How to Build Websites

Last Updated on May 1, 2025 by E. Scott

If you ask ten different developers how to build websites, it’s likely you’ll get ten different answers. Which is no surprise. Nor is it wrong, because there’s an innumerable amount of ways to build websites.

Building websites from scratch has become easier and more accessible than ever—but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. In fact, building websites from scratch is a multifaceted process full of traps for the inexperienced and limitations for the uninformed. What seems like a quick and cheap build on day one often results in a costly overhaul. Many underestimate the complexity of how to build websites from scratch until they find themselves knee-deep in compatibility issues and user complaints. Learning how to build websites effectively is crucial to avoid these pitfalls.

Personal Experiences

While contracting at one company, a team hired to build a complex application was unable to replicate the full feature. The project was abandoned and many tens of thousands of dollars were wasted.

Another project resulted in a third party team completing the task, but the code was absolutely atrocious. Changes that should’ve taken five minutes took hours in some cases.

A third experience I had was when many features were written in a different language/ framework. Project managers didn’t think it was necessary to enforce one company wide tech stack. They hired me to piece it all together using Single Spa. Though interesting, it was ultimately an unnecessary layer of maintenance.

Understanding how to build websites effectively is an ongoing journey that can open many doors.

The same issue occurred elsewhere in which the backend was comprised of Spring Boot, C-Sharp, Node, and PHP. That’s ridiculous. Why??

Reality Check

If you want to build websites from scratch, understanding these challenges are crucial.

When considering how to build websites, it’s essential to have a clear plan and understanding of the tools available.

Many people want to learn how to build websites from scratch to have full control over their online presence. Engaging in the creative process can be incredibly rewarding. Emotionally, financially, and professionally;

Taking the time to learn how to build websites from scratch will enhance your technical skills and open new opportunities.

One of the biggest challenges in learning how to build websites from scratch is ensuring that all of the parts—design, performance, responsiveness, security, and functionality—work seamlessly together. Getting just one of these wrong can impact your site’s usability and reputation. For instance, it’s common to see beautiful designs fall apart on mobile devices, or slick animations drag down site performance because of poor optimization. Building websites from scratch that balance beauty with performance is far more complicated than it may seem.

Another major pitfall is working with the wrong people or without the right processes. Everyone wants a fast and affordable build, but working with inexperienced developers or teams without a clear workflow can result in missed deadlines, bloated codebases, and countless revisions. For instance, opting to work with someone who recently completed a bootcamp to save money, will quite possibly result in spending far more. Or some other digital catastrophe may arise.

Building websites from scratch without a strong technical strategy is like constructing a house without a blueprint—you might get walls and a roof, but it won’t be a structure that lasts or scales. Understanding how to build websites will help you avoid this pitfall.

In this guide, we will explore various methods on how to build websites, ensuring you have all the information you need to choose the best approach for your needs.

How to Build Websites from Scratch: A Comprehensive Guide

Every step to build websites will enhance your technical skills and broaden your understanding of web development.

Choosing to build websites from scratch allows for tailored solutions that fit your specific needs. Learning how to build websites gives you the flexibility to adapt your project as it grows.

As you build, you’ll also find communities that share your passion and provide tremendous insight on your journey. Consider all the potential features and updates you might need in the future.

Each project helps refine your skills and boosts confidence.

Building websites from scratch can also teach you valuable lessons about project management and planning in addition to:

• Speed and performance
• Browser compatibilities
• An array of UI hindrances
• Database performance problems
• Hosting obstacles
• Compile time and runtime errors
• APIs
• VPNs
• Proxies
• Caching
• Cookies and sessions
• Tokens
• Payloads
• Browser and device security

The more you practice, the better you’ll become at knowing how to build websites effectively.

For many, building websites from scratch lies in the freedom it provides to express creativity and functionality. And…the thrill of being able to create everything needed required to run a business.

This is why many choose to build websites from scratch instead of relying solely on templates or third-party services, such as Wix or AI builders.

Platforms like Wix and Squarespace are popular, but for those who truly want to build websites from scratch, understanding code is essential.

The journey to build websites from scratch may be challenging, but the rewards are worth it.

And that’s the crux of the matter: web development is not just about launching a site—it’s about preparing for growth. You may start with a landing page or blog, but what happens when you want to add eCommerce, a booking system, or user accounts with role-based access? Not all platforms support these features, and migrating to a new platform later can be as expensive as starting from scratch.

