How Difficult is it to Learn Front-End Web Development?

Are you curious about taking front end web development but wonder how difficult it is? Most people find that it’s one of the easiest programming subjects to learn, but that’s under perfect conditions. The difficulty that comes with learning any new skill is somewhat subjective. The challenges you’ll face depend on factors like your work schedule, current obligations, and prior experience with programming. No matter your current schedule or comfort level with front end web development, plenty of tools are available to help make learning more manageable than you might think.

What is Front End Web Development?

When people think of the internet, websites are one of the first things that come to mind. Front end web development covers the parts of websites everyone can see, known as the “client-side.” HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the programming languages that tie everything together. This power trio is commonly associated with front end web development, but they also have uses in other programming fields, giving you the option to pivot if you desire.

Web development has been a highly welcoming field, especially over the last few decades. Many people can get jobs as Front End Developers after taking a certificate program. HTML and CSS are two of the simplest programming languages you can learn, and JavaScript is known for its versatility in the programming world. A few months of dedication can launch you into a brand new career or amplify your importance to your current one.

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

What Can You Do with Front End Web Development?

On the surface, front end web development has plenty to offer. You can build a website for your business, passion project, or hobby, and that’s only a handful of topics you can approach. Front end web development is versatile because it can adapt to your interests—and the interests of others. The internet allows us to connect for a common cause, and you can foster that connection through your own website.

Once you’ve established the kind topic of your website, you can leave a unique impression on your visitors by customizing it with code. Even if someone else has the same topic idea as you, they may approach creating their website differently, and that slight difference can make you stand out. That’s where front end web development can help. By honing your skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can create a website that others will feel compelled to use again and again because of the special touch you’ve left on it.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Front End Web Development?

Front end web development is an incredibly accessible programming field, and most people can become efficient within six months. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t obstacles to overcome. The most difficult part of learning front end web development is overcoming Imposter Syndrome and everything associated with it.

When you’re tackling something new, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Take a step back and remind yourself that you’re still learning. Think about the times you’ve faced a seemingly impossible situation and still finished with positive results. When facing difficulties, it’s best to practice mindfulness. Your mindfulness method doesn’t need to be an hour-long guided meditation (although that’s certainly helpful!); it can be as simple as a few deep breaths between programming sessions.

Burnout is real and often slows people down with unnecessary stress. It’s perfectly okay to set boundaries with your studies. Try using the Pomodoro method, which chunks the time you study into 25-minute increments with a 5-minute break. Use that break time to stand up, stretch, hydrate, and breathe.

How Does Learning Front End Web Development Compare to Other Fields?

Front end web development is one of the simplest programming fields to enter, and it’s also known for its excellent overlap with coding and design career paths. You can use it as a starting point and plan your career based on the aspects you enjoy the most.

Web design and web development are similar because they both involve the creation of websites. Still, they require two different skill sets focusing on artistic and programming skills, respectively. User experience (UX) design and user interface (UI) design complement web development because they have a place on both sides of website creation. UX design considers user feedback to make the website more effective, and UI design sets up the layout to ensure the user can navigate the website easily.

WordPress takes the heavy lifting out of building your website and lets you use your front end web development skills to customize it to your liking. They also have hosting plans to reserve your website’s domain name, a step you would have to take to register your website anyway.

If you want to explore the programming side exclusively, JavaScript is another excellent option since it’s already one of the programming languages used for front end web development. Back end development relies heavily on JavaScript to work on the website's server-side aspects. You can also explore full stack development, which effectively switches between front end and back end disciplines as needed for their current project.

No matter which path you take, you’ll be able to use your front end web development skills—and the skills listed above—in any industry. Every company needs employees with skills in all these subjects, and you’ll be able to pivot in any direction you choose.

Ask for Help When You Need It

Occasionally, you’ll find yourself in situations where you’re unsure of what you’re doing. That’s a normal feeling; the best solution is to ask for help when needed. Your mentors have likely encountered similar questions and might have a simple solution to a seemingly complex problem.

Help is available even after you’ve become a professional and already created your website. There’s an entire online community dedicated to programming fields, including front end web development. If you have any peers that are also developers, ask how they would approach your question. Reaching out when you need help will remove the stress and difficulty from most situations. You’ll be able to work as a team and tackle the problem together, and you could learn a new skill.

Persistence Pays Off

If you struggle with some aspects of your classes, remember why you started. Front End Developers are currently in high demand, and that demand will only grow in the next few years. The seemingly-large obstacles you face now will feel like a bump in the road once you’ve given yourself some time to grapple with the material.

Imposter syndrome is common in the early stages of your career, and feelings of uncertainty are entirely normal. Your mentors and peers went through the same thing—and they likely still experience it at times. Don’t feel alone because you’ll always have access to a large online community of programmers that can share their knowledge with you. You’ve got this!

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

Ready to dive into front end web development? Many expert-led classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs are available through Noble Desktop that will bring you closer to your goals. The Front End Web Development Certificate program teaches HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress concepts in one compact but effective bundle of courses. It’s essential for anyone who plans to add these skills to their resume.

Another excellent certificate is the Web Design Certificate program, which focuses on design principles. It complements the web development knowledge base effectively—while front end web development focuses on the programming of websites, web design covers design principles. This skill set is useful for making your website engaging and visually appealing to your visitors. Each program will give you a certificate upon completion, further displaying your knowledge to potential employers.

You might not be ready to dedicate your time to a bootcamp or certificate program. If that’s the case, you can try the Intro to Web Development with HTML & CSS class, which teaches the basic principles of front end web development. Use this class as a starting point to decide how you want to approach your learning.

You can also explore some front end web development courses and bootcamps on your own to find the ones that are a good fit. A large selection of courses is flexible to your current schedule—career preparation, financial assistance, and one-on-one mentoring are available through each certificate program and bootcamp. No matter your choice, you’ll be another step closer to a satisfying career.