Foundations of Web Development

Unit code:VIT1105Study level:Undergraduate

Credit points

12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)

Location

Footscray Nicholson
VU Brisbane
VU Sydney

Prerequisites

(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)

Overview

This unit introduces students to the foundational principles, tools, and technologies that underpin modern web development. Students explore how the web functions through the client–server model, HTTP, and RESTful communication. They learn to design and build static and responsive websites by structuring content with Markdown and HTML, and styling pages using CSS. JavaScript is introduced to add interactivity and enhance user experiences. Through hands-on projects, students access and display data from public APIs to create simple data-driven web applications. The unit provides a practical introduction to how core web technologies integrate to deliver modern, dynamic user experiences.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

Explain the fundamental technologies and protocols that underpin the web, including the client–server model, HTTP and RESTful communication;
Develop well-structured and styled static web pages by using Markdown and HTML for content structure and CSS for presentation and layout;
Apply basic JavaScript programming to add interactivity and dynamic behaviour to web pages, and;
Access and integrate data from public APIs using JavaScript to present and format external information within a web application.