A website is no longer just a “business card.” In 2026, it becomes a core part of your sales pipeline, customer service, and brand image.
This article is written for both technical leaders and business owners. The goal is to explain 2026 website requirements in a simple yet professional way — covering technology, web development standards for 2026, UI/UX trends in 2026, security, infrastructure, and e-commerce requirements in one place.
1. Key technology requirements for websites in 2026
1.1. What are Core Web Vitals and why do they matter?
Core Web Vitals are Google metrics used to measure how user-friendly a website feels. The main three are:
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LCP — how fast the main content becomes visible
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INP/FID — how quickly the site responds to user interactions (clicks, input)
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CLS — how much elements “jump” or shift on the page
In plain terms: if your site loads slowly, reacts late, and text/images move around unexpectedly, users get frustrated — and Google may rank you lower.
Real targets for 2026:
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LCP: up to 2.5 seconds
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INP (or FID, as many still know it): around 200 ms
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CLS: not higher than 0.1
These numbers are not “just metrics” — they directly affect sales, lead volume, and SEO performance.
1.2. SSR, SSG, SPA — which one to choose and when?
A common technical question: “Should we build it with SSR, SSG, or SPA?”
Short and practical:
SSR (Server-Side Rendering)
If content and SEO matter most — blogs, media sites, corporate sites, marketplaces — SSR is highly effective. The server returns pre-rendered HTML, so users see content faster.
SSG (Static Site Generation)
If content doesn’t change often — campaign landing pages, simple product/service pages, documentation — SSG is ideal for both speed and security.
SPA (Single Page Application)
For highly interactive systems — admin panels, SaaS products, dashboards — SPA is convenient. But by itself it’s weaker for SEO, so it often needs an SSR/SSG layer alongside it.
A simple business rule:
If SEO and content are priorities — choose SSR/SSG.
If complex interactivity is the priority — use a hybrid SPA + SSR/SSG approach.
1.3. Headless CMS and an API-first approach
In classic CMS platforms (e.g., “write in admin, publish on the site”), frontend and backend are tightly coupled. In 2026, a more flexible model is preferred:
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Headless CMS — content is stored in a separate system and delivered via APIs to the website, mobile app, and other channels.
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API-first development — you design the API first, then build web, mobile, and admin interfaces on top of it.
What does it enable?
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the same content can be used across web, mobile, and other channels;
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integrations with CRM, ERP, and payment gateways become more standardized and reliable;
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as the project grows, scaling the architecture becomes easier.
1.4. Microfrontends — easier management for large platforms
Managing a large web platform with one team is increasingly difficult. Microfrontends help:
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split the site into parts (menu, checkout, blog, profile, etc.);
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each part is developed and deployed independently by its own team;
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an issue in one module reduces the risk of the entire site going down.
Result: shorter release cycles, lower risk, and more flexible development.
2. Performance and speed requirements
2.1. PageSpeed 90+ is no longer “nice to have”
In 2026, a PageSpeed score of 90+ (mobile and desktop) is not an extra advantage — it’s a baseline expectation.
Core principles:
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reduce unused JS and CSS at initial load;
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load third-party scripts (chat, analytics, widgets) intelligently;
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use server-side caching and modern protocols (HTTP/2, HTTP/3).
2.2. CDN — a foundation layer for speed and security
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) delivers your assets (images, CSS, JS) from servers closest to the user. That means:
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faster page loads;
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stable performance across countries;
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many CDNs also offer WAF and DDoS protection.
2.3. Code-splitting, lazy loading, and image optimization
Three essential techniques:
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Code-splitting — each page loads only the JS it needs;
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Lazy loading — heavy content (images/videos) loads only when the user scrolls;
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WebP / AVIF — modern image formats that are lighter while staying high quality.
These improve both speed and Core Web Vitals.
2.4. Server response time: TTFB < 0.2 s
TTFB (Time To First Byte) is how quickly the server starts responding. Best practice: TTFB under 0.2 seconds.
To achieve that:
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optimize database queries;
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use caching (e.g., Redis);
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move background tasks (email sending, heavy computations, etc.) into queues.
3. UI/UX trends and user behavior (2026)
3.1. Minimal design, maximum value
UI/UX trends in 2026 show users dislike messy interfaces, too many colors, and heavy animations.
Main direction:
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readable fonts and clear headings;
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clean design without distractions;
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one primary goal per page: sign-up, call request, purchase, etc.
3.2. AI-driven personalization
AI is no longer just a buzzword — it’s practical functionality:
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dynamic content based on behavior (different segments see different headlines/offers);
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product and content recommendations;
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highlighting the site sections that perform best.
