Bootstrap is a free open-source platform that makes creating websites easier. Bootstrap in web development has become popular because it helps developers to create responsive websites without spending much time and effort. The Bootstrap framework is based on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Bootstrap is used by 22% of all websites on the internet.
It has become a standard in web development and works like a backbone for millions of web projects.
In this article, let’s discuss some more details about Bootstrap and how web developers can use it for their future projects.
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Why Bootstrap is used
Bootstrap is one of the most popular open-source projects on GitHub. Below are some reasons why developers prefer using Bootstrap in their web development projects:
1. It’s easy to learn and use
When learning Bootstrap, you are playing by the rules set by other developers. You have to follow certain conventions and that makes learning Bootstrap a breeze.
Bootstrap framework is easy to learn, use and customize.
Anyone can use Bootstrap for web development, irrespective of their level of expertise with CSS/HTML or JavaScript.
2. It comes with a strong grid system
Bootstrap's grid system is one of the most important aspects of the framework, as it provides a strong foundation to build your website.The grid system is responsive, meaning it adjusts itself to fit different screen sizes and devices.
It also makes use of various CSS classes, and this is helpful to further customize the website's layout.
3. It’s mobile-first
The most important thing about Bootstrap is that it's mobile-first, which means that the design is optimized for mobile devices. Mobile first means that you start with the smallest screen and work your way up from there.
Why this matters? Because people are using their phones more than ever before. Did you know that nearly 83% of web traffic in India is from mobile devices?
As a web developer, you simply shouldn’t be building websites that can’t be viewed by 83% of users.
4. It saves time
When you use Bootstrap in your web development projects, you’re not creating a website from scratch. Instead, you are starting with a framework that contains all the basic elements needed for any type of website (navigation menus, modal windows, etc.).
It makes it much faster to build websites by limiting the amount of time spent on tasks like styling buttons or adding input fields for forms.
5. It has a huge community
Bootstrap has a strong community behind it that continues to grow as more designers and developers use the framework for their projects. Due to its growing community, you have thousands of tutorials and articles to learn from.
The Bootstrap community is also supportive, which means if you get stuck with something or have a question, other developers will be able to help you out.
6. It’s customizable
Bootstrap is easily customizable. You can adjust it to meet your needs and use it to create a unique website that looks great on any device, regardless of screen size or resolution.
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Who created Bootstrap for web development
Bootstrap was created by a designer and developer at Twitter in mid-2010.
Before being an open-source framework, Bootstrap was called Twitter Blueprint.
Its popularity increased after Twitter’s Hack Week, and subsequently it was released to the public on August 19, 2011. Since then, there have been several version releases for the framework, with current Bootstrap 5 being the latest version.
How to download Bootstrap
There are mainly two ways to start using Bootstrap on your web development projects:
- Download Bootstrap from getbootstrap.com - If you want to download and host Bootstrap on your server, you can go to getbootstrap.com, follow the instructions and download Bootstrap.
- Include Bootstrap from a CDN - If you don't want to download and host Bootstrap, you can include it from a CDN (content delivery network). For Bootstrap, StackPath (previously MaxCDN) is one of the most popular CDNs currently in use.
Shorten your dev time with a Bootstrap template
Bootstrap templates (many free) are available for all types of websites, including mobile and desktop focused sites.
No matter the type of project you're working on, there is always a good chance that you'll find a Bootstrap template that will work just right for your needs. There are hundreds of free Bootstrap templates available online for download and use for web development.
There are a number of reasons why you should use a Bootstrap template rather than starting from scratch every time.
Speeds up development
If your clients are small businesses, you know their website is a valuable asset that requires frequent updates.
Bootstrap templates are easy to use and allow you to focus on the content of your site rather than its design.
It means that you can get your sites up and running quickly — and spend more time serving your clients.
Easy to customize
Bootstrap templates are easy to customize. You can:
- Change the colours and fonts of your template
- Add new elements
- Remove elements from the template
Consistent results
Bootstrap templates allow you to use the same code on your website to get consistent results. The HTML, CSS and JavaScript snippets are consistent on every page of your website if you're using Bootstrap templates from reputed developers.
With Bootstrap templates, there's no need for each page to have its custom code: with the same CSS and JavaScript files, you can build your entire site using Bootstrap elements.
This consistency also makes maintenance easier because everything looks the same across pages.
Related: Add a website maintenance package to your web services
Difference between HTML and Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a front-end web development framework, which means that it provides a set of tools that can be used to create web pages.
Bootstrap doesn’t create the page layout itself.
Rather, it provides an HTML structure and CSS styles that can be applied to a blank page, or one created using other tools/frameworks.
The tool you’ve been waiting for
Bootstrap is one of the most popular frameworks for building websites and web apps. It is a great tool for web developers and designers because it:
- Speeds up development
- Makes responsive design easier and more consistent
- Allows you to customize your site without coding
The most significant aspect of Bootstrap is its responsive grid system, which allows creation of websites that are easily adaptable for multiple devices.
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