The future of web development has never been brighter. The power of HTML5 websites combined with the massive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has given web developers more tools than ever to build immersive web pages and web applications.
At the same time, evolving user expectations have also steered the web development process. People have come to expect accelerated mobile pages that load in a flash. They want a seamless user experience across all devices, such that there’s no downside to bouncing between desktop and mobile pages. They want their sensitive data locked down. And they’re curious about the Internet of Things (IoT), which brings the internet beyond web browsers and into items like cars and appliances.
If you’re connected to the web development industry and want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to stay abreast of the top web development trends.
12 ecommerce web development trends
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning to boost revenue
- Progressive web apps (PWAs) for better performance
- Voice search optimization for better functionality
- Augmented and virtual reality to personalize shopping experiences
- Single-page applications (SPAs) for seamless user experiences
- Mobile-first design to serve growing mobile audiences
- One-click checkout to reduce second-guessing
- Chatbots to reduce operational costs
- API-first development for smoother integrations
- Cloud computing for security and efficiency
- Headless commerce to deliver content faster
- Serverless architecture to scale automatically
The exciting thing about today’s leading web development trends are within reach for anyone creating a website—even if you don’t have deep expertise in website development or web application development. Website-building platforms, many of which are augmented by AI and machine learning, are bringing web development technologies to the masses.
Here are some of the latest web development trends worth monitoring:
Artificial intelligence and machine learning to boost revenue
Few emerging technologies have upended computing like generative AI, which excels at generating written and visual output in response to prompts. When applied to web development, this technology can save developers time and improve the quality of website code—a win-win for businesses. A 2024 study found that 82% of web developers were already using AI to write code, 67.5% were using the technology to search for answers, and 56.7% were using AI to debug and get help with their code.
Improved efficiency can flow straight to the bottom line for ecommerce businesses. For example, global behemoth Amazon, which operates in both, has invested heavily in AI, which analysts predict will help drive a 9% to 10% higher profit margin for the company between now and 2034.
Progressive web apps (PWAs) for better performance
A progressive web app (PWA) functions like a cross between a traditional web page and a native app that you install on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. They work by loading the entire base code first, then loading content dynamically with user interaction (unlike traditional websites, which load one page at a time). The result is impressive load speeds, with most content loading in less than two seconds. Effectively, PWAs offer users the speed and functionality of mobile apps on a web browser—no app download required.
The PWA market was estimated at 1.46 billion in 2023, and it’s growing—quickly: The market is anticipated to expand with a 31.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030.
Like many web development trends, the surge in PWAs might be owed to the fact that so much ecommerce now takes place on mobile devices, with more than $2 trillion in global mobile commerce sales. Customers used to the speed and ease of using native apps will expect this same functionality from the websites they access on mobile, so it’s reasonable to assume that a sizable percentage of companies will begin integrating this technology into their mobile website interfaces—if they haven’t already.
Voice search optimization for better functionality
Voice search and voice commands—which people can use to ask questions, shop online, and control smart devices, among other things—is an emergent consumer behavior that took hold with the rise of smart assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home. These devices are powered by natural language processing (NLP), an AI-based technology that lets machines understand and respond to human speech.
Voice search now appears in a wide array of web applications, and it’s estimated that 75% of US households will have some form of voice-activated smart speaker by the end of 2025. As a result, developers must build websites that are optimized for discovery via voice search.
Augmented and virtual reality to personalize shopping experiences
While virtual reality (VR) had its moment in the sun with the release of the Apple Vision Pro in February 2024, its close relative augmented reality (AR) remains the most important technology for ecommerce businesses. AR-powered websites and web apps let users visualize products in their real-world environments, like their homes. This has been a game changer for ecommerce merchants like furniture sellers who want to merge the physical and digital worlds to showcase their products.
Augmented (AR) enthusiasts typically have a high annual household income—so if your target audience is relatively upmarket, this is an especially important trend to watch. To capitalize, check out the many AR apps on the market, including Shopify AR, which lets you overlay images, videos, and 3D models onto a user’s live surroundings.
Single-page applications (SPAs) for seamless user experiences
Single-page applications (SPAs) have taken on increased importance in the web development domain. They can load a single web page that dynamically updates content without reloading. Site owners enjoy reduced development costs because SPAs streamline complex processes and use cloud technology for scalability. Site visitors enjoy seamless user experiences where new information appears on the page without reloading.
Most of us interact with SPAs every day. One prominent example is Gmail (along with other web-based email sites), where a responsive web design loads new emails without requiring a page refresh. Leveraging SPAs is essential to respond to public expectations that you shouldn’t have to click through many pages of a website to find the information you need.
