The Internet is a constantly evolving world, frequently redefining it limits and capabilities. This, of course, poses a challenge for any business or organization that wants to keep its web presence up-to-date. The days of flat sites are long gone'a page of text, pictures, and links will simply miss the mark. Today, a web site must be able to work. Users have come to expect a web site to carry numerous functionalities and features. This is where the field of Web Development comes in: Web Development deals with the intricate programming that fashions a website into an intricate, working tool.

Below are some plain-English definitions of important services in Web Development:

E-Commerce

E-Commerce is a technology that facilitates online transactions within secure web stores. E-commerce sites allow visitors to purchase products directly from their website.

Content Management System (CMS)

CMS is a newer programming trend in which individual page elements can be altered by the user without the need to refresh the entire page. Some common uses for a CMS system are managing a list of events or a news articles section.

Intranet

This is a closed web network that can be used by business employees or organization members as a tool for accessing important information with the company. Some common uses for intranets are to store client/customer information or to access company forms.

Applications

Web applications are page functionalities that are custom programmed to meet the specific interactive needs of a given site. One common web application is a store/rep locator.

Back-End System Integration

Back-End System Integration is a term that refers to the behind-the-scenes work it takes to keep all of the different technical elements of a website in working harmony. An example of back-end system integration would be an e-commerce site that also stores the customers? information into an intranet database for marketing purposes. The e-commerce system and intranet system would have to be integrated together so the process can work seamlessly.

The web has changed, and it most certainly will change again. As it happens, the flow of Internet evolution appears to favor user interactivity. Today's users want to see a website that will work with them. And from e-commerce to web applications, a website is now capable of being a very handy tool.