Websites have been an essential part of everyday life for quite some time now - from social media and shopping to education and entertainment. But how did it all begin? Let’s explore the fascinating history of websites, from the very first page to the modern web we use today.
1. The Birth of the World Wide Web (1989-1991)
The idea of the World Wide Web was proposed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while working at CERN. His goal was to create a system for researchers to share information easily across a network. In 1991, he launched the first website, a simple page explaining how the web worked.
Key technologies introduced during this period included:
- HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
- HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
Source: CERN
2. The Rise of Public Websites (1993-1995)
In 1993, the release of the Mosaic browser marked a turning point for the internet. As the first widely adopted graphical browser, Mosaic made it easier for non-technical users to access websites. Shortly after, websites like Yahoo! (founded in 1994) and Amazon (launched in 1995) began to appear, ushering in the era of the commercial web.
3. The Dot-Com Boom (1996-2000)
The late 1990s saw a surge in internet adoption. Companies rushed to establish an online presence during the dot-com boom, with many experimenting with e-commerce and digital branding. Technologies evolved to include:
- HTML tables and frames for layout
- Basic interactivity with JavaScript
- Visual enhancements using animated GIFs and Flash
Google also emerged during this period, registering its domain on September 15th, 1997 and launching its search engine in 1998.
Source: Nicholas Jenkins/Stanford
4. Web 2.0 and the Social Web (2001-2010)
The early 2000s introduced a major shift in how websites worked. The term Web 2.0, popularised by Tim O’Reilly, described a more interactive web driven by user-generated content and community participation.
Notable developments:
- Launch of Facebook (2004) and YouTube (2005)
- Use of AJAX and JavaScript for dynamic content
- Separation of content and style using CSS
5. The Mobile Revolution and Responsive Design (2010–2015)
With the explosion of smartphone usage, websites needed to adapt to smaller screens and touch interfaces. Responsive web design became a standard approach, allowing sites to scale fluidly across devices.
Google reinforced this shift by prioritising mobile-friendly websites in its search results - a major change in how websites were ranked.
6. The Modern Web (2015–Today)
Today’s websites are fast, accessible, and user-centred. Key technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) enable rich experiences that rival native apps.
Web development now considers:
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Structured data, meta tags, sitemap.xml, robots.txt, and keyword semantics to improve visibility in search results.
- Accessibility (a11y): Following WCAG standards to ensure websites are usable by people with disabilities (e.g. screen reader support, keyboard navigation).
- Performance: Optimising for speed and responsiveness using Core Web Vitals, lazy loading, image optimisation, and asset minification.
- Security: Implementing HTTPS, CSP headers, input sanitisation, and protection against XSS/CSRF.
- Responsive & Mobile-first Design: Ensuring seamless usability across devices and screen sizes.
- Progressive Enhancement: Building websites that work on all browsers while offering advanced features where supported.
- Privacy & Compliance: Adhering to data protection laws like GDPR, cookie consent policies, and user data handling transparency.
- Sustainability: Minimising carbon impact through lightweight design, efficient code, and green hosting.
- User Experience (UX): Prioritising intuitive navigation, readability, interaction design, and reducing friction.
... AND SO MUCH MORE!
Final Thoughts...
From the first static page at CERN to dynamic applications used by billions, the history of websites is a testament to continuous innovation. Understanding this evolution gives us perspective on the future of digital experiences - from AI to immersive web technologies.
Is your website feeling a bit old and outdated? Let’s leave the history to the historians - get in touch and we’ll build you something fresh 🙌
