Web development is one of the easiest coding skills on the market, and it’s worth learning for anyone that wants to increase their reach, regardless of their goals. If you’re unsure if learning web development is right for you, this guide will show you a handful of ways you can take web development and apply it to your short-term and long-term plans. That includes your goals for your career and personal pursuits. 

What is Web Development?

Web development is the art of creating a website and ensuring it’s consistently usable. Web Developers use various coding languages to achieve this goal, and it’s common for coding teams to have a person—or multiple people—entirely dedicated to web development. It’s commonly broken down into three types: front end, back end, and full stack development. Each type has a unique role that contributes to the website’s operations. 

Front end web development works with the website's client-side, referred to as the “front end.” This part of the website contains the sections people can see, such as sliders, banners, text, and other visual information. On the opposite side, back end web development works on the website's server-side or “back end.” This part of web development controls the website's functionality and is where all its data resides. 

Full stack web development is a fusion of the two and takes on their best qualities. A Full Stack Developer will have skills in each category and can seamlessly maneuver between the front and back ends. Teams will often have at least one Front End Developer, Back End Developer, and Full Stack Developer readily working on the website regularly. 

Read more about what web development is and why you should learn it.

Professional Uses for Web Development

As the world becomes even more reliant on remote and online work, you’ll want to become more attuned to learning the skills needed to stay current. Web development is one of the most relevant skills on the market, and here are a few examples of skills that can combine seamlessly. 

Full Stack Web Developer

Full Stack Web Developers use front end and back end web development and JavaScript to their fullest extent. This type of developer typically works either alone or on a team, and when they do work on a team, they can take on front end and back end responsibilities depending on the need. It’s best for those who want to enter a coding field and gain many skills quickly. Those that want to learn full stack web development can take a Full Stack Web Development Certificate program and earn a credential that you can present on a resume or LinkedIn profile. 

User Interface Designer

User interface (UI) design considers your audience. If your website needs a setup that helps direct your traffic blow better, UI design is likely the answer. UI Designers can make a solid layout, but they may need to gain the skills to put it on a website themselves. With web development skills, you can make changes to an interface without relying on someone else to take that step for you. 

User Experience Designer

The twin sister of UI design, user experience (UX) design takes data regarding websites and apps and uses it to improve their overall functions. That may come in the form of back end analytics or user surveys. This skill set can overlap with data analytics. Still, the main difference is that you’ll be specifically involved in helping users get more enjoyment when they interact with the website and app. The more they enjoy using it, the more likely they’ll keep returning and referring others to it. 

Web Designer

You can combine UI and UX design and web development into a single field: web design. Web Designers can have both artistic and coding talent but may lean further toward one or the other. You don’t need to be a master designer or programmer to enter this field, and you can create stunning websites and apps that pop out to users the moment they log in. This career has multiple avenues since you can dive deeper into the graphic design or coding aspects, depending on your interests. 

Other Uses for Web Development

Web development isn’t only for professionals—even casual internet users can learn a few coding tricks. Look over this list and see how you can apply it to your own life. 

Highlight Your Passion Project

You might be a talented musician, artist, or woodworker or have another skill you want to share with the public. If you want to share anything online, you have a good reason to create a website. A personal website is more meaningful in today’s world because you can showcase everything you do in one place. Showcase your resume, acting reel, or latest photographs. Create sections for your professional work, creative projects, and family outings.

You’ll be able to show your full self in an organized manner without needing to adhere to social media restrictions. Social media has its perks, but it’s harder to control the traffic you receive on a social media page. On a website, you won’t have to worry about changes to algorithms or policies. You can set those standards yourself. 

Host Your Product

Sell merch? It helps to have a venue to sell it. Customers appreciate an online option even if you sell products in-person, and you can control traffic more easily than on social media. Instead of relying on sites like Etsy to host your store, which typically takes a portion of your proceeds, you can make your own online and keep the extra funds. It doesn’t have to be a full-fledged business, either. You can keep it as a side hustle, work a full-time job, and enjoy following your passions simultaneously. 

Combine It with Your Other Skills

Web development isn’t only for programmers—anyone who wants to bring their talents into the digital world should have a website. If you can code it yourself, that’s one less thing you have to worry about. Even if you have Web Developers and other programmers helping you, it helps to have some coding knowledge to direct your team better and give them clearer instructions. The extent of your digital presence is up to you, but if you combine your other skills with web development, you’ll be able to take them further than you could on your own. 

Learn Web Development Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers high-quality web development classes and bootcamps that are flexible to your learning needs. These courses, taught by experts in web development, are available in-person at their training center in Manhattan and live online internationally. Noble ensures that you will work in small groups with your instructors to help you receive individualized attention, support, and career mentorship. All Noble courses are also available for a free retake up to one year after completion. 

Beginners might be interested in the Front End Web Development certificate program because it gives them the practical knowledge needed to become Web Developers. This program has two tracks depending on how quickly you want to learn: the full-time option takes four weeks to complete, while part-time students will complete the course in four months. 

For those that are interested in learning more about web development as a whole, the Full Stack Web Development Certificate will show you all of the significant concepts associated with client-side and server-side web development. This course is another excellent option for beginners since you can take it with no prior experience. Noble’s courses come with certificates that you can proudly display on LinkedIn or send to employers alongside your resume.

Key Takeaway

• Web development is versatile because you can use it for professional or personal purposes—or both!
• People who explore web development professionally usually enjoy careers that also use full stack web development, web design, user interface (UI), and user experience (UX) design. 
• Personal websites are better than social media when highlighting a passion project, merch, or bringing your work into the digital world. 
• Noble Desktop can help you receive comprehensive web development training in-person or live online and help you achieve your dreams.