It’s no secret that the web development industry is a volatile one. With new techniques being added everyday, web developers are required to continuously learn and evolve in their craft. This can be a stressful and sometimes frustrating career path. There are also many communication issues that can plague web developers throughout their careers.
The good news is that the web is here to stay. Thanks to the rapid advancements of the Internet, web development is a career field that’s always in demand. Today, there are more than 4.66 billion internet users – more than half of the world’s population. Web development is an ever-growing industry, with the employment of web developers expected to grow by 13% between now and 2030.
In addition to writing code, you’ll need to understand the back-end structure of a website. This back-end structure stores, organizes, and processes data. This data is stored on a server, which is a hardware or software appliance that sits between the client and the database. The browser sends a request to the server, which in turn knows how to retrieve the information needed.
Once you’ve decided on the overall structure of your site, you can move forward with coding. For web developers, this step is essential for kicking off the development process. Ideally, a website should already have a complete user interface (UI). This allows clients to view the product graphically before making any final decisions. And, finally, documenting your web development process is a great way to communicate with your clients and ensure transparency.
While web development is a multifaceted field, it is largely divided into two distinct areas: front-end development and back-end development. The front-end developer handles the design and layout of a website, while the back-end developer develops the database and application that runs the website. Front-end developers use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to code the website. Front-end developers also develop the interfaces that make users interact with the website.
A full-stack developer is a highly skilled web developer who knows both the front-end and the back-end. This requires a thorough knowledge of web technologies and client-server relationships, and requires a much larger knowledge base than a traditional developer. However, it doesn’t mean that a developer has to know everything at once; they can learn about it incrementally.
Education is critical in the web development industry. Earning an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in the field can provide a strong foundation. Both programs offer career-relevant training. And, many schools also offer online or campus-based bootcamp programs. As a bonus, many of these programs also include professional development and internship opportunities with industry partners.
Another essential skill in web development is the ability to work with APIs. The use of APIs enables web developers to access third-party functionality without having to modify code. One such open-source development platform is GitHub, which has a large repository of public APIs. Additionally, web developers should learn how to secure a website.
