Which Back-End Web Development Training Format Is Right for Me?

You might be planning to learn back end web development and are wondering which are some of the best ways to learn it. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right training format is critical to your overall experience. This guide will walk you through the different back end web development learning formats and how they compare to each other, and you will determine which is the best option for you. 

What is Back End Web Development?

Back end web development covers the back end, or “server-side,” of websites. Essentially, it’s the part of websites that handles everything that happens behind the scenes. Without back end web development, websites would only have text, images, and sometimes animations. 

Back end web development is important because it helps websites function. While websites can operate using only front end web development, they will be relatively basic and unable to retain anything. Back end web development allows complex programs to operate on the site, store relevant information, and generate new content based on the user’s actions. Modern websites need back end web development to stay current because simple websites can only go so far in the increasingly digital world. 

Read more about back end web development and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Back End Web Development?

While front end web development focuses on the parts of websites that users see, back end web development handles most of its functions. Back-end web development skills are essential when it comes to organizing, cataloging, and saving (or deleting) data. Without these skills, websites are static and lifeless. You’ll need to use back end web development to ensure that your site meets modern standards and user expectations. Front-end-only websites might lead to user frustration if the site is intended for complex uses such as data retrieval. 

Back end web development allows websites to store login information and prevent user frustration from forgetting their password when they revisit your site. If you’ve accidentally logged out of essential websites after clearing your cache, you know how much of a headache it can be to re-login to every site you visit. Your users will appreciate the ease of access to their accounts, which will help enhance their overall user experience.

Training Formats for Back End Web Development

The three primary methods people use are in-person, live online, and on-demand training formats. The following sections will overview each format and help you gauge their similarities and differences. 

In-Person Back End Web Development Training

In-person training is the most familiar format because most people have had in-person education through school. For this reason, you’re likely familiar with the perks and drawbacks of in-person courses, but you may not have considered how they compare to other training methods.

Most in-person training centers will have a distraction-free environment and all the necessary equipment to complete the course. You’ll also have a group of peers that can lead to networking opportunities. That’s useful if you need extra motivation to continue through your training over long periods of time.

If you’re already self-motivated and have regular access to a computer, you may find that commuting costs can be a considerable drawback. That includes monetary and time costs—you might want to think about how it takes you to go from home to class and everything it can affect. Sometimes you’ll find that you have obligations at home, such as kids or pets, that can make commuting unreasonable. If that sounds like you, you may want to consider live online options instead.

Live Online Back End Web Development Training

Most people consider live online courses relatively new, but many training facilities, such as Noble Desktop, have taught people online for decades. Live online courses are taught in real-time and are equally as engaging and interactive as their in-person counterparts. The most notable point about live online courses is that they’re taught by the same experts that teach in-person classes, which means you’ll receive the same quality instruction no matter which option you choose. 

The primary drawback of live online courses is that you’ll need to set up your own equipment and learning environment. Thankfully, for the most part, you’ll need a laptop, and then you can learn from anywhere in the world. That can be from your office at work or your living room couch. Once you’ve set up your workspace to fit your needs, you’ll find that the ultimate perk of live online courses is their freedom and flexibility. 

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

It’s perfectly understandable if you’re not ready to take a full back end web development class. You may have a tight budget or schedule that prevents you from committing as much as you desire. That’s normal, and luckily there’s still a way to learn without spending money. 

While in-person and live online courses are ideal for gaining knowledge because you’re working with an expert, free online classes are helpful to get an overview or obtain foundational knowledge of the subject without needing to pay for a class. The free Intro to Node course goes over how to use it to create servers required for back end programs to run properly. This class will help you get ahead of the curve once you sign up for a full class and make it easier to progress into more complex areas. 

Read about more free back end web development videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

One of the easiest ways to learn the fundamentals is through live online back end web development courses. When you’re under a tight schedule and every second counts, those extra minutes saved from your commute become incredibly valuable. This training format allows you to learn from the comfort of your home or on the go. You’ll also work with an expert in real time that can answer your questions as they arise.

Comparison of Back End Web Development Training Formats

Most people are familiar with in-person courses because they’ve taken this training style for most of their education. Just three or four decades ago, in-person classes were the only learning format, but now, you’ll find plenty of learning options available. This section will quickly overview each one. 

In-person and live online courses are two sides of the same coin: they take place in real-time and are known for their interactive nature. The main difference is that in-person classes take place in an agreed location that everyone travels to, and live online courses can have participants from anywhere in the world. It comes down to how you want to spend your time: would you prefer to commute and speak to people face-to-face, or would it be better for you to work from home by using your laptop?

On-demand training has the perk of learning at your own pace. It’s reliably well-suited for beginners and anyone who wants to learn about the topic before fully committing to training. However, it’s hard to progress through on-demand training alone because, at a certain point, you’ll need guidance from an expert to ensure your work is done correctly. Most on-demand training is also pre-recorded, which means there’s a chance that it could be outdated. 

The consensus is that on-demand courses are a solid starting point, but in-person and live online courses are what you should pursue once you become serious about your training. These formats are excellent choices if you’re eager to learn about back end web development. Research courses from each option and see which ones stand out to you.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Back End Web Development?

Because many back end web development resources are free online, you may be tempted to learn everything yourself. However, this plan can only go so far because most free training videos are intended for beginners. Tutorials that delve into more advanced back end web development topics are usually harder to find because they need more in-depth analysis than a video tutorial can hold. 

Additionally, some free tutorials may have outdated or incomplete information, which may confuse you once you try to enter the field professionally. Beginner back end web development information is mostly universal, meaning that free tutorials to get an overview of the topic will help no matter when you enter the field. Once you dive into more in-depth lessons with an expert guiding you, you’ll be able to take your learning a step further with confidence. 

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Back End Web Development

The best way to learn back end web development depends on your current skill level and the direction you want to take in your career. If you’re a beginner with no experience, you’ll likely want to see what back end web development offers before you pay for a course. In this case, it’s worth trying out an on-demand or self-paced class because they’re typically free. You can start and stop these classes at any time, and you’ll be able to rewind and rewatch them as many times as you desire. 

Once you have a solid foundation in back end web development, try looking into a bootcamp related to back end web development. A JavaScript Programming Bootcamp is a solid place to start because back end web development heavily involves JavaScript’s programming language. This type of bootcamp will help you run the server side of websites effectively and connect all the skills needed to work on related projects because of how diverse JavaScript can be. 

You can look into certificate programs when you’re ready to get a promotion or pivot into a new career. These programs reward you with credentials you can put on your resume and display on LinkedIn to showcase your achievements. A Full Stack Web Development Certificate program will help you learn back end and front end skills, which is useful for any website-related career path. Another excellent choice is a Python Developer Certificate program since Python is often used for back end purposes. 

No matter how you plan to approach your career, you’ll always be able to use web development skills. Take advantage of the available resources, and you’ll be a step closer to reaching your dream job.

Learn Back End Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Learning back end web development is pretty straightforward, and the process can become easier when working with a well-prepared training facility. Noble Desktop has taught live online back end web development classes and other computer science subjects for over 30 years. They’re an excellent choice when you’re looking to expand your career or start a new one. 

Those fully invested in learning back end web development and related subjects will enjoy taking a Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. This program teaches both front end and back end principles, which will allow you to enter a wide variety of roles. You can also look into a JavaScript Programming Bootcamp since JavaScript is an important skill for back end web development and most other website-related fields. The more you know about these subjects, the better off you’ll be in the long run.