Web development encompasses the processes involved in creating, building, and maintaining websites or web applications. It involves a variety of tasks, including web design, content creation, server-side scripting, network security configuration, and more.

At the heart of web development are three essential components: client-side scripting, server-side scripting, and database technology. Client-side scripting involves writing code that runs on the user's browser, typically using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create interactive and dynamic web pages. Server-side scripting, on the other hand, involves writing code that runs on the web server, handling requests from the client and generating dynamic content. This is often done using languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, or Node.js.

Database technology is crucial for storing and retrieving data on the web. Developers use database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or SQLite to manage data efficiently.