what aspect to develop first in a website?

Question

I'v just started learning different languages in web development and I believe the best way to improve is to think of an idea and develop it. (Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong).

My question is what aspect do I develop first. If I am looking to build a simple script which is styled and comprises of HTML, PHP and CSS, which part of the website do I design first?

I was thinking HTML > PHP > CSS however once I complete the css I would have to edit all the tags to include the css classes/id's. Is that the way it's done?

PS - Also I started off web development by learning the basics as well as a few intermediate aspects of all the three above mentioned languages and now Im looking to design/clone scripts I've come across to get better at them. Is this approach correct?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The order doesn't really matter.

Deal with the data and the UI separately (following the MVC pattern will help you do this), and modify each of them as needed.

You'll probably find that the optimal solution is to work on a feature at a time rather then doing the backend of all features and then the frontend of all features (or vice versa).

Within each feature, start on whichever end you have the strongest vision of and let it inform your development of the other.