What Is a Front-End Developer? Front-End Developer Handbook 2018

The day to day responsibilities of a front-end developer may vary depending on the technology that your job or team uses. They start with the use-case of the customer and works backwards, working tirelessly to earn and maintain customer trust by building the front-end of products. For example, nearly all websites are built with a combination of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. If you are not familiar with these technologies, you will need to learn them. Secondly, front-end developers interact frequently with designers.

You can read up on cross-platform development on popular coding resource sites. When you do projects on your own, please don’t neglect to test them in multiple browsers. As a frontend developer, you won’t need to write your front end developer classes APIs for others to call (that’s a backend job), but you should know how to call an API and display it meaningfully on your site. Knowing a programming language or two beyond JavaScript can set you apart as a job candidate.

Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming

By the end, you’ll have a deep understanding of how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build a functional, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible website. Front-end development is a valued skill in the technology industry. Although mobile apps are on the rise, it’s hard to describe just how important websites are to our lives. The most important qualification for becoming a frontend developer is proficiency with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a few of the other skills listed above. Some websites will have separate versions for desktop and mobile versions, but more commonly, you’ll need to build the site to be mobile-responsive.

• Version control makes this much easier because it allows you and your team to efficiently communicate and manage (track) all changes made to the source code.
• A newer developer usually works in one of these roles for one to three years.
• They are problem solvers who use programming languages, tools, creativity, and experience to create a website or application that solves a user’s problem and looks good.

As you are developing your application, there will be errors in your code that need fixing. Debugging is the act of identifying those errors (“bugs”) and fixing them. CSS preprocessors like Sass and Less, allow you to add logic and functionality to your CSS. Front end developers also have to make sure the website looks good on all devices (phones, tablets, and computer screens). A front end developer will also interact with and make use of APIs and RESTful services.

How much does a frontend developer earn?

In this article, we’ll cover what a frontend developer is, how to become one, and check out some of the top skills you’ll need. For example, a front-end developer will typically have a good handle on UI/Interaction design as well as Back-end development. Additionally, it is not uncommon to find a Visual Designer who does Interaction Design and can also contribute to front-end coding efforts. You’ll need more than just technical skills to be a successful front end web developer. UX design, on the other hand, is concerned with the whole experience a user has on a website. User experience designers analyze and research a product to determine any points that may confuse users.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is a lightweight architecture that makes network communications simpler, while APIs and RESTful services follow that architecture. https://deveducation.com/ It is good to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before working through this section. Many of the techniques and best practices touch on multiple technologies.

Types of Front-End Developer Positions

Work through each section, learning new skills (or improving existing ones) as you go along. Each section includes exercises and assessments to test your understanding before you move forward. A career as a front-end web developer can flex your creativity and problem-solving skills. As a field that is constantly evolving to incorporate new technology, front-end development can reward those who like to learn new things and face challenges.

A JavaScript library is a set of reusable codes that you can put into your project. It saves you the trouble of developing a feature from scratch when other developers have already done it. JavaScript libraries and frameworks are tools that make JavaScript development faster and easier.