This increases conversions and creates a more personal experience.
3.3. Dark mode and adaptive layouts
Some users prefer dark mode, others prefer light. The 2026 standard:
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support both modes;
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automatically show a “lighter” version for small screens, slow networks, and older devices.
3.4. Accessibility — a website for everyone
Accessibility (WCAG 2.2) is not optional:
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proper contrast;
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keyboard navigation;
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correct structure for screen readers (headings, aria-labels, alt text).
This matters for social responsibility and for reducing legal risk.
4. Security requirements (2026)
4.1. HTTPS and TLS 1.3 — baseline standard
In 2026, a site without HTTPS is almost unacceptable:
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TLS 1.3;
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HSTS (“always use HTTPS”);
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correct certificate management.
4.2. Zero Trust — “trust no one by default”
The concept is simple: being “inside the network” doesn’t mean trusted.
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each user and device is verified;
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each service has its own permission levels;
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logins, changes, and actions are recorded.
4.3. WAF, DDoS, and identity standards
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WAF (Web Application Firewall) filters common attacks like SQL injection, XSS, CSRF;
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DDoS protection prevents the site from being taken down by traffic floods;
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OAuth2 / JWT are modern standards for login, SSO, and API security.
4.4. Encryption and audit logs
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sensitive data (personal data, card tokens, etc.) must be encrypted in the database;
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you should be able to answer: who changed what, and when — via audit logs;
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logs should be stored separately in a tamper-resistant environment.
5. Infrastructure and DevOps approach
5.1. Docker and Kubernetes
A typical web development 2026 stack:
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applications run in Docker containers;
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Kubernetes manages containers with auto-scaling and self-healing;
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deployments become safer and more controllable.
5.2. CI/CD — fast and secure releases
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automated tests and builds after each commit;
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automatic deployment to staging;
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approval step for production;
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rollback in a few clicks when needed.
5.3. Cloud-native approach and monitoring
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using managed services on AWS, Azure, or GCP;
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collecting metrics and logs (Prometheus, Grafana, etc.);
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tracking errors in real time via systems like Sentry.
6. Content management and multilingual support (2026 standard)
6.1. Headless + modular CMS
For marketing and content teams:
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manage the site in blocks (hero, slider, product list, testimonials, etc.);
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reuse blocks across multiple pages;
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preview changes before going live.
6.2. Multilingual and auto-translate workflows
For the Azerbaijan market, AZ, EN, and RU are commonly required:
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manual translation for core languages;
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when adding a new language: AI auto-translate + human editing;
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multilingual SEO with correct URLs, meta tags, and hreflang.
6.3. Editable components and dynamic blocks
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campaign landing pages can be built without waiting for developers;
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banners, slogans, and CTAs can be updated frequently;
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A/B testing different versions of the same block becomes possible.
7. E-commerce requirements for 2026
7.1. PCI-DSS and payment security
Critical points:
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do not store card data on your own server;
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use PCI-DSS compliant payment providers;
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use extra protection layers like 3D Secure 2.0.
7.2. Multi-currency, multi-region
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multiple currencies (AZN, USD, EUR, etc.);
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different tax and shipping rules per country;
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localized payment methods and localized content.
7.3. Smart search and inventory management
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AI-powered search that still returns correct results even with typos;
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“customers also bought” recommendation blocks;
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real-time synchronization of offline and online stock.
8. ERAsoft’s approach and the next step
At ERAsoft, we build web projects according to 2026 standards:
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Next.js + Laravel modular architecture
SSR/SSG + API-first ensures both SEO and performance. -
Docker/Kubernetes infrastructure
Scalable, secure deployments with auto-scaling capabilities. -
Core Web Vitals-focused development
Clear targets for LCP, INP, CLS and active monitoring of PageSpeed. -
Multi-project, multi-lang, multi-template platforms
Manage multiple brands, languages, and design templates within one system. -
AI-integrated solutions
Smart search, personalization, and content recommendations as built-in modules.
For more on technical standards, you can also check Google’s official resource web.dev.
ERAsoft and a website aligned with 2026 standards
If you want your website to:
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meet 2026 website requirements,
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be fast, secure, and scalable,
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deliver a modern experience aligned with 2026 UI/UX trends,
we can plan it together — from both a technical and a business perspective.
If you want, I can also adapt both translations into a ready-to-publish blog format for your ERAsoft website (with meta title/description and a more “editorial” tone), without changing the meaning.