What is Web Development?

Web development is the building and maintenance of websites; it’s the work that happens behind the scenes to make a website look great, work fast and perform well with a seamless user experience.

Developers, or ‘devs’, do this by using a variety of coding languages. The languages they use depend on the types of tasks they are performing and the platforms on which they are working.

It skills are in high demand worldwide and well paid too – making development a great career option. It is one of the easiest accessible higher-paid fields as you do not need a traditional university degree to become qualified.

The field of web development is generally broken down into the front-end (the user-facing side) and back-end (the server side).

What are the different types of web development?

When users click on a website link, such as a “Pay Now” button, they rarely think about the underlying code that takes them to a payment page. Web developers are responsible for creating the look and feel of that button, as well as the logic that drives the website. Here are the three main types of web development:

Front-end web development

Front-end web development is responsible for the look and feel of a website. This means how colors, types, icons, and images appear. Increasingly, front-end development has to account for how a website looks on all devices, from desktops to tablets to phones. Typical programming languages include HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Front-end developers keep up with cutting-edge trends in web design and development to make sure websites are optimized for users and search engines — and with security best practices in mind.

Back-end web development

Back-end web development is responsible for building and maintaining the code that runs a website. This code connects the website to the server and ensures that data flows properly to the website and that transactions are processed correctly. Typical programming languages include Java (different from JavaScript), PHP, and MySQL; newer tools include Python and Golang. Back-end web developers can keep up with changes in technology by participating in networking communities that share coding tips and support.

Full-stack web development

Full-stack web development covers both front-end and back-end responsibilities. Depending on the complexity of a website, a full-stack developer may be responsible for all facets of its development, from the server side to the user interface. Many full-stack developers may still specialize in one aspect of web development, but their broad experience is useful in troubleshooting or speeding up a build or redesign. Full-stack developers are often responsible for identifying cutting-edge technologies, such as enhanced programming languages (or even no- or low-code trends) and blockchain, that can be used to strengthen websites’ business capabilities.

Skills needed for success

What defines a successful website developer? The following are just a few of the skills that can help professionals advance their careers in web development.

Programming abilities. Strong coding skills are essential. Mastering programming languages such as HTML and CSS is just a start. Technology changes fast, so a willingness to always be learning new coding techniques is important.
Attention to detail. Testing and debugging code require patience and analytical skills to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.
Creative thinking. Successful websites have to attract and keep users, as well as be visible to search engines. Web developers have to be creative in how they pull together user experience, search engine optimization, and other factors in building a good site.

While many web designers work alone, most work for an organization. Understanding the needs of the sales department, for example, is crucial in creating a successful website. Collaborating with user experience or content creation experts is also a necessary skill.

Web developers can rely on a variety of community resources for everything from finding a job to helping with tough coding problems. Web experts advise new developers to become part of these communities.

A Look at different web development careers

Just as there are different types of web development, there are different web development careers. While they do overlap, each role has different responsibilities and requires different skills.

Web designer

A web designer (also called a digital designer) is responsible for a website’s look and feel. They should have skills in design, art, and coding, as well as an understanding of best practices to build a site that is functional, appealing, and successful at drawing users. Web designers use a variety of graphic design software programs to build their sites. While coding isn’t their sole responsibility, a background in programming is useful to communicate their goals to the web programmer.

Web programmer

A web programmer or web developer writes the code that brings a website to life. Front-end web programmers build the pages the web designer creates. Back-end web programmers write the server code that runs the website. Web programmers are often familiar with web design concepts since they are responsible for making the user interface appealing to site users. The median starting salary for web programmers is about $49,000 per year; with experience, the median salary is about $64,000 per year, according to PayScale.com data from April 2021.

Content developer

A web content developer creates the content that goes on the website. That may include blog posts, product descriptions, images and videos, and news stories. Content developers may also have programming skills such as HTML and search engine optimization (SEO) that they use to make sure their websites are best positioned in search results. According to PayScale.com data from April 2021, the median web content developer salary is about $49,000 per year.

Webmaster

A webmaster is responsible for all aspects of an organization’s website, including design, architecture (the way information is organized on the site), coding, security, and more. The webmaster works with programmers, designers, and marketing teams to ensure the website is effective at attracting and retaining users and is successful as part of an organization’s business strategy. A webmaster must understand design, coding, sales, and marketing. The median starting salary for webmasters is about $49,000 per year; with experience, the median salary is about $59,000 per year, according to PayScale.com data from April 2021.

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