Each step you take to build websites from scratch brings you closer to mastering web development.

If you’re ready to build websites from scratch, remember that many resources and communities are available to support you. In 2025, there’s an absolutely immense amount of content.

Choosing the right foundation is arguably one of the most important decisions you can make when you build websites from scratch. From the beginning, you should be thinking about what you’ll need a year from now. A site built purely for speed may falter when complex features are added. A CMS that works well for static content might struggle when you need dynamic interactions or real-time updates. Knowing what platform or stack is best suited to your future needs is crucial.

This is why understanding the differences between technologies—WordPress vs. Webflow vs. custom builds with frameworks like React or Vue—can save you time and money. Building websites on platforms that don’t support scalability, SEO best practices, or clean development workflows can box you into a corner just when your business is ready to expand.

In the end, the decision to build websites from scratch is a significant step toward owning your digital space.

When you learn how to build websites, you can create something truly unique.

How to Build Websites w/ Website Builders

For those looking to learn how to build websites via builders, Weebly is a strong option. It gives users a quick, affordable, and simple website—particularly small business owners or entrepreneurs focused on physical sales. It’s not built for elaborate design customization or high-growth scaling like Wix, nor does it offer the polished brand presentation of Squarespace. Choose Weebly if you value simplicity, affordability, and ease of launch. Go with Wix if you want customization and flexibility, or Squarespace if you care about aesthetic presentation and integrated brand tools.

Wix is praised for its ease of use, rich feature set, and beautiful designs. It’s often recommended for individuals, small businesses, and those who need to get online fast with minimal hassle. However, developers and users who require backend flexibility, complex integrations, or long-term platform independence may prefer alternatives such as WordPress. Choose Wix if you’re after a quick setup, ease of use and app integrations. In turn, learning how to build websites with Wix is far more powerful and flexible, offering a massive app marketplace and developer tools. It can however feel bloated and slower by comparison.

Squarespace is one of the most well-known website builders for individuals and businesses. If you think your sites backend (data processing center) may eventually become complex with highly customized workflows, you may outgrow Squarespace or discover its limitations. It may not be the most advanced platform for developers or large-scale eCommerce operations, but for artists, entrepreneurs, service providers, and personal brands, it provides one of the smoothest and most reliable pathways to a solid online presence. If you’re seeking a streamlined experience with premium aesthetics and essential inbuilt tooling, learning how to build websites with Squarespace is a compelling option.

The product formerly known as Zyro — is now operating under the Hostinger brand and fills a very real niche in the crowded website builder market. It offers a streamlined, affordable solution packed with value, perfect for launching a business site, personal brand, or a small online store without the friction of more complex systems. Users with more advanced or evolving needs will eventually outgrow thereof. For simple, beautiful, and fast websites on a budget, Hostinger’s website builder remains a sharp, modern choice that delivers exactly what it promises.

1. No-Code Website Builders (Beginner-Friendly)

If you’re just starting and want something functional fast, no-code tools are your friend.

As you learn from various approaches, consider each method’s benefits and drawbacks.

Best for: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, portfolios, landing pages.

Popular Tools:

• Wix: Drag-and-drop with lots of templates.
• Squarespace: Great for design-focused sites.
• Webflow: Offers more customization and control, closer to real code.
• Carrd: Fantastic for simple one-page sites.

Pros:

• No coding knowledge required.
• Quick setup.
• Hosting and security often included.

Cons:

• Limited customization beyond templates.
• Hard to migrate to code-based platforms later.
• A recent client of mine had me write a custom mail script. The first attempt was done in Node.js while the second round was in PHP. I discovered it wasn’t my skills but that Wix didn’t support me going beyond their platform bounds. The client had wasted her money and I felt as if my service was incomplete.

2. CMS Platforms (Semi-Customizable Solutions)

Content Management Systems like WordPress give you a middle ground: some flexibility, some control, some ease.

Best for: Blogs, small-to-medium businesses, online magazines.

Key Features:

• Thousands of themes and plugins.
• Open-source, so you can dig into the code when needed.
• Big community and lots of tutorials.
• I’ve customized themes and created my own plugins in a multitude of sites.
• I’ve even used WordPress to seamlessly integrate with single page applications.

