Web Applications are more popular than ever. They are easy to access for users and run instantaneously from any modern web browser or device. They do not require any additional downloads or even plugins in most cases. For any company that does not have an in-house Javascript developer, it would be strategic to consider outsourcing talent and hiring an offshore Javascript development company.
However, web apps, just like websites, need to be user-friendly to be effective with a wider audience. They also need to have an easy to follow and understandable user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). This is where Javascript knowledge can come in handy.
Javascript is a markup programming language that is one of the three pillars of Web development alongside HTML and CSS. It is the language used for interactive web apps.
What makes Javascript a great language to learn is that it is an object-oriented language easier to understand for anyone just getting into programming. Objects can be defined and content can be changed on the fly producing dynamic results.
UX Defined
A product’s user experience (UX) defines how accessible it is to new users, how easy and seamless it is to navigate its interface and the overall experience it offers. In this case, we define the product as a web application or a website. Effective websites and web apps should have users coming back and interested due to how valuable it is and how efficient it is to use.
A product is more than the sum of its parts. It is not just about accessible or easy to use software. Products have to address the needs of the market, instead of just the creator’s dreams. The product has to be seamless, from its creation to its final delivery.
However, besides just accessibility, features and functionality, good UX should have a great style that separates it from the flock. Aesthetics and interactivity are great ways to add style to the overall UX design.
Web Sites vs Web Apps
Web sites and web apps are two different sides of a coin. They both offer rich functionality that is accessible via any mobile or desktop browser. However, their purpose and definition differ.
Web sites focus on information rather than interactivity. They provide information about your company and what it focuses on or offers. Web apps, on the other hand, focus on accessibility and allow users to interact with products directly via a browser.
Not All Experiences Are Made Equal
User experience impacts the overall design of a site or web app when looked at from the perspective of a user or site visitor. It is the defining characteristic that separates it from other competing sites and apps. This is why it can mean all the difference in a competitive industry.
Many sites have a high bounce rate and this is because they lack effective UX. The latter defines how well information flows, how users can navigate the different pages and how they can interact with the content effectively.
How Does Javascript Fit In?
Javascript allows for interactive elements to be added to web apps and web pages with efficiency. Users can input their names, data and play games right from their browsers. As opposed to this, standard HTML code is often stagnant and non-interactive. Here are some examples of using Javascript to boost UX design:
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A map that is interactive and offers users the ability to see proximity to your office location
Wired elements like writing on a page that look like they were hand-drawn
Interesting animation effects when users click on a button such as a birthday card saying happy birthday with an animation
Custom scrolling on a page
Fully customizable and responsive SVG charts and graphs, such as pie charts
Heat maps that offer clients the ability to track their users’ activities
Animation such as a short film playing directly on a site
Responsive full-screen videos as background using Bideo.js and more
All of these things contribute to an effective UX. These features and interactivity allow users to be comfortable with the applications and sites. This, in turn, will keep them coming back for more.
Examples in Motion
Think of a web-based product such as Brand24. This is a Polish startup that offers companies the ability to track social media and web mentions of their brand and products. Everything is done as a web app and interactivity includes the ability to choose which social media to monitor and the sort of mentions you are looking for.
Another example of good Javascript implementation includes LegWork’s website animations. The design studio makes great use of Javascript in the way it offers animations via reels and mixed media examples. The website also offers seamless and visually-pleasing transitions from content to content and section to section within a sidebar.
Heat maps are also a huge reason to implement Javascript code and a company called Mouseflow offers a good example of how such heat maps can be implemented effectively. It offers its clients the ability to track users visiting their websites based on geographical locations and more.
Conclusion
As more companies offer applications that run as web apps rather than standalone apps, the UX needs to reflect this shifting dynamic. Sites and apps need to offer more than just a product that is desirable, the interaction with them has to be seamless too. Javascript is a popular language today as it helps to boost UX design and development, and it is easy to get into and learn.
