A Web Developer is responsible for programming code that tells websites how to operate. There are two main types of web developers, front-end development and back-end development. If a web developer specialises in both, they are known as a full stack developer. Unless you work in the industry, it can be hard to know the difference between all of the fancy titles and job roles, so we have created this blog to assist with the most common questions we get asked about web developers!
Front end web developers, as the name implies, focus on the front end of the website, the shop window, if you will. They focus on the elements that the website visitors see and use. Front end web developers are often confused with web designers due to the nature of their work but will often focus more on the coding side of the design and functions of the front end of the website using languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
Some of the tasks that front end web developers will do:
Back end web developers tend to be more involved with the things a website needs to run, but no one usually sees. Back end web developers, as a rule, will have skills in problem-solving and logic and work with a variety of programming languages such as Python, Ruby, and SQL. Back end web developers could also have the skills to create mobile apps using programming languages such as HTML5, C++, and Java.
Web development is as varied as it is vast, so not all web developers will be able to work on every project. Some will specialise in different aspects of the trade, and then others will have a broad range of skills that can be applied to multiple projects.
In short, a full stack web developer will be skilled in both front end development and back end development. Full-stack web developers will have an overarching set of skills to apply to front and back end development. Most will also have a specialist field in one particular web development section, for example, app development.
The key differences between a web designer and a web developer are that web designers' primary focus is on how a website looks to its users, and a developer will focus on how it works. This is not to say that a web developer cannot design a website; they can but will primarily be focused on making the design work from a coding perspective.
The most popular term in the digital industry is it depends. Sadly, it really does depend on what you need, what you want the outcome to be and what skills the person has you are hiring. The best way to find out is to have a brief prepared (a list of functions and desires for your website), speak to some design teams and let them advise you on what is and isn't possible in their skillset.
Web development is such a broad-ranging skill set that requires knowledge of so many different programming languages and ways of working that it is rare to find someone skilled in all aspects. Most web developers will have a general working knowledge of most aspects of development but specialise in one particular skill.
If you are looking for a web developer, why not speak to the team here at E2E? Here at E2E, we are experts in small businesses and how they operate and here to take the strain from your shoulders when it comes to getting an online presence that works for you. We are a team of dedicated small business specialists who know precisely what it takes and have the tools, the skills and the passion for helping your business succeed online.
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