If you’re a coder, the first thing you have to understand is the difference between front end vs backend development. The web is a complex place, and development is a very specialized field so, instead of doing it all, developers choose a particular area. Some choose the front end (the visible parts of the website), others the backend (under the hood/behind the scenes), and a brave section choose full stack, a combination of both.
Before making a hard decision, give both a go. Not only because you can’t fully understand one without the other, but also because it’s worth finding out what works best for you. So, if you’re really at the very beginning of your coding career, it might be worth looking at full-stack bootcamps or at least at a few online courses. It’ll help you understand which niche appeals to you most.
In the longer term, most people consider that, in order to be a good full stack developer, you should be an expert in both areas. This means that choosing to focus on full-stack development is a choice you should actually make a while into your career– or else you risk spreading yourself too thin.
, you should be an expert in both areas. This means that choosing to focus on full-stack development is a choice you should actually make a while into your career– or else you risk spreading yourself too thin.
Front end Development
You type in a URL and hit enter. The site loads instantly and its ultra-clean layout takes your breath away. Who’s responsible? Web developers. Websites are now a critical component for any business to stay competitive and, as web development trends and best practices change practically with the season, there’s no shortage of work for front end developers.
What is Front end Development?
The front end of a website is the part that users see. Everything that you see when you’re navigating around the Internet, from fonts and colors to dropdown menus and sliders, is a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript being controlled by your computer’s browser.
Using these tools, front end developers, designers and user experience analysts work to deliver mockups, or wireframes, from development. Strong front end developers can also accurately identify specific issues in user experience and provide recommendations and codified solutions to influence the design. It’s also important to be able to fluidly partner with other teams across the business to understand specific goals, needs, and opportunities, and then execute on those directives.
It’s a rewarding job. You directly manipulate what the user is seeing. If you love making an impact on user interface, front end is probably what you’re looking for versus backend. In short, front end developers are responsible for the interior design of a house that’s been built by backend developers: the style is dictated by the homeowner, and you work to build something that fits them best.
Languages Used in Front End Development
If you want to understand what backend vs front end development is, you need to understand the tools. Front end developers work on user-facing code and the architecture of its immersive user experiences. Front end devs, as opposed to backend devs, must be adept at three main languages: HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
It’s also important to have some other foundations. Bootstrap, Foundation, Backbone, AngularJS, and EmberJS all ensure great-looking content no matter the device. Also important to know are libraries like jQuery and LESS, which package code into a more useful, time-saving form. Many relevant job listings also call for experience with Ajax, a widely used technique for using Javascript that lets pages dynamically load by downloading server data in the background.
Front End Developer Jobs and Salary
If you’ve ever looked at your favorite website and wondered what makes it tick, looked at the way it was laid out or the way the buttons acted when you clicked them and thought, “I wish I knew how to do that,” then there’s a good chance you’d end up really enjoying being a front end developer.
Front end development is a fast-growing area, and there are many jobs. And for good reason! We wouldn’t enjoy endless internet wormholes without front end developers. Some websites, like http://frontenddeveloperjob.com/, bring together all the different resources. CareerKarma also has resources, including mentors. Glassdoor reports an average salary of $64,000.
How to Become a Front End Developer
The primary skills you need to have are HTML5, CSS3, Jquery, and Bootstrap. Also knowing Angular and React will help a lot in the job search. Angular is a particularly good tool: It’s more extensive than React, and you’ll learn the ins and outs of front end development. There are also more job opportunities.
Second, we always recommend that you work on proving your skills. Just having them isn’t enough; you have to build a portfolio. Hands-on experience matters more than theoretical knowledge. Projects are also the first thing recruiters look at. So really, it’s all about building your portfolio.
Backend Development
Have you ever wondered what’s behind a website or an app? What data do they parse through, how do they collect it? What are the mechanisms that make it work a certain way? How do algorithms work? Who controls them, who writes them, who decides them? What do they determine?
If those are questions you’ve asked before, you’re probably interested in backend development. So what does that entail exactly? Well, it’s a complicated job – and one that’s in very high demand. People often think there isn’t as much room for creativity in backend, but there actually is: you’re constantly problem-solving and having to find solutions to new, unexpected issues. You have to be inquisitive, curious, and hard-working. If that sounds like you, then you might be on the path to becoming an excellent backend developer.
What is Backend Development?
The backend of a website is the combination of programming and technology that powers the website. It’s basically the brain of the site. There are three parts the user never sees: The server, the application, and the database. Backend developers, vs front end developers, build and maintain the technology needed to enable the user-facing side of the website to exist. backend code makes everything the front end developer creates work more smoothly. Backend devs are responsible for creating, maintaining, testing, and debugging the entire backend. This includes the core application logic, databases, data and application integration, API and other backend processes.
Languages Used in Backend Development
Typically, backend developers work with Python, Ruby, PHP, Go, or server-side JavaScript. The technology that powers the web is based on open standards, so there are many choices when it comes to what language a backend developer should choose. The decisions usually change from company to company, and sometimes even within departments.
Most modern websites are typically built with a variety of languages. The commonly used languages generally have several web frameworks to choose from when making a website. Like other parts of the tech industry, backend development moves quickly, so aspiring backend developers should stay aware of upcoming languages and frameworks.
Backend Developer Jobs and Salary
On average, backend developers make $69,000 yearly. The job is fast-paced and challenging, and there are many jobs. It also allows for creativity and innovation. Many people are satisfied with their backend development jobs.
How to Become a Backend Developer
Most backend developers have some sort of formal training, like a bachelor’s degree or a bootcamp. Backend developers work more abstractly: they could be data mining, writing abstract algorithms, and so on.
Job openings for backend developers often call for experience with PHP frameworks like Zend, Symfony, and CakePHP; experience with version control software like SVN, CVS, or Git; and experience with Linux as a development and deployment system.
Taking a coding bootcamp is a great way to become a backend developer. It’ll give you benefits similar to those of a computer science in a fraction of the time.
Front End and Backend Development Programs with Career Karma
At CareerKarma, we can help you find the perfect bootcamp that fits both you coding goals and your schedule. Sign up with us today to get started.
