Ruby, particularly through its most popular web framework Ruby on Rails, has had a huge impact on web development by making it faster, more enjoyable, and less complex for developers. Before Rails gained popularity, building web applications required a lot of repetitive work, boilerplate code, and configuration. Ruby on Rails introduced a new way of thinking that emphasized convention over configuration, meaning developers could follow set patterns and write less code to achieve more functionality.

One of the most important ways Ruby on Rails changed web development is by promoting rapid development through scaffolding, which allows developers to generate basic parts of an application—like models, views, and controllers—automatically. This feature helped beginners and experts alike build prototypes and full applications in record time. The Ruby language itself also played a major role because of its clean, readable syntax, which makes it feel more like writing plain English than traditional code.

Rails introduced or popularized the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern in web development, which separates the application into layers of responsibility. This separation helps developers organize their code better, makes it easier to maintain, and encourages a clear flow of data and control. The Active Record ORM that comes with Rails simplifies database interaction by allowing developers to use Ruby code to handle database operations instead of writing raw SQL.

Another major contribution is how Rails handles routing, RESTful architecture, and form handling. It simplified the process of mapping URLs to functions, handling user input, and managing CRUD operations in a way that felt natural and minimal. Features like migrations also allow developers to evolve their database schema alongside their application code without manually managing database changes.

Rails also emphasizes developer happiness and productivity. With features like hot code reloading, meaningful error messages, automated testing tools, and a vast library of gems (Ruby packages), developers can quickly build powerful applications and customize them with minimal effort. The strong testing culture encouraged by Rails has also improved code quality across the board, with test-driven development becoming a common practice.

Ruby on Rails also made deployment smoother, especially with the rise of platforms like Heroku, which was originally built with Rails apps in mind. This allowed developers to get their applications online with just a few commands, which was a game-changer compared to older deployment methods that required heavy setup.

Overall, Ruby and Rails made web development more human-friendly, enjoyable, and efficient. It inspired a new generation of frameworks in other languages to focus more on developer experience, productivity, and best practices. By abstracting complexity and introducing clear conventions, Ruby on Rails changed the culture of web development, making it easier for individuals and teams to build, scale, and maintain modern web applications.