Web Based System Development: Analysis of Design Elements in PayPal, YouTube and Google

This paper analyzes the design elements of PayPal, YouTube and Google websites based on style, layout, information presented, responsiveness and preferred platform. The study helps to determine how design facilitates the usability principles of the websites. The analysis is carried out with the help of visuals as well as some tools for determining the behavior of websites in different devices and display.

Running head: WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
COMP 8772 Web Based System Development
Student Name:
University Name:

1WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Style of the websites....................................................................................................................................2
Layout design of the websites......................................................................................................................4
Presented information in the websites.........................................................................................................4
Responsiveness of the websites...................................................................................................................6
Preferred platform for the websites..............................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................8

2WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
In this paper, three websites has been chosen for analyzing them and discuss the core design
elements. The analysis of the three websites are carried out on the basis of five elements that is style,
layout design, information presented, responsiveness and preferred platform. This study will help to
determine how design facilitates the usability principles of the websites. The analysis is carried out with
the help of visuals as well as some tools for determining the behavior of websites in different devices and
display.
Style of the websites
PayPal and YouTube has been selected to identify and evaluate the styles elements being used by
them for displaying information. Both the websites makes use of graphics and pleasant colour for
attracting the users. YouTube uses a red theme for their website while PayPal is based on blue. The style
elements being used in both the websites are in accordance with their purpose and images along with
other graphical designs are embedded well in the websites. In YouTube, it has been identified that the
around 95% of the images are clear while in PayPal, almost 100% of the images are clear and there is no
requirement for resizing with respect to browser. The loading time of YouTube is greater than PayPal as
the homepage contains multimedia and thumbnails of videos while PayPal only showcases their features
or other services in their homepage. The multimedia elements being embedded in YouTube are well
placed and aligned but PayPal has very little use of multimedia they only display a static image in their
website. PayPal does not offers search options as it is an e-commerce platform while YouTube is
considered as an informational and entertainment website so it has search facility for the users. PayPal
requires sign in to access their services while Google and YouTube do not have such restrictions for the
users.

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Figure 1: Homepage of PayPal.com
(Source: Paypal.com 2018)
Figure 2: Homepage of YouTube.com
(Source: YouTube.com 2018)

4WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Layout design of the websites
This analysis is also carried out using PayPal and YouTube as Google is only a search engine and
it does not have contents or elements displayed in their homepage. In PayPal and YouTube, it has been
identified that every page uses defined headings. It is an excellent approach as it makes easier and quicker
for the visitors as well as search engines in summarizing content of the webpages. The correct definition
of headings supports accessibility which is essential particularly for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Further, it has also been identified that in some pages, the headings have not been defined correctly. The
mechanism for defining headings have not been followed as the topmost level heading should be defined
using H1 tag, H2 have to be used for sub headings and H3 should be used for further subheadings
sequentially. In YouTube, some headings almost 2% has been found empty or incorrectly defined and it
may create some confusion among the visitors. If the headings are empty or invalid then those are of no
value for search engines and thus makes the website to be less accessible. PayPal uses static content in
their homepage while in YouTube there is dynamic content as they embed multimedia in their homepage.
The layout of both the websites are well managed for easier access by the users with the help of suitable
navigation structure.
Presented information in the websites
This analysis is carried out using YouTube and Google as both are informational websites while
PayPal is only an e-commerce platform for users. The information being presented by YouTube and
Google is of wide range and both have strong search engine. Google has an average of 51 words per page
while YouTube displays an average of 2,359 words in each page. The amount of content being displayed
in the website shows that there is correlation with the ranking in search engine. In YouTube, almost every
page has some metadata but only 80% pages of the website have description metatag while only 40.0% of
pages in Google. The description metadata is essential for any website as it helps to promote the website

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in result pages from Google search. In both Google and YouTube, it has been identified that Google Tag
Manager is being used by 20% of the website but there is no occurrence of analytics in 4 pages.
Figure 3: Homepage of YouTube.com
(Source: YouTube.com 2018)
Figure 4: Homepage of Google.com
(Source: Google.com 2018)

6WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Responsiveness of the websites
For this analysis, the three websites has been chosen to test their responsiveness means the server
behavior to determine if there are any issues with responsive nature. It has been identified that missing
pages within the three websites are being handled with help of 404 HTTP status code. It is helpful in
reducing load time for webpages in the website. In PayPal, it has been identified that a temporary (HTTP
302) redirect is used for redirection between URLs with/without having trailing slashes. It is suitable but
use of permanent (HTTP 301) redirects should provide better results but in YouTube, it has been seen that
3 website pages return the content with or without a trailing slash on their URLs. In Google, it has been
found that the site returns an error page with 404 code if trailing slash is added or removed to one of the
URL’s. It is considered correct as there is no duplication of any content but pages maybe browsed by
visitors with or without using trailing slash. Therefore, it is ideal that correct page should be displayed by
redirecting through alternate URL.
Preferred platform for the websites
The three websites PayPal, YouTube and Google are compatible in every platform that is mobile
devices. The features and functionalities of the websites does not differ with respect to the platforms. The
three websites has adapted suitable technology so that the users do not feel complexity or lose interest
while using in other devices. The three websites have implemented technologies to convert their website
into mobile website or redirect the users while they access them through mobile devices. Like YouTube
redirects the users to mobile site while Google and PayPal have implemented features to turn their
websites orientation suitable for viewing in mobile devices.
Conclusion
From the overall analysis on the three chosen websites, it can be concluded that their core design
facilitates and augments the core intended usability of their web space. The analysis against the five

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elements has been carried out successfully to demonstrate the usage of those in the three websites. The
elements form the base for usability of any website so that the users get attracted and feel like using them
to fulfil their requirements. The information being presented by the websites also plays an important role
apart from style and layout design. Hence, it has been identified that the three websites chosen for this
study are well designed and presented in terms of usability.

8WEB BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
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