A smaller, simpler web

A website does not need much machinery to be useful. A readable page, a clear structure, and a few well-chosen links can do a surprising amount of work.

Start with the document

Write the content before deciding how it should move. Use headings to give a page a clear outline, links for navigation, and buttons for actions. These familiar elements already work with keyboards, screen readers, and a wide range of browsers.

Spend requests carefully

Every extra file has a cost. Local fonts, compact stylesheets, and appropriately sized images help keep a page quick to load. A feature should earn its place by helping someone do something useful.

Make the basic version work

The important content should remain available if a script fails or a connection is slow. Add richer interactions where they help, while keeping the document underneath straightforward.

Smaller is not a goal by itself. The goal is a website that respects a reader's time and remains easy to understand and maintain.