier for non-technical users to create and manage sites. They became more interactive with the integration of forms, user accounts, and personalized content.

8. Web 2.0 and social media (Mid-2000s):

The concept of Web 2.0 emerged in the mid-2000s, signifying a shift from static web pages to dynamic and user-driven content. Web 2.0 sites encouraged user participation, social interaction, and collaboration. Social media platforms like Facebook (2004), YouTube (2005), and Twitter (2006) revolutionized online communication, leading to a surge in user-generated content which changed the face of the Web forever.

9. Mobile Responsiveness (2010s):

With the rapid adoption of smartphones and mobile devices, mobile responsiveness became paramount. Sites needed to adapt to various screen sizes and resolutions to provide a seamless user experience across devices. Responsive web design became a standard practice, ensuring that sites looked great and functioned well on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

10. Modern Web Development (Present):

Today, websites continue to evolve with advancements in technology. Web developers now use frameworks and libraries  to build highly interactive and responsive websites. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) combine the best of web and mobile apps, allowing them to function offline and provide a native “app-like” experience, while the advancement of A.I. has created a paradigm shift in content creation.

It's fairly safe to say that the journey of the Web in such a short time has been nothing short of extraordinary. From text-based pages to cutting-edge, immersive experiences, websites have changed the way we access information, shop, socialize, and more. As technology continues to advance, we can expect them to evolve further, offering even more innovative and immersive experiences for users worldwide.