The hidden cost of code-heavy design

After many years of front-end development, we’ve seen the digital landscape shift dramatically. One of the most exciting changes has been the rise of online website builders. With deep respect, we want to shine a light on a particular challenge they’ve unintentionally created - and how that affects the quality of the web.

Online builders are brilliant - and that’s not sarcasm

Let’s be absolutely clear: the technology behind website builders is exceptional. Their teams have accomplished something extraordinary - making it possible for small business owners and entrepreneurs to get online with no technical experience.

That is no small feat. We’re consistently impressed by the ease-of-use, flexibility, and even aesthetic choices many platforms offer right out of the box.

But there’s a catch - and it’s not the builders’ fault.

The problem isn’t just the tool - it’s how it's used

The typical user of a website builder isn’t a developer or designer. They’re a business owner, a hobbyist, or a first-time founder who just wants to get online. They’re not thinking about semantic HTML, accessibility, or performance - and why should they?

Unfortunately, when those things are overlooked, the code underneath the surface becomes cluttered, bloated, and difficult for search engines and screen readers to understand.

Let’s look at a real example.

A simple example: what’s actually behind the text?

Here’s an actual snippet of code from a site built with a visual editor in Wix:

<div
  id="comp-m4qvbgps"
  class="HcOXKn c9GqVL QxJLC3 lq2cno YQcXTT comp-m4qvbgps wixui-rich-text"
  data-testid="richTextElement"
  ariaattributes="[object Object]"
>
  <p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="font-size:14px;">
    <span style="letter-spacing:0.01em;">
      <span style="font-size:14px;">SAMPLE TEXT 1</span>
    </span>
    <span style="letter-spacing:0.01em;">
      <span style="font-size:14px;">​</span>
    </span>
    <span style="letter-spacing:0.01em;">
      <span style="font-size:14px;">Another sample sentence.</span>
    </span>
  </p>
  <p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="font-size:14px;">&nbsp;</p>
  <p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="font-size:14px;">
    <span style="letter-spacing:0.02em;">
      <span style="font-size:14px;">SAMPLE TEXT 2</span>
    </span>
  </p>
</div>

And here’s what a professional developer might write the same piece of text:

<p>SAMPLE TEXT 1</p>
<p>Another sample sentence.
</p> <p>SAMPLE TEXT 2</p> 

...and what’s the most interesting part?... That visually, the two pieces of code produce exactly the same result.

Why is the professional developer’s code better? The result is less 'noise', better structure, faster load times, and easier interpretation by search engines and assistive technologies.

Clean code helps your business grow

There are three big reasons why clean, semantic code matters:

• Performance: Clean code loads faster and works better on all devices.
• Accessibility: Everyone can access your content, regardless of how they browse.
• SEO: Search engines understand your site better, which helps with ranking.

If you're curious about how clean code impacts web development or want to learn more about SEO basics, we’ve written guides that go into more depth.

And if you're already using a builder but want to upgrade your online presence with professionally crafted web design, we’d love to help.

Final thoughts

This isn’t a criticism of website builders - far from it. They are one of the best things to happen to the web in the last decade. But even the best tools can only take you so far.

Sometimes, what your business really needs isn’t more features - it’s less clutter.