Are web development and coding synonymous, or are they two separate disciplines? What are the differences between the front-end, back-end, and full-stack developer roles? What are the three types of web development?
The ever-changing landscape of the tech world can make it difficult to keep up, but it’s vital to understand the various web development roles in order to become aware of what can be achieved and how. Within the web development ecosystem, it’s important to differentiate between coding and web development, and to gain an understanding of the three types of web development: front-end, back-end, and full-stack.
The World Wide Web has greatly transformed virtually every aspect of modern life, and places an enormous demand on web developers. According to Statista, the number of developer jobs is forecast to grow over 24% from 2019 to 2029, which equates to more than 500,000 new positions. Despite the rapid growth of the field, however, there is still confusion among the public, and often even among employers, as to the distinction between programming and web development. Coding is a subset of web development that requires the use of various computer languages and syntax, whereas web development as a whole works to create engaging webpages or user experiences.
In this article, you will learn about the three types of web development: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. We’ll explain the key differences between the roles, the skills and software technology required, and the cost impact that each presents. As the shift to remote work ramps up, we’ll explore how you can source web development talent from specialists around the globe to suit your needs and budget. Finally, we’ll provide a look at how web development and enterprise automation are being combined to bring visual arguments of complex scenarios to life.Definitions of Web Development
Frontend Development: Frontend development focuses on building the parts of a website that users interact with. This includes creating user interfaces, styling, and overall look and feel of a website. It involves technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ajax, and many more that can be used to build a website.
Backend Development: Backend development has to do with developing the backend of the website, which is the server-side logic of the application. This includes things such as creating a database, developing APIs, making sure server requests are handled properly, and more. It typically involves working with technologies like PHP, Ruby, Node.JS, Java, and more.
DevOps: DevOps is a mixture between development and operations. It focuses on the management of the Infrastructure (such as servers, databases, etc.) and the automation of deploying applications. It involves technologies such as Chef, Puppet, Ansible, and more.
Web development is an ever evolving field which requires knowledge and understanding of various different technologies. Each type of web development has it’s own unique set of requirements and focuses on different aspects of a website. Frontend development focuses on the building the visual interface of a website, backend development focuses on the server- side logic, and DevOps focuses on the deployment of applications and management of the Infrastructure. It is important for web developers to have a good grasp in all of these technologies as they all go hand in hand in order for a website to function efficiently.
2. Types of Web Development
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Front-end Web Development
Front-end web development is the development of user-facing parts of websites. It consists of different technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a markup language used for structuring and presenting content on webpages. It defines the different interactive elements on a website, such as headings, paragraphs, buttons, and images. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation of an HTML document. It is used to apply styling to the HTML elements, including color, font, text size, and layout. JavaScript is a scripting language that supports interaction with webpages, making them dynamic and interactive. It adds the capability of client-side scripting to webpages, allowing developers to create interactive elements such as navigation menus, games, forms, and more.
Server-side Web Development
Server-side web development focuses on the back-end operations of websites. It involves the development of server-side applications and technologies, such as PHP, ASP.NET, Node.js, and more. PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a general-purpose scripting language used for developing server-side applications. It is used for developing a variety of website applications, such as blogs, forums, and content management systems. ASP.NET is a framework used for developing interactive webpages and applications. It provides developers with a scalable and secure framework for creating applications. Node.js is a Javascript runtime environment used for developing server-side applications. It enables developers to create fast and secure applications using JavaScript.
Database Development
Database development is a key part of web development. It involves the development of databases to store website data, such as user profiles, blog posts, and more. A database can be developed using a variety of software, such as MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) used for managing small and large databases. Oracle is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) used for creating large databases. Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) used for creating and managing medium to large databases.
Overall, web development consists of three main types: front-end, server-side, and database development. Each of these types has different technologies and techniques used to develop websites.
3. Web Development Tools and Technologies
Static Web Development
Static web development is the development of server-side, content-based, files that contain HTML language to generate web content that appears the same to every user. This type of development does not require a server-side configuration and can utilize web technologies such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. Static web development also consists of creating the HTML layout of the web page, which is filled with content by adding content elements such as text, images, or objects. In order to have a working page, the existing HTML elements should be patched with the page HTML code. This type of development provides the most consistency and requires less maintenance than other web development types.
Dynamic Web Development
Dynamic web development is the concept of developing applications that change and update the content of a web page in real-time based on user’s input. The main element of a dynamic web page is a database that provides the content for the users depending on the input that is accessed once the user visits the web page. This type of development works by bringing large sets of data from a server, combining it with user-input or page information, and using the data to construct the requested page. Dynamic web development requires knowledge of server-side programming languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Python, .NET, Ruby and Java.
Responsive Web Development
Responsive web development is the type of development process that focuses on creating web sites that are optimized for both desktops and mobile devices. This type of development is designed to provide the optimal viewing and interaction experience when the user browses the web page from any type of device. Responsive web development consists of a combination of technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to provide multiple versions of the website content. Thanks to the design technique of responsive web development, the website automatically makes a request to the presenting frame that is suitable for the device resolution, and the user can access the same website from desktop and mobile devices, without the need to write separate code for each platform.
Conclusion
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The world of web development offers a variety of opportunities for entrepreneurs, professionals, and even hobbyists. From building full-fledged websites to developing single web page applications, web development has the potential to power creative projects that bring people together from all over the globe. But with so many choices of development strategies, how do you know which one is the best for you?
No matter your preference or resources, there are three primary types of web development: front end development, back end development, and full stack development. Different web development strategies focus on different parts of the development process; for example, front-end development solely focuses on crafting the visual appearance of websites, whereas full stack development considers all aspects of website development from the initial concept to the finished product.
Thought-provoking question: What features of a website do you consider when deciding on a web development strategy?
No matter your eventual decision, understanding and utilizing the right development strategy can take your project to the next level. To learn more about web development and the strategies available to you, be sure to follow our blog and stay tuned for new releases.
Questions & Answers:
What is front end development? Front end development is the process of designing the visual elements of a website, including user interface components, style guides, and site architecture. It puts emphasis on client-side scripting as well as the creative aspects of design.
What is back end development? Back end development focuses on the server side components of web development, such as databases and application programming interfaces. Building the “backbone” of the site, this type of development deals heavily with server-side scripting, logic, and business logic layers.
What is full stack development? Full stack development refers to the process of developing a completed website by combining front and back end techniques. A full stack development team must be familiar with all the layers necessary to build a functioning web application, such as databases, user interface and server-side scripting.
What types of web development are best for entrepreneurs? For entrepreneurs looking to create a website, full stack development is often the best choice since it can handle the entire design process from concept to completion. This is often the most efficient route because it keeps everything unified from the very beginning.
What types of web development are best for professionals? Professionals may want to focus on either front end or back end development depending on their specific needs. For those looking to create user interfaces from scratch, front end development is a great choice; for those looking to manage databases and API interfaces, back end development is ideal.