With the popularity of visually complex, feature-rich and animated websites today, it’s easy to forget the power and efficiency of a well-structured HTML-only website owing to the face that everyone ants to build something beautiful and visually appealing. After all, the best marketing strategies are those that can appeal to what the user can see. As a beginner web developer with decent skills, you might have fallen prey to that trend, but good designs are often the simplest and most applicable. I've taken the time to review three websites that stick to the basics, relying solely on HTML. In this post, I’ll rate each website based on key performance metrics, highlight the advantages of minimalist design, and offer advice to aspiring web developers on how to maximize website speed and load time by focusing on what truly matters.

Why HTML-Only Websites?

Before we continue, it’s important to understand why someone might choose to create an HTML-only website in the first place. HTML-only websites are stripped of the complexities of JavaScript, CSS frameworks, and heavy images or videos. This makes them incredibly fast to load, easy to maintain, responsive by default and highly efficient. These websites are often used for quick-loading pages, landing pages, or situations where content is prioritized over esthetics.

Website 1: WWW/TheProject.html

Overview:

The first website on the list is the first ever website on the internet, The WWW Project. The site uses basic HTML tags to structure its content, with no external stylesheets or scripts owing to the fact that those didn't exist at the time. Published by Tim Bernes Lee in 1991.

Performance:

Load Time: 402 ms (0.4 Milliseconds)

Page Size: 196 B

SEO: Well-structured, with appropriate use of headings and links.

Rating: 4.0/5
Review:
I don't mean to exaggerate my fondness for the site, but considering the time it was made and the existence of no other means of styling, Tim Bernes did a pretty good job of keeping the contents in order. The load time is almost instantaneous, and the minimalist design ensures that the reader's attention is solely on the content. However, a slight downside is the lack of visual appeal, which might deter some users. For its purpose, though, this site excels.

Website 2: fatih-erikli.com

Overview:

The second site is a portfolio for a freelancer. It includes only a name, skill, and a call to action button to send a mail if you want to hire, all built with just HTML.

Performance:

Load Time: 1.87 s

Page Size: 2.3 KB

SEO: The only media on the site is a favicon.

Rating: 2.5/5
Review:
I am rating it this low because I really believe the creator could have done more for content. The site is practically empty containing only a name and a button, and not even up to ten words yet it took almost two seconds to load. Definitely contradicts the idea of a fast loading website with minimal design. It's a good one though.

Website 3: You Really Need To Check This One Out.

Overview:

The final site is a m***********g website ?. it features a single page with no links, no images and just some headers, paragraphs and lists. It's main selling point though is it's aggressive use of strong language, definitely got the point through.

Performance:

Load Time: 799 ms (0.7 Milliseconds)

Page Size: 215 B

SEO: Plenty of content, but strong language... Really strong language. It gets about 1600 visitors per day.

Rating: 4.5/5
Review:
This landing page does its job effectively, Despite the intense language, it still manages to prove the point of effective communication and site efficiency. It has quite the content yet it managed to turn a blind eye to the temptation of adding even a single media or styling. The creator definitely deserves an award ?

Tips for Aspiring Web Developers

If you’re an aspiring or an established web developer, here are some key takeaways from these HTML-only websites:

Prioritize Speed:
The less you load, the faster your site will be. Stick to the essentials and avoid unnecessary code or assets. It might be difficult to ignore the temptation of designing beautiful website, but the most important thing is getting your message across, and slow loading websites will discourage some people.

Optimize for SEO:
Even with limited content, ensure your HTML is well-structured. Use appropriate headings, meta tags, and alt text for any images. For those already into building complex web apps, this is a good point to take note of.

Minimalist Design:
Focus on delivering the core message or functionality of your site. Minimalist design is not about stripping everything away but about emphasizing what’s truly necessary.Over complicating designs and site functions just confuses the majority of you visitors. Keep it simple

Consider User Experience:
While speed is crucial, don’t neglect the user experience. A touch of styling, even if minimal, can enhance readability and engagement.

Testing and Iteration:
Test your site across different devices and browsers to ensure consistent performance.

Conclusion

HTML-only websites may seem outdated in a world filled with dynamic, interactive sites, but they still hold a significant place in web development. Build a fast-loading landing page, a minimalist blog, or a simple portfolio, keeping your design and code minimal can lead to excellent performance and user satisfaction. Remember, it’s not always about the number of features you can pack into a site; sometimes, less truly is more.

"Good Design Is As Little Design As Possible."

-- Dieter Rams

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