Pros:

• Relatively easy to launch and maintain.
• Can scale with plugins and custom code.
• Flexible if you’re comfortable editing themes or using page builders.

Cons:

• Learning curve if you want to customize deeply.
• You’ll need to handle hosting, backups, and security.
• One prominent con is that themes NEVER look like the picture. Activate the theme and you’ll quickly realize you need skills to transform the theme into what the picture resembles.

3. Static Site Generators (For Devs Who Like Speed and Simplicity)

Static site generators (SSGs) like Jekyll, Hugo, or 11ty are great if you want full control with minimal backend fuss.

Best for: Portfolios, documentation, blogs, fast-loading websites.

Workflow:

• Write content in Markdown — yuck. lol
• Use templating systems and a generator to build the site.
• Deploy using services like Netlify, GitHub Pages, or Vercel.

Pros:

• Lightweight and fast.
• Full control over HTML, CSS, and templating.
• Easy to version with Git.
• These are good if you’re trying to get a site off the ground and know it’s temporary until you have a budget or more business.

Cons:

• No built-in CMS unless you integrate with headless CMSs like Contentful or Sanity.
• More technical setup than no-code options.
• There are definitely limitations.

4. Fully Custom-Coded Sites (From the Ground Up)

When we say “build websites from scratch” in the purest sense, we mean writing the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript yourself.

Best for: Learning the fundamentals, unique UI/UX, web apps, professional devs.

Languages & Tools:

• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (Vanilla or frameworks like React, Vue).
• Backend (optional): Node.js, Django, Flask, Ruby on Rails, etc.
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL.
• Stay away from CSS libraries and frameworks. Ever notice there has not been one CSS technology that’s remained over the years. They all come and go. Knowing CSS…well…will take you very far.
• And knowing JavaScript will propel you through any UI framework.

Pros:

• Maximum control over design and functionality.
• Great learning experience.
• Scalable and transferable knowledge to frameworks and jobs.

Cons:

• Takes time to build even basic features.
• You’ll need to handle hosting, deployment, security, responsiveness, etc.

5. Full Stack Development (The All-in-One Approach)

If you’re ready to go all in, building both the frontend and backend yourself is the ultimate way to build from scratch.

Stacks to consider:

• MERN Stack: MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js.
• LAMP Stack: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP.
• Django + React: Powerful Python-based backend + modern JS frontend.
• Next.js + Supabase: Serverless and scalable.
• I’m an Angular guy, so I enjoy Angular and C-Sharp. My argument is that React is package based whereas Angular comes equipped with everything imaginable. It’s a massive UI framework with a huge learning curve. Once you understand it, you can build anything—quickly.

Pros:

• You can build custom applications (SaaS, dashboards, marketplaces).
• Fine-tuned performance and security.
• You learn real-world development workflows.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• More time and complexity upfront.
• Will undoubtedly hamper your weekends and spare time.

6. How to Build Websites with Relume

Relume is a tool that enables users to create websites of varying complexity mind bogglingly fast.

Relume rapidly generates AI powered sitemaps based on textual input. Wireframes are also produced automatically.

Upon inception, Relume was a component library. So it’s no surprise it offers over 1,000 human designed components for Webflow and Figma. Said components can then be used to build websites. Edit copy, swap/ mix and match/ organize components however you see fit while Relume does the heavy lifting.

Figma is a tool used by designers for developers to build feature rich websites, components, apps, etc.

Do Relume websites automatically rank well? These are just a few things to consider. How about maintenance and sustainability? Knowing how to build websites is undoubtedly helpful as one can often fine tune the results. Knowing a little JavaScript will go a long way!

The platform supports team collaboration, project sharing, and commenting resulting in a streamlined process. There’s a limited free plan and a feature rich paid plan.

Pricing is somewhat reasonable but may be a stretch for small businesses or freelancers. To get started, I’d suggest beginning with tutorials.

7. Webflow

Next on the list of how to build websites is WebFlow. A powerful, visual and development platform enabling users to design, build, and launch fully responsive websites without coding abilities.

Webflow is used by designers, developers, marketers, and startups who want full creative control over their websites.

It may just in fact resonate with your long term growth in the event you have a marketing site, portfolio, a startup landing page, blog, limited eCommerce store, or you’re an agency or freelancer doing client work. If you’re looking to build complex applications such as a SaaS platform (software as a service), a forum or something community centric such as a marketplace, Webflow is not a good solution.

