Who is a Front-End Developer? Complete Guide

ByMatthew Martin Hours Updated

Frontend developers are professionals who are responsible for effectively implementing visual components on a website. They perform front-end development tasks like website designing, appearance, navigation, buttons.

The main objective of designing any website is to ensure that users can see the relevant information in a format that is easy to read. But this simple goal is complicated to implement as visitors use various types of devices with different screen sizes and resolutions. They also need to ensure that the website opens correctly in various browsers and different operating systems (cross-platform). This forces the Front-end developer to test their design on multiple permutations of OS, Browser, and Devices, making their job difficult. 

Front-end Developers use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS (Cascading Style sheets) to ensure that the website looks appealing and runs correctly. It also allows users to interact freely and comfortably with a website.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

What Does a Front End Developer Do?

Here are some important Roles played by frontend developers:

  • Front end web developer should be able to define components on the web page with HTML.
  • Able to enhance productivity with the use of JavaScript frameworks.
  • A front-end developer performs different tasks like content management, web design changes, interaction analysis, debugging, etc.
  • Analyzes the client-side performance of a webpage to understand the user experience and user interactions better. 
  • A front-end developer works with web designers and UX specialists to bring out the best experience for the visitors.

Important Skills for Front End Developers

Here are the important skills for Front End Developers:

  • Ability to create responsive designs on a website.
  • Good HTML (Hypertext markup language) knowledge for defining components on a webpage.
  • JavaScript knowledge to enhance the interactivity of the site.
  • Ability to analyze the client-side performance of a webpage to understand the user experience better. 
  • Frontend developers optimize websites for a better user experience.
  • Developing and maintaining the user interface.
  • Implementing website design for mobile devices.
  • Managing software workflow.
  • Should be familiar with the latest SEO best practices.
  • Fixing bugs and testing websites for usability.

What Software and Tools does a Frontend Developer use?

Front-end developer or a full stack developer designs the visual part of a website that users see. The front-end developer turns designs created by a web designer into a functional, aesthetically pleasing user interface.

Here is some technical knowledge expected from Front-end Developers:

1) Frontend Technologies:

Frontend developers should be good at essential frontends web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These professionals should also have knowledge of third-party libraries like Angular, jQuery, and React JS.

2) Development Languages:

Front-end developers should also know the basics about programming languages like Python, Java, Ruby, etc.

3) TypeScript:

TypeScript is a pure object-oriented programming language with classes, statically typed code, interfaces like C# or Java. This programming language allows you to write JavaScript in the way you desire.

4) Database and Cache:

Front-end developers should know various DBMS technologies like MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, and SQLServer, which are widely used for this purpose.

5) Responsive and Mobile Design:

To become a successful front-end developer, knowledge of designing is a must. Moreover, the front-end developer should have responsive and mobile design skills, which are important to employers.

Responsive design means the site’s layout change based on the screen size and device the user is using. Frontend developers need to make sure that the website is accessible to all users and remains responsive to all mobile, tablets, laptops, PCs, or other devices.

6) Server:

The front-end developer should work with servers like Apache or Nginx, and they should have a good knowledge of Linux and Server administration.

7) Version Control System (VCS):

A version control system helps Front end developers to keep track of all the changes made in their code. Git is widely used in these version control systems can be installed using the command line. The knowledge of Git helps developers understand the latest code, update certain parts of the code, and make changes in other developers’ code.

8) Working with API (REST & SOAP):

Knowledge of APIs and web services is also a plus for front-end developers. Familiarity with the creation and consumption of REST and SOAP services is desirable.

9) Content Management Systems and eCommerce Platforms:

A Front-end developer should know about various content management systems and eCommerce platforms (a specific type of CMS). The most popular CMS used worldwide is WordPress. Some other popular CMSs include Magento, Joomla, and Drupal.

10) Cross-Browser Development:

Modern browsers are very good at displaying websites consistently. However, there are still differences in how they interpret code internally. Knowing how to make your website work the way you want on each browser is also very important.

What’s the difference between a Front-end and Back-end developer?

Front-end developer Back-end developer
Front-end web development, front-end developers, generally work on the user-facing portions of a website or web application Back-end web developers tend to work with server-side technologies that power the site’s functionality.  
The Frontend web developer should be familiar with are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Back end developers use PHP, Java, .Net and DBMS, Server, API, etc.
Frontend web developer works along with the designer by taking users’ inputs and modifying them through testing.   Backend web developers develop an application that supports the frontend. They also provide support, security, and content management.
Front end development service cannot be offered independently. Back end development can be offered as an independent service in BaaS (Back-end as a service).
Average front end developer’s salary is $104,405 per year. Average salary of back end developers are $120,798 per year.

