A front-end developer creates websites and applications using web languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that allow users to access and interact with the site or app. When you visit a website, the design elements you see were created by a front-end developer.
Contrast this with back-end developers, who work to develop the behind-the-scenes portions of a website or application, like data storage, security, site performance, or other server-side functions.
What does a front-end developer do?
Front-end developers create the user interface (UI) that determines what each part of a site or application does and how it will look.
If someone wanted to build a website, for example, they might hire a front-end developer to create the site's layout. The front-end developer determines where to place images, what the navigation should look like, and how to present the site. Much of their work involves ensuring the appearance and layout of the site or application is easy to navigate and intuitive for the user.
Front-end developer salary and job prospects
The average base salary for a front-end developer in the US was $88,558 in May 2022, according to Glassdoor. Factors like education level, experience, or certifications may affect how much you earn.
Front-end development is a career that is expected to continue being in demand for years to come. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that web developer jobs in the US should grow by 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is well above the overall average of 8 percent for all jobs.
Benefits of being a front-end developer?
The demand and flexibility of this position mean that there are many career opportunities available across various industries and locations. Whether that means working with a non-profit organization, starting your own freelance business, or being an in-house developer for a company, you’ll likely have the chance to find a role that fits your interests.
The computer-heavy nature of the job also means plenty of opportunities to work remotely. Being a front-end developer can mean being able to work for companies across the country—or even the globe—from the comfort of your home.
How to become a front-end developer
Some of the most prominent skills you’ll want to have as a front-end developer are:
1. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These three languages are essential to anyone who wants to work in front-end development. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together to determine the look and functionality of the page.
2. Frameworks: Frameworks are tools required for JavaScript and CSS to perform the way you want them to. Having a solid understanding of them is crucial for creating page structures.
3. Developer tools and software: Software like version control, which tracks and controls changes in your source code, is critical to allow you to make changes without starting over. Understanding how to use many different software development tools is a building block to a successful career.
Get started as a front-end developer
If you’re new to front-end development, try starting with an introductory course, such as Meta's Introduction to Web Development. If you already have basic HTML skills and want to learn more, you can take beginning web developer courses to add HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills to your toolkit. From there, you can start exploring other courses like responsive web development to hone your skills—and move closer to a career in front-end development.
Glossary of front-end developer terms
1. CSS (cascading style sheets): The language used to create the layout, color, style, and so on of the pages you create with HTML. (CSS) controls the presentation aspect of the site and allows your site to have its own unique look. It does this by maintaining style sheets that sit on top of other style rules and are triggered based on other inputs, such as device screen size and resolution. The CSS can be added externally, internally, or embedded in the HTML tags.
2. Frameworks: A platform for developing software consistently, efficiently, and accurately
3. HTML (hypertext markup language): The basic building block needed to develop websites, a language that allows you to make notes in digital documents that are different from regular text. HTML was developed by Tim Berners-Lee. The latest version of HTML is called HTML5 and was published on October 28, 2014 by the W3C recommendation. This version contains new and efficient ways of handling elements such as video and audio files.
4. JavaScript: The programming language of developers that determines what the page will do. Using a technique called AJAX, JavaScript code can also actively retrieve content from the web (independent of the original HTML page retrieval), and also react to server-side events as well, adding a truly dynamic nature to the web page experience.
Goals For Development
The developer of the front end keeps these points in mind, utilizing available tools and techniques to reach this end.
Accessibility
With continuing development for mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, designers need to ensure that their site comes up correctly in browsers on all devices. This can be done by creating a responsive web design using stylesheets in CSS.
Performance
Performance goals are chiefly concerned with render time, manipulating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to ensure that the site opens up quickly.
Speedy development
This technology enables speedy development and saves time.
Written By : Deepshikha Niyogi