The Latest Web Development Trends Every Business Should Know in 2026

As the internet changes, it’s important for every business and website developer in Australia to evolve alongside it. This can be done by staying informed around web and software development industry trends, as well as the reasons they catch on. The landscape has shifted significantly over the last five years, with driving factors for change being the integration of AI and machine learning, adoption of serverless architecture, and the growing popularity of progressive web apps.

Exactly how has this progression affected how businesses should operate online? This primer goes over every software and web development trend you need to take note of going into the next year.

AI & Machine Learning (AI/ML)

The rise of AI/ML is easily the single most transformative trend in software and the internet in general, with its integration into everything from code generation — such as in tools like GitHub Copilot — to the improvement of user web experiences. This can be seen in interactive customer service chatbots as well as data analysis tools and their role in personalised recommendations.

Progressive Web Apps or PWAs

Essentially, PWAs are websites that deliver a user experience (UX) comparable to a mobile app. They offer quick load times, systemwide push notifications, and the option for users to add them to their device home screens. Some PWAs even offer some offline functionality, effectively bridging the gap between the web and mobile devices.

Serverless Architecture

Serverless via function-as-a-service or FaaS allows developers to build as well as run applications without having to worry about managing the underlying server infrastructure. This frees them up to focus on coding, while cloud providers like Google Cloud Functions or AWS Lambda handle server maintenance, scaling, and management.

Other Notable Trends

Aside from developments with direct implications on operational costs and labour, some trends affect established best practices for developers and businesses going forward. These include:

• Enhanced performance as a metric to rank on all major search engines, in keeping with Google’s recent Core Web Vitals (CWV) initiative. Developers are now prioritising ranking factors like first input delay and cumulative layout shift as a means to ensure a stable and smooth UX.
• Single-page applications (SPAs) which enable the loading of an application in its entirety on a single page, creating a dynamic and interactive content environment for the user without a single page refresh or reload. Modern javascript frameworks like Vue.js and React make the process of building SPAs easy and affordable.
• Shifting web accessibility from a nice-to-have to a valid focus point in the development process, ensuring websites will be usable by everyone. This encompasses WCAG adherence, keyboard navigability, semantic HTML, and universal on-screen reader compatibility.

Adapting to the internet of the future will determine the success of online operations and sites in the 21st century. As the standards for development and ranking criteria change, it’s important for businesses to stay abreast of new requirements and best practices to optimise their web presence.