Front End Developer Jobs and Salary

There are various positions available for front-end developers. However, one title might require specific duties at one company, and the other requires a different skillset for another company. So, it is always good to clearly understand what that specific job role entails.

Here are some Job profile of Front End developers:

  • Web designer: Front-end developer with professional design skills. May focus more on design than coding.
  • Web developer: It is a more general term to describe front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers.
  • UX/UI developer: Front-end developer with interaction design skills.
  • WordPress developer: This type of front-end developer that specializes in the WordPress platform.
  • Mobile developer: A front- or back-end developer that focuses on mobile apps instead of web pages and apps.

Front End Developer Courses

Here are the top three online Front-end development courses that help you become a professional front-end developer (full stack developer).

1) Front End Web Developer

The Front-End Web Developer course is an online course for learners with the unique skills they require to build and develop various websites and web applications.

This JavaScript course will learn how to develop interactive websites and UI (User Interface) applications using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. You can also learn how to connect a web application to the backend server database. Students will also learn how to create expertise in building web applications and deployment processes using Webpack.

Key topics:

  • CSS & Website Layout
  • JavaScript and the DOM
  • Web APIs and Asynchronous Applications
  • Build Tools, Webpack, and Service Worker

Features:

  • You can access to the classroom immediately on enrollment
  • Personalized feedback
  • Practical tips and industry best practices
  • Unlimited submissions and feedback loops
  • Additional suggested resources to improve

Duration: 4 Months- (5-10 hrs./week weekly word effort)

Price/Fee: Free

Rating: 4.6

Provider: Udacity

Price: Free

Certification: Yes

Prerequisites: Should know basic HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

Link: https://www.udacity.com/course/front-end-web-developer-nanodegree–nd0011

2) HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers is an online course that helps you learn the basic tools that every web developer should know. It is one of the best web development courses that helps you learn how to implement modern web pages with CSS and HTML.

After learning this online class, you will be able to code a web page in mobile and desktop applications. In this course, learn about using JavaScript to build a fully functional web application and allows you to utilize Ajax for server-side data functionality for the end-user.

Key topics:

  • Introduction to HTML5 and CSS3
  • Coding the Static Restaurant Site
  • Introduction to JavaScript
  • Using JavaScript to Build Web Applications

Features:

  • Shareable course certificate
  • Self-paced learning option
  • Course videos & readings
  • Graded assignments with peer feedback
  • Graded quizzes with feedback
  • Graded programming assignments

Duration: Approx. 40 hours to complete

Price/Fee: Free

Rating: 4.8

Provider: Coursera

Certification on Completion: Yes

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/html-css-javascript-for-web-developers

3) Learn Intermediate JavaScript

Learn Intermediate JavaScript is an intermediate JavaScript course that helps students for web development, server-side application development, and desktop app development. This Front requires a more advanced set of JavaScript skills. This JavaScript web development course helps you to prepare IT students with the skills needed to use JavaScript frameworks like Angular React, and Vue.

Key topics:

  • Object-Oriented JavaScript
  • Introduction of Functional Programming
  • Asynchronous Programming in JavaScript

Features:

  • Real-world projects from industry experts
  • Technical mentor support

Duration: 3 months

Price/Fee: Free

Provider: Udacity

Rating: 4.8

Level: Beginner

Certification: Yes

Prerequisites: Basic JavaScript

Link: https://www.udacity.com/course/intermediate-javascript-nanodegree–nd032

Summary:

  • Frontend developers are professionals who are responsible for effectively implementing visual components on a website.
  • A frontend developer defines components on the webpage with HTML.
  • Front-end stack development is used for designing the part of a website that a user sees.
  • Front-end developers should know: 1) Frontend technologies, 2) Web Development Languages, 3) TypeScript, 4) Database and Cache, 5) Responsive and Mobile Design, 6) Server, 7) Version Control System, 8) Working with APIs, 9) Functional testing and Unit testing, and 10) Cross-Browser Development.
  • Back-end web developers tend to work with server-side technologies that power the site’s functionality. In comparison, Front-end web developers generally work on the user-facing portions of a website or web application
  • HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for full stack developers help you learn the basic tools that every web developer needs to know.

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