Advancements in technology and the advent of the internet have made tonnes of information available at the click of a button. The internet has websites, and websites have web pages, and we are familiar with these facts. But exactly what goes into making a website, and can you host your website? Let’s find out!
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What does a web developer do?
Web development is the process of planning, constructing, and creating a website for intranet or internet hosting. This is a lengthy procedure that comprises web design, web content development, client/server scripting, and network security configuration, among other things. The primary task for a web developer, however, is to create, encode, and change websites according to the clients’ needs. A web developer also does his or her best to organize attractive sites with efficient navigation and user-friendly design.
Types of web developers
A website is the digital representation of a company, and to maintain a good image, three kinds of web developers are required:
- Frontend web developer
- Backend web developer
- Full-Stack web developer
As the name suggests, a Frontend web developer is responsible for the client-side of the website. Also called Client-Side Scripting, it deals with paying close attention to the UI/UX of the website. The layout, fonts, buttons, themes, and positioning, are all managed by Frontend Web Developers.
On the other hand, a Backend web developer handles server-side scripting and is responsible for storing, organizing, and delivering information to users when required.
A Full-Stack web developer is a Frontend and Backend web developer rolled into one.
Full Stack developers can develop both server and client-side systems and can code, design, and program a full-fledged website on their own.
Read: How Long Does It Take to Learn Python?
Prerequisites to become a web developer
- Problem-solving acumen: More often than not, businesses seek to solve an existing problem through their website. You may be tasked to change the interface to make it easier for users to navigate, regularly update the website to reflect the company’s vision and goals, or maybe even introduce a completely new feature. All of these will require you to think on your feet and solve problems efficiently.
- Understand user requirements: Since webpages are products directly used for web browsers all over the world, web developers must be able to look at their website objective, put themselves in the shoes of the end-user and find out setbacks or issues, if any.
- Focus on the little things: Any programming task requires the programmer to be detail-oriented, be it frontend or backend, or even software development. You must have a keen eye to observe bugs, an in-depth understanding of your niche, and a drive for perfectionism.
- Eagerness to learn: The field of computer science is an ever-evolving one. Every decade sees a breakthrough. You may often have to learn new languages or get your hands on new software to stay relevant. Even in the short term, as languages get updated and new features are added, you may need to rewrite your code to enhance its functionality.
Which programming language to learn?
For frontend developers
The path to becoming a successful Frontend developer starts from learning three basic languages: HTML, CSS, and Javascript. HTML and CSS are markup languages that specify the components of a web page as well as its style (fonts, colours, and layout).
On the other hand, JavaScript is a scripting language for controlling dynamic content on a web page, such as scrolling video, animated graphics, and interactive maps.
Working knowledge of these three languages is sufficient to begin compensated web development work.
For backend developers
Though Backend developers do not have to directly interact with the UI/UX of the website, it always helps to know a little about the buttons/clicks that will be triggering their actions. Hence, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are additional but not necessary skills for a backend developer.
However, backend developers frequently use web frameworks like Spring, Ruby, NodeJS.
Apart from these, it is essential to have a thorough knowledge of a server-side programming language such as Java, Python, Ruby, and popular databases such as MongoDB, MySQL, Redis (for caching.)
For full-stack developers
Full-stack developers are skilled in both frontend and backend languages and frameworks. They’re also well-versed in network, servers, and hosting environments. When it comes to web development, JavaScript is a must-have skill for Full stack developers along with its other features and concepts like React and Angular. This object-oriented scripting language is widely used to add behaviours with the help of HTML. Keeping a track of all the new launches in JS like its frameworks, tools, and libraries is mandatory.
It is also important to know how to use JSON and DOM.
Why should you become a web developer?
- It’s all about the money!: For beginners in web development, there is no dearth of work opportunities. An average web developer earns a salary of 2-2.5L. You can make more money if you have enough experience in the sector. Aside from wage increases, most web developers who have more than 10 years of experience go on to other positions.
- You don’t need a computer science background: Unlike sophisticated fields of computer science such as machine learning or artificial intelligence, web development does not require you to have a computer science background. The languages you will learn will be high-end, hence enhancing your understanding of the code.
- Highly relevant: Making and maintaining websites is one of the easiest ways to reach customers through the internet. The internet is here to stay, and so, the job of a web developer will continue to be relevant. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with small and mid-scale businesses turning towards the internet, the demand for web developers has increased. A simple search for “full stack web developer” on Glassdoor shows at least 5000 jobs paying from 2-14 LPA.
- Infinite growth opportunities: Web developers are the centre of the Internet revolution. The vast community of developers provides support to both new and experienced developers to grow in their respective fields while providing networking opportunities.
- Flexibility: Web developers have both options on the table- to get a 9 to 5 job with a company, or freelance and work from home. This flexibility is what makes this profession even more lucrative.
Steps to become a web developer
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- Choose your field: As explained earlier, the first step to becoming a well-paid web developer is to choose a niche. You may go for frontend development if you understand designing and user experience well. You may choose backend development if you feel comfortable handling databases and cross-platform scripting. If you want to be a full-stack developer, start your journey with learning frontend development.
- Learn the necessary languages: Now that you know what field you want to pursue, learn the languages step by step. The necessary languages for every field have been mentioned already.
- Make your first project: Once you have the basic tools, it is time to implement your knowledge and expertise to develop an actual website that represents your skill. Start with smaller, simpler websites, and then move to more complex ones. You could start by building a clone of a popular app or a simple student result management system. If you’re wondering where to begin, check out the free and interesting projects in Crio Projects Hub. You can pick any project of your choice and complete it on your own by following the step-by-step plan.
- Develop your portfolio: Develop a website that represents your skills and expertise in your niche. You may use social media handles to interact with fellow developers and find other projects to work on. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as a foundation of programming skills, you are ready to start building your websites. As you go along the way, you may need to learn additional technical abilities, such as using the jQuery library of functions for more efficient programming or using version control tools like Git.
- Network and apply for jobs: After you’ve built a solid skill set as a web developer, it’s time to land your dream job. The first step to this is growing your network, interacting with other web developers, and making face-to-face job associations. LinkedIn is one of the most valuable assets for this. Once you’ve started seeking paid jobs, always be on the lookout for online job boards like Angel, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other websites which host a wide range of job opportunities.
- Practice: Last but not the least, keep learning and applying yourself to get better with the skills. The best way to improve your web development skills is to start applying your skills; the more you use them, the better you will become. Test your codes and debug them patiently. Explore and understand the requirements of netizens, and build websites and tools accordingly. Observe existing websites.
Summary
Here’s a checklist for you to follow if you are looking to grow your skills and career in web development:
- Choose your niche: Frontend, Backend or Full Stack web development
- Develop the prerequisite skills:
- Recognize real problems and solve using tech
- Understand user requirements
- Eye for detail
- Eagerness to learn
- Grow your skills: Build projects to gain in-depth knowledge of tech stacks used in your niche
- Create a stunning dev portfolio with skill-based projects.
- Network and build your career
The world of web development is enormous, but you can begin by taking the first step and continue on the right path. Every day, practice until it becomes second nature. Build projects and gain practical skills. Read blogs by professional developers and learn from their experiences. Take a note of everything. Most importantly, enjoy the process!
