Comparison between building a website and a house
In this article, we’ll explore the similarities between building a website and a house.
Land = Hosting
Before you can start building a house or a website, you need a suitable location. For a house, this means choosing a plot of land on which to build. In the web world, the equivalent of land is hosting. Web hosting is the online space where your site will be “built”. It needs to be chosen carefully, taking into account factors such as capacity, security, speed and availability, just as you would for a piece of real estate.
Postal address = Domain name
A home’s postal address is what allows people to locate it in the physical world. For a website, the equivalent is the domain name. This is the online address that allows users to access your site. Choose a relevant and memorable domain name, as it will become your site’s identity on the Internet. Similarly, a postal address will define the location of your home.
Foundation = Technological choices and CMS
The foundation of a house is what supports the structure and gives it stability. For a website, the foundation is the choice of technology and the CMS (Content Management System) you use. Choosing the right technology and a solid CMS is essential to support the structure of your website and guarantee its long-term stability.
Plan = UX / Wireframes
A floor plan is essential for organising space and functionality. Similarly, UX (User Experience) and wireframes are crucial elements of website design. UX looks at how users interact with your website. Wireframes provide a visual structure, just as a house plan shows the layout of the rooms.
Design and choice of materials = UI / Design
The design of a home and website is the personalisation stage that adds character and appeal. UI (User Interface) and web design are the equivalents of this stage. Web design selects colours, fonts, images and creates the visual appearance of your website. The design of a house defines the choice of materials, cladding, hardware, paint, etc.
Construction = Website development
Building a house involves the physical construction of the structure. In the case of a website, it is development that takes care of this task. Web developers use code to build the structure and functionality of your site. Builders, on the other hand, use materials and tools to erect a house.
Accessible = Responsive + accessibility
A house needs to be accessible and comfortable for its inhabitants. Similarly, a website must be accessible to all users, whatever their device. This means that the site must be “responsive”, i.e. it must adapt to different screen sizes. It must also comply with accessibility standards for users with special needs.
Moving in and decorating = Adding content and images
Once the house is built, you furnish and decorate it to make it welcoming. Similarly, once the basic structure of a website is ready, you add content, images, text and media to make it attractive and informative.
Housework = Quality control
Cleaning the house involves making sure that every room is clean and that everything is working properly. Similarly, quality control of a website involves checking that all functionality is compliant, that links aren’t broken, that content is up to date, and that performance is optimal. Just as you need a checklist for cleaning your house, it’s essential to have a Quality Assurance (QA) process in place for your website.
Housewarming = Website launch
Finally, the inauguration of a house is often marked by a house-warming party, a welcoming ceremony for guests. For a website, the launch is the equivalent of the house-warming. It’s the moment when the site goes online and is opened to the public to welcome visitors for the first time.
Maintenance = Continuity plan
In the longer term, home maintenance means ensuring that the plumbing and electrical systems are working properly and that everything is in order. Regular tests, updates and bug fixes are necessary to maintain the quality of your site and provide an optimal user experience. At the end of the day, whether you’re maintaining a house or a website, the aim is the same: to provide a clean, functional and pleasant environment for the occupants. This requires continuous effort and a commitment to quality.
Conclusion
Although building a website and building a house are different domains, the key steps share some surprising similarities. By considering these correspondences, we can better understand the construction and development processes, whether building physical or digital structures. So the next time you’re planning a website or building a house, keep these fascinating similarities in mind. Construction is an art, whether it’s made of bricks or bits. And rightly so, it relies on fundamental principles to succeed.
