Building Blocks
We favour the following three building blocks of what we believe help create a great website.
- XHTML and CSS for creating highly accessible, user-controlled web pages
- PHP/MySQL for powerful, database-driven dynamic content
- Bespoke content management systems (CMS or secure intranet) allowing you to update, change and edit your own content
(X)HTML
XHTML is the successor of HTML and is designed to work with XML-based platforms. That doesn't help much explain what it is though. Basically, XHTML is a language used for laying out web pages that is specifically designed with future expansion in mind. Not only that, XHTML can be displayed with ease across many platforms and user agents.
Essentially, XHTML structures your content semantically so that the code itself carries meaning in relation to your content. For example, with XHTML, the heading of your page will always be interpreted as a heading and given prominence because of it. In old HTML, the heading of your page would simply be big text, with no semantic value.
A frightening amount of sites aren't built using valid (X)HTML. You can check the code of this page by cutting and pasting the URL of this site into the W3C HTML validator, or use this direct link to validate the code used on this page. Try entering other web addresses into the W3C validator too and you'll see what we mean. It's a minefield of errors out there.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. They work in conjunction with the HTML or XHTML to apply visual styles and layout to your content. Again, out-dated HTML would mix content and styling together all on one page, rendering your content near-useless for any visitors accessing your site outside of Microsoft/PC norms. Instead, CSS separates content and style and applies a series of styles across your entire site.
The other immense advantage of CSS is that site redesigns don't have to cost thousands and take months to carry through; simply editing the CSS file can change the appearance of your website, without having to touch the content or structure.
For an idea of the power behind CSS, try using the style-switcher on the right (the small, dark blue tabs). By selecting 'monochrome' or 'text-only', a new CSS is loaded but the page structure is exactly the same. Viewing the 'text-only' version gives you an idea of what the 'naked' page looks like. The only style applied here is one for the font. For another example, try printing out this page. Again, through the use of CSS, you can use the same content and structure, but you can style the output for different media. This is many times more cost-effective and efficient than reproducing content and duplicating pages.
Valid CSS is just as important as valid (X)HTML. You can use the W3C CSS validator to validate the CSS on this page and other sites too. Unfortunately, we use some advanced CSS3 in the print style sheet which doesn't currently validate. We hope the W3C will update their validators soon.
PHP
PHP is a powerful scripting language, specially designed for the web. Using PHP, we can turn a static page into a dynamic one. This means that your content can change with each new visit and adjust to each visitor. Ideally, you want to server up the right content for the right visitor and using some nifty database design, you can do just that. MySQL is the database side of dynamic sites. The PHP can pass information to the MySQL database and interrogate it and bring new information back.
We can advise you of the best way to manage and database your content for maximum flexibility. For example, a database for product orders can be extended to provide you with a web-based customer management facility which ties in with placed orders. Having all your data in one place means you can efficiently and quickly maintain not just the content on your site, but any other aspects of your business that tie in with that content.
CMS
A good CMS (Content Management System) is just as important as a good website - if not, more so. If you can't easily manage your site content, it will soon look and feel out of date and people will stop looking at it.
We don't use any software, nor do we package our systems as licensed software because this goes against our ideology of providing bespoke solutions. Both the front and back end of your website should be tailored to your exact needs. That way, both you and your visitors get the best possible performance from your site.
A CMS is accessed via a secure, password-protected web page. They can vary from one page that allows you to update the text on your homepage, to many-tiered content management systems designed for use by multiple users with different privileges. It all depends on what you want and need.