Mobile-first design to serve growing mobile audiences
Ecommerce is migrating to our phones. More than ever, Americans are buying merchandise on a phone rather than on a desktop or laptop computer. Data from Adobe shows that 40% of online sales during the holiday season of 2020 came via mobile devices; in 2023, this number grew to 51%. The projected 2024 figures show this number rising to 53%. This means it’s essential for web developers to create an optimal user experience on mobile devices. This might mean using dynamic web design to make pages load cleanly on mobile browsers. It might also mean creating web apps or mobile apps that live natively on smartphones and tablets.
Mobile users expect fast loading times, so strive to simplify pages by optimizing images and minimizing code. This can have the bonus effect of reducing your development costs since simpler pages may yield better returns.
One-click checkout to reduce second-guessing
Nearly 70% of online carts get abandoned according to data from the Baymard Institute. Web developers are counteracting this by instituting one-click checkout. Here’s how it works: When a customer makes their first purchase, they provide their payment and shipping information. This information is securely stored by the retailer or a third-party payment processor. For future purchases, the customer can simply click a Buy Now or similar button.
One-click checkout minimizes friction when customers go through the checkout process. Shoppers aren’t derailed by second thoughts or frustrating payment pages. Check out checkout solutions like Shopify’s Shop Pay, which boosts conversions by 50% compared to a guest checkout system.
Chatbots to reduce operational costs
The chatbot and conversational commerce market is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2027, making it among the most popular web development trends. These chatbots can enhance your 24/7 customer support while reducing the operational costs associated with using human workers. You can choose the user interface of your chatbots, with options spanning from a text messaging box to voice chat. Choosing among these can help you customize your site’s user experience and meet customers where they are.
API-first development for smoother integrations
API stands for application programming interface—essentially a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. API-first development emphasizes designing APIs before other aspects of a project, ensuring smooth integration of different frontend components with back-end systems.
Web developers use APIs to create advanced communication between mobile apps, web apps, and other platforms, like social media sites. As an ecommerce store owner, you don’t need to be able to write code to use an API. Your website-building platform, and various plug-ins, handle the back-end architecture for you. For instance, Shopify uses APIs to integrate various services, such as payment gateways. This frees your team to focus on other objectives like product design, search engine optimization (SEO), and user retention.
Cloud computing for security and efficiency
Cloud computing refers to a content delivery network (CDN) composed of geographically distributed servers that cache and deliver content to users based on their location. When a user requests a website, the CDN server closest to the user serves the content if it's cached. This reduces the distance the data has to travel, resulting in faster load times.
A cloud service provider like Google Cloud functions like a static site generator, rapidly rendering websites such that they’re highly responsive and scalable. Using these networks reduces server strain, enhances user engagement, and improves core web vitals. As a bonus, they may help you counter cyber threats, because data stored in commercial cloud servers like those from Google or Amazon Web Services (AWS) undergoes multiple levels of encryption. The cloud services market is expected to exceed $824 billion in sales in 2025.
Headless commerce to deliver content faster
Headless commerce separates the front-end presentation layer of a website from the back-end commerce logic. This allows you to customize and optimize your storefront for different customer touchpoints—like mobile, desktop, and point-of-sale (POS) kiosks—while keeping each touchpoint connected to a single back-end system. The headless commerce market is predicted to experience a 22.9% compound annual growth rate between 2023 and 2031.
Whereas headless commerce used to require expensive custom builds, you can now access this trend via WordPress, which offers a headless CMS. Opting for a headless CMS also allows you to integrate content delivery networks (CDNs) for faster content delivery.
Serverless architecture to scale automatically
Serverless architecture is a software design strategy that allows developers to create their products without worrying about a server’s underlying architecture. Instead, developers rely on a server provider (like Google Cloud Run or Microsoft Azure) to handle infrastructure management tasks like maintaining databases and integrating with third-party applications.
A serverless system also enables developers to scale applications automatically based on demand, reducing infrastructure costs while providing an enhanced user experience. It’s one of the more popular web development trends, with an estimated CAGR of 25.1% from 2024 through 2033, and it can be found powering web and mobile back ends, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, chat applications, and livestreaming.
Web development trends FAQ
What is the current trend in web development?
The current trend in web development focuses on creating seamless, personalized user experiences through emerging technologies like AI, API-first development, headless CMS, and progressive web apps. At the same time, web developers are prioritizing speed, security, and responsive design, with an eye toward mobile users and Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices.
What is the future of web development?
The future of web development likely involves a mix of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, augmented reality, and cloud-based technologies.
How is AI being used in web development?
AI is being used in web development to provide personalized recommendations, automated coding assistance, natural language processing for chatbots and voice interfaces, and predictive analytics for site administrators.