Same goes for any site that may require advanced backend features or highly dynamic user generated content systems such as those found in social media, finance, or some proprietary business applications. Otherwise, for a large number of businesses, brands, and creatives, Webflow is a powerful, future worthy option offering both flexibility and visual control.

The platform supports team collaboration with features like version control. Version control is a method of taking snapshots of current project states. Workflow efficiency is shortened because of this.

Webflow offers an array of resources to begin. Help articles, community support, and Webflow University are just a few of said tools.

Access a marketplace of templates and components. Engage with a vibrant community of designers and developers to collaborate with on projects.

Secure hosting is provided with features such as SSL certification and rapid content delivery. This ensures safety and reliability.

8. Bubble

Just like Webflow, Bubble is also a no-code capability approach. It too is a visual editor vs a technical one.

• Rapid previews.
• Drag and drop UI.
• Extensive customization options. So extensive, they’re presumably similar to conventional coding, which is entirely flexible.
• Excels in creating both responsive apps and Progressive Web Apps. PWAs operate like native apps, making the UX seem more fluid vs page update, flashes, reloads, etc.
• Connect apps in Bubble to external databases and run SQL queries.

While flexibility is undoubtedly a strong piece of Bubbles large pie, users have reported potential limitations as projects grow. Regarding how to build websites, any website, scalability is of the utmost importance.

Bubble does not support native mobile apps. Which is normal actually. Creating websites for all browsers and every screen size is always one endeavor while native apps is another.

Bubble is ideal for a wide range of sites such as marketplaces, social networks, booking websites, and small businesses just to name a few.

Please note, regardless of what tool you use, learning how to build websites is a multi step process. And there is no tool that’ll support every feature imaginable.

It’s no surprise Bubble is the tool of choice for startups to create efficient, cost effective, customizable, complex, high performance web applications.

Other features include:

• database management
• user authentication
• payment processing
• API integrations
• thousands of users
• rapid prototyping

9. MEAN/ MERN Stack

MEAN and MERN are acronyms for Mongo, Express, Angular or React, and Node. The MEAN and MERN stacks are known throughout the industry.

• Mongo is the database.
• Express is a Node framework used to communicate between the frontend/ UI and the database.
• Angular or React is the frontend/ UI framework.
• Node is a web server used to build scalable web applications.

One could very well substitute Angular or React with vanilla JavaScript or any other UI framework. Mongo is a NoSQL database but it too could be replaced with another type of database.

The question of how to build websites need not only apply to ready made solutions. It also applies to doing so in a manner requiring professional grade development experience. Or simply the drive to learn. Build and maintain. Upgrade and optimize everything.

Building from scratch gives one the freedom to do anything imaginable. Some or all of which may not be feasible with AI powered solutions such as any of the above.

How to build websites is akin to how to get from A to B. There’s an innumerable ways to accomplish thereof. The onslaught of options is nothing shy of awesome because every site has a goal. How it’s built and how it behaves. Small business websites, multi billion dollar corporations, landing pages, portfolios, and eCommerce sites are all created differently as they have their own goals.

With the knowledge, drive and motivation, coding a site from scratch rewarding and will save you tremendous money if none of said resources are the right tool for the job.

10. Node

Node is a technology used for a wide array of things. If we asked ten developers how to build websites, one of them would undoubtedly supply Node as their answer. It’s an open source, cross platform runtime environment enabling developers to execute JavaScript code beyond a web browser.

Namely on a server.

In turn, a variety of frameworks have been created that make building fast websites, quite easy. Express is one such framework.

Node allows developers to use JavaScript for both the UI and backend development. This enables a more streamlined process. It’s of course advantageous for those who already know JavaScript.

Its speed is derived from Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine which compiles directly to machine code. This offers high performance and efficiency.

With basic HTML, templates can be created. Resources can be reused. And building a server side rendered website ensures rapid loading.

Node has a vibrant ecosystem of features called packages. Node package manager (NPM) has an immense collection of average to advanced ready made features. So many, they undoubtedly out number the amount of features available in an AI powered system such as Relume or Bubble.

I created this app recently with Express. Though it’s just one page, it can be a full fledged website. One in which handles requests quickly. This is due to it’s non-blocking I/O operations.

In non technical terms, it has the ability to initiate tasks without waiting for other functions to complete.

