Learn how to find the developer of a website using footers, WHOIS, source code, or tools. Discover the creator for hiring, support, or research easily.
Websites are a must-have for any business, and in some cases, knowing who made it is a necessity. Finding out who the developer of a website is can lead to hiring that same expert, getting technical problems solved, or learning about the design and functionality. There are a few easy ways to get this information, and thus it becomes less difficult than most people think to find out the developer.
How to find the developer of a website
Identifying the developer of a website can lead you to the one who was responsible for the graphics, the one who operates the backend, or even the one who takes care of the site’s technical performance.
Several techniques can help you find out the creator if you want to do any of the following:
hire the same developer, report technical problems, ask for collaboration, or just explore the skill level behind the site. Just check the website’s footer, dig into WHOIS domain records, read the website’s source code, and do some research on the company or individual who developed the project.
Also, utilizing services like BuiltWith, Wappalyzer, and domain lookup can provide you with clues concerning the web host, the tech stack, and, in some cases, even the ownership details.
Furthermore, making inquiries with the website owner or turning to social networks might eventually take you to the developer’s doorstep. Everyone can win a developer hunt at a website through a systematic approach, even if one lacks technical know-how.
Why Would You Want to Find a Website Developer?
One of the reasons why businesses need to know who their developers are is to guarantee that the framework of their website is easily understood by everyone; thus, they will never be in a situation where one party is blaming the other for the misunderstanding.
It is also the case that researchers, marketers, and SEOs can get easier access to evaluating how a site is constructed if they know the developer.
Check the Website Footer for Developer Credits
A number of sites have the developer or agency credits in their footer section. This is probably the easiest method to spot the creator. Usually, phrases such as “Designed by XYZ Agency” or “Website by ABC Developer” will be seen.
Sometimes these credits may even have a clickable link that takes the user straight to the developer’s website or portfolio. In spite of the fact that not all websites name the developers, looking in the footer is still a speedy and efficient first move.
Use the About or Contact Page
There are instances when the owner of the site discloses the developer or development firm in the About or Contact page. These pages frequently have details on the group, associations, or awards that can offer some indication as to the identity of the individuals behind the site.
You may find their contact information or even links in case the company has had a long-term collaboration with the agency. In the event that the developer is not listed directly, the website owner can be contacted, and he/she can be asked to provide information on the development team.
Perform a WHOIS Domain Lookup
The domain registration data, which is given as a result of the WHOIS lookup system, includes the owner, the hosting provider, or the technical contact that handles the site. Despite the use of privacy protection in a variety of fields, some useful information may still be obtained, such as the company name, contact information of its management, or an email that is relevant to the domain.
WHOIS can indicate the organization behind the website, thus facilitating the identification of the developer or at least the one responsible for the domain and technical setup management.
Analyze the Page Source Code
Seeing a site’s HTML source gives you clues about the creator. The developers tend to provide their identity or technology preference in the form of comments, theme names, plugin information, or metadata.
You will be required to right-click the site and then select View Page Source to see the source code. Then, search for comments, developer signatures, or framework information. This technique, though requiring a little technical know-how, is a very good way of learning how the website was built almost all the time.
Use Tools Like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer
BuiltWith and Wappalyzer are highly efficient instruments that analyze a website and disclose the technologies utilized in its development. This comprises CMS platforms, frameworks, hosting providers, themes, and plugins.
Although they may not specifically mention the name of the developer, knowing the technology stack can take you to the agencies or developers that are using it most often. Besides, it helps eliminate options and gives hints about the style and expertise level of development.
Search for Theme or Template Information
Usually, if a site is made using a WordPress, Shopify, or other CMS theme, one can see hints about the developer by pinpointing the template. Developers’ names, their companies’ profiles, or even their purchase info are sometimes part of the theme.
To uncover theme authors, you can rely on such online tools as “What WordPress Theme Is That?”. Sometimes, custom-made themes will have comments by the developer or folder names in the source code, which will provide you with direct insight into the person who made or modified the layout.
Check Social Media and Professional Platforms
The work of developers and agencies is often shown on social media, LinkedIn, Behance, Instagram, or Dribbble. Using the name of the website or the company in search engines may result in articles by developers who claim the project to be theirs.
