Web development is a complex process. Whereas some development pros train to become Front End Developers who create the customer-facing side of a website or web app, others focus on integrating front end components with the back end, or server-side. Still others master all aspects of the development process, a position known as a Full Stack Developer.
People who train in front end development may go on to become Full Stack Developers, but it’s not by any means a requirement. The most common titles for front end development pros include:
- Front End Developer
- Front End Development Manager
- Jr. Front End Developer
- Sr. Front End Developer
- Front End Software Engineer
Many companies hire professionals for hybrid positions like Front End Developer/Graphic Designer or Front End/UI Developer (User Interface). While web design and front end development are different, smaller companies may need someone to do both.
Top Tools for Front End Developers
There’s nothing wrong with specializing in front end or back end development, as opposed to working with both sides of the development process. As a Front End Developer, you’ll need to learn multiple languages, frameworks, and other tools of the trade. Here are a few of the most common:
- HTML - Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML, is the basic framework of a website or web application. HTML and CSS are core technologies used together.
- CSS - CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) describes how HTML elements are formatted and presented. There are three types of CSS: Internal, External, and Inline. You can learn HTML and CSS through a class like Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS course.
- JavaScript - A programming language used in numerous ways, Web Developers often pair JavaScript with HTML and CSS to create interactive websites. When you see a Call-To-Action (CTA), it was most likely created with JavaScript. If you’ve already mastered HTML/CSS, Noble Desktop also offers a JavaScript for Front End course you can complete in 18 hours.
Employment Prospects for Front End Developers
The overall job outlook for Web Developers and Digital Designers remains bright. Although these are different roles in most cases, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics combines web development and digital design into a single category, with an average salary around $77,000 per year.
While HTML, CSS, and JavaScript maintain their positions as top skills for front end development pros, there are others. These can include version control and hosting services like Git and Github, JavaScript libraries like jQuery and React.js, browser developer tools like Inspector or Console, and Application Program Interfaces (APIs) like JSONPlaceholder (JavaScript Object Notation Placeholder); CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete); and REST (Representational State Transfer).
Four Approaches for Learning
Studying the most important front end development tools and skills is easy, but the best approach might not be to go it alone. Consider these alternatives for your web development training.
Free Resources
There’s no doubt that many websites offer free videos and articles about front end, back end, and full stack web development. Unfortunately, these resources don’t necessarily offer an effective approach: even top-ranking articles on the subject can contradict each other. Free resources may help you learn what sector you want to explore, but formal training is best for this type of work.
Seminars or Workshops
A short class like those listed above can be the ideal way to begin learning front end web development. Many course providers offer one- to two-day seminars on topics like JavaScript, WordPress, or HTML/CSS, and some of these are excellent. Consider starting with an individual class if you can’t make a long term commitment.
College or University
Depending on the field you plan to enter, you might need a college or university degree for your web development career. While a high percentage of Front End Developers have degrees in majors like Computer Science, not everyone takes this path. In fact, the following option might be your first choice, whether you’ll eventually need a degree or not.