When considering how to build websites, think of Node. Imagine building a website based on Google’s browser engine—Chrome. The speed and options are endless. It’s flexible, modern, and sustainable for most if not any web based project.

11. Framer

Framer is yet another AI driven website generation tool making the term, “how to build websites” less nebulous. Users have the ability to to generate web pages via text prompts.

Reddit from actual users

Unique combinations are quickly presented each with unique layouts, copy, and styling. Each of which can be customized to fit the exact need. All of which are fully responsive, if that’s not a given.

What’s unique here however is Framer’s flexible grid system and unique content stacking options. Meaning, content will not always stack the way you’d expect it. Stacking can be customized. Beneficial if you’d like content to be higher on the page in mobile than it may be on desktop.

Beyond the content, users can add animations, interactivity, and manage content through an inbuilt CMS. The system claims it’s optimized for devices but it’s unclear how as there’s numerous ways to do so.

Thousands of free and paid templates are available with custom fonts. Each with different color palettes and the wherewithal to modify individual sections.

Ultimately, the decision on how to build websites from scratch should align with your personal and professional goals.

Multilingual sites are also available if the need arises. I’m not sure how this differs from the browsers native feature of translating content though. Just like with any product on the internet, it’s good to know the fundamentals of how to build websites in this case as product descriptions may embellish or make their item sound better than it actually is. Or perhaps, it’s mentioned because it’s actually a note worthy feature.

Working in a team? Framer supports team collaboration, internal commenting, and even version control. What’s more, is the optional staging environment. Staging gives authors the power to access a private, live version. Screen sizes or devices can be better tested in addition to speed, performance, and design.

12. How to Build Websites with WordPress

I’ve been using WordPress for years. And so have 472 million others. That’s over 43% of all websites on the internet. With a user base that large, WordPress must be an amazing system! Here’s why:

• It’s free!
• It’s highly customizable.
• Easy to learn. Easy to maintain. And with the right configurations, it can be very secure. I’ve read about big tech companies suffering breaches. Cyber security companies have been hacked. AWS has been attacked. I’ve never however heard of a WordPress website with the proper configurations being successfully attacked.
• There’s an absolutely enormous community of developers and companies who contribute and regularly update themes, plugins, and all types of features.
• The abilities to optimize WordPress websites are endless.

If you need a type of feature…such as a table or accordion. Maybe it’s a form or application. Image or video gallery. Features for SEO, website speed and performance, etc. All these things and more can be installed via plugins. Many of which are free.

WordPress is a CMS. Meaning, there’s an admin section. One in which is user friendly, and offers most if not everything you could possibly desire.

I must note, the WordPress I’m referring to is self hosted. There’s an alternate version which I have never used and that’s located at WordPress.com I believe. I have no idea if the features are the same. But…why would you want to host a website elsewhere if you’re building a small business, selling products, and drawing people in for one reason or another?

I’ve certainly encountered naysayers on the topic. But, take it from me. I’ve been a web developer since 2007. I’ve seen a tremendous amount of technologies come and go. I’ve worked with an extraordinary amount of common and crazy complex technologies. WordPress is an excellent option. Do not be dissuaded otherwise.

Every experience in how to build websites contributes to your growth as a developer.

Bonus: Hybrid Approaches

You can also mix and match approaches:

• Use a static site generator with a headless CMS (like NetlifyCMS or Sanity).
• Start with a theme on WordPress and customize with HTML/CSS.
• Prototype in Webflow, export code, and refine manually.

Which Route Should You Choose?

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to learn to code or just get a site online?
• Is this site temporary (like a campaign page) or permanent (like a personal brand)?
• Am I building a site or a web app?

Goal	Best Option
Launch quickly, no code	Wix, Squarespace, Webflow
Manage a blog or business	WordPress
Developer portfolio	Static site generator + GitHub Pages
Learn web development	HTML/CSS/JS from scratch
Build an app	Full-stack frameworks like MERN or Django

Conclusion: How Build Websites, Your Way

There’s no one “correct” path towards how to build websites—it’s all about choosing the stack or toolset that aligns with your vision and skill level. Start small, iterate often, and remember: even seasoned developers start with a blank text file.

Your decision should align with your personal and professional goals. Every experience contributes to your growth as a developer. No matter your current level, learning how to build websites is an achievable goal. Embrace the journey and see where your creativity takes you.