Numerous agencies unreservedly market their client work, whereas freelancers include site builds in their portfolios. This technique can swiftly link you to the appropriate developer, particularly if the website is of recent origin or has undergone a redesign lately.
Look Up the Website on GitHub or Code Repositories
Some sites, especially those that are tech-centered or startups, store some of their code on GitHub or other like sites. It could be possible to locate the public profile of the developer by searching the domain name or the name of the company.
Developers frequently move to their profile pieces, such as projects, plugins, or scripts, that unambiguously show their identity. Not every site has a public repository, but this is a very effective method for open-source projects or tech companies that maintain public development activity.
Use Website Archive Tools
Such archiving tools as Wayback Machine can be useful to access the older versions of a site, which may have developer information that is no longer available. Footer credits or links with the design agency or contact details may still appear in the older versions of the site. The older versions of the site might still show footer credits, links to the design agency, or contact information.
This technique comes particularly handy in case the website has been through a series of redesigns. The pages that have been saved can provide hints that were considered to be lost forever about the original developer or the agency that was responsible for the earlier builds, thus assisting you in finding the creators.
Contact the Website Owner Directly
Where everything fails, the final measure of calling the owner of the site is likely to prove to be the most effective method. The inquiry regarding the website developer can be expressed politely with the help of the contact form, business email, or social media handles.
The majority of the owners will be willing to share this information, especially when you intend to hire the same developer or require technical support. This simple method is the fastest and most certain in getting accurate and current information.
Check Business Listings and Online Directories
The majority of companies mention their website developers in online directories or show them on professional platforms like Clutch, GoodFirms, and Yelp. By sometimes searching the name of the company, one can find out their digital partners or web agencies.
Local service directories usually show the development agency that has created the websites for local businesses. This, in fact, is very useful for companies in sectors like travel, food, and clothes, as the website makers are often mentioned in the company’s profile or introduction.
Examine Website Hosting Details
Hosting details can give away some of the developer’s hints, particularly if the site is on an agency-managed hosting service. Hosting provider detection tools may reveal reseller hosting or custom servers used by agencies.
Although hosting specifics might not explicitly point out the developer’s name, they indicate the management hierarchy that is behind the website. In case the hosting is linked to a development firm, this information can be used to contact the company and ask for more details.
Look for Developer Signatures in Files
A few developers embed their signatures or comments within the CSS, JavaScript, or theme files. The aforementioned may divulge the developer’s name, company, or even the contact details. Use the browser developer tools to inspect those files.
Though this method requires more technical skills, it is frequently successful for uncovering hidden credits or hints about the development team. Sometimes developers leave these notes for internal purposes, which could lead to the identification of the creator.
Hire a Web Analyst or Technical Expert
When you do not want to deal with website analysis or hard technical tools, the best solution is to hire a web analyst. They are professionally trained in the field and know the exact places to examine for hints, to make sense of the technical data, and to find out where the developers have been.
Some of the areas that would be visited by the web analysts would be site layout, source code, DNS records, and platform. This is an excellent strategy when organizations desire speedy and dependable information but would rather avoid participating in the technical aspect.
FAQ
Can hosting information help identify the developer?
Yes. Other developers apply their own hosting or reseller hosting accounts. The information about hosting could take you to the development company in charge of the server environment of the site.
Is it possible to track a website by its CMS theme author?
Yes. A lot of them give contacts about the authors of the themes. In case the theme adopted by the website is a commercial one, the theme writer can refer you to the developer who tailored the theme.
Can website speed tools reveal developer details?
There is no explicit information, but some tools, such as GTmetrix, display technologies, CDNs, and optimization methods, which could give a clue as to what kind of developer or agency it is.
Can I identify the developer through website plugins?
Yes. The source code may indicate customization by particular agencies or programmers in the form of metadata on a plug-in. Some of the plugins contain developer comments or signatures.
Can LinkedIn help find the website developer?
Yes. A search of the company name can give us workers with the positions of Website Developer, Web Designer, or Website Manager who can be located right in the project.
Conclusion
It may not be a simple task to locate the developer of a site, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be a simple task. As one can verify the site footer or even view the code of the site, consider WHOIS information, or even call the creator, there are many ways to determine who the developer is.
Regardless of whether you are planning to hire someone, collaborate, or do some research, the above steps will help you find this creator much faster. One can easily guess who is behind any site because, given time and research, anyone can tell.