To become a Web Developer, you should have an understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I should learn about CSS and CSS frameworks on my own. Developing these fundamental web development skills will give you the foundation and logic for communicating with programming languages.
What Is a Web Developer?
Web developers design, maintain, and optimize websites and other web-based applications for consumer use. They rely on insights from computer programming, software development, and graphic design, often working alongside professionals in each field.
Most web developers specialize in several aspects of the development process. Duties, tools, and techniques vary depending on the position. The following information provides insight into some common web developer roles.
1. Learn Web Development Essentials
To become a web developer, you need to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Coding boot camps are a good way to do this. They are short, immersive, and focused on outcomes and employment, making them worthwhile for aspiring web developers.
Web development attracts mid-career changers and people from all other fields. Coding boot camps provide an efficient way to expand their skills. Employers now value skills and experience over education, which benefits those who can prove their abilities.
To stay current, web developers must continuously learn new tools, trends, and languages. This makes mid-career retraining a must.
2. Choose a Development Specialization For a Web Developer
As you continue to grow your skills, you’ll need to choose an area of specialization. But what are the types of web development? Web Developers categorize all of them into main three types.
- Front-End Developer. A Front-End Developer works on the “client side” of web development, meaning any portion of the site or app that users interact with. This can include a site’s layout, design, and the way users interact with it.
- Back-End Developer. A Back-End Developer works on the “server side” of web development. A site’s function is the focus, and it operates with databases, servers, network hosting, and more.
- Full-Stack Developer. A Full-Stack Developer is familiar with both front-and back-end development and works with both sides of a website.
3. Learn Key Programming Lingos for Web Development
Whatever your area of concentration, you’ll need to learn to code and know how to use a handful of different programming languages for web development and web design. So, what are the most common programming languages?
Three families of programming languages form the basic tools involved in virtually all aspects of web development:
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
- JavaScript
Of course, the list goes on – these are just the beginning. Web development encompasses a broad range of tasks and technologies, making it a diverse and dynamic field. Fortunately, as a specialist, you can find and concentrate on the ones that work best for you.
4. Build Projects to Develop Your Web Developer Skills
Mastering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics, along with programming fundamentals, sets the stage for building. As you progress, you’ll develop technical skills like SQL, Python, jQuery, and Git. The key to improvement? Hands-on practice – the more you experiment, the more proficient you’ll become.
Developers don’t create the overall site design, but understanding design principles is a plus. User-centered design is key to the success of front-end developers as they program the screens users interact with.
5. Build a Web Development Portfolio
A riveting Web Developer portfolio that shows off your strongest skills is your best tool when applying for web development jobs. There are three things to keep in mind when building a portfolio that will stand out from the pack.
When applying for web developer jobs, have a diverse portfolio that demonstrates your best work and versatility. Choose projects that showcase your best work and understanding of the position. Do some research on the company and role, and refine your portfolio to include only the most relevant work.
When building a web developer portfolio, highlight your skills and show how they make you unique. For design roles, your portfolio should have a solid front end with a great user experience and a beautiful interface. A flawless site with no messy code should display your portfolio for web developer roles.
When applying for a web development job, show your thought process and how you approach problems. Frame each project as a case study. This helps recruiters and hiring managers see your value and communication skills, both essential for success.
Is Web Development a Growing Field?
Yes, the web development field is booming. There are more than 1.3 million Developer jobs available in North America, and more than 47,000 new development jobs were created in the last two years, with the market expected to grow an additional 15% in the next 5 years. For these reasons, Mondo found “Web Developer” the most in-demand job title in tech and one of its top-paying jobs.
How Can I Become a Web Developer Fast?
Coding boot camps have become an increasingly popular option for aspiring Web Developers as they provide a hands-on learning experience and the chance to develop job-ready skills – in as little as 12 weeks.
Not all web developers have a degree in software engineering or computer science. Many come from diverse backgrounds and start their careers with self-study or coding boot camps. Most developers (55%) started in a different field and have been programming for 5 years or less.
What Is Needed to Become a Web Developer?
Here are some of the things you’ll need to learn to become a Web Developer:
Foundations:
Web Developers create websites, so to become a Web Developer, you should develop a comprehensive understanding of how the web works. This will deepen your HTML and CSS knowledge to build and style more advanced static web pages, using frameworks such as Flexbox. It will also help you establish problem-solving practices and logic to understand advanced programming concepts.
Programming fundamentals:
Foundational knowledge of computer programming, JavaScript, and object-oriented programming should be a starting point for aspiring Web Developers, as it will improve your ability to write and build components.
Front-end frameworks:
Aspiring Web Developers need to learn how to use React, a JavaScript framework, to build complex and dynamic web pages and professional-level user interfaces.
Web servers: To become a Web Developer, you’ll need to know how to build servers using a modern back-end framework and how to develop custom APIs and serve static websites and files.
Server-side programming:
Web Developers need to have an understanding of Server Side Rendering and Templating Engines, which are used to create empty page templates populated with dynamic data, such as a series of product pages for an eCommerce store.
Databases:
Aspiring Web Developers will also have to understand core concepts around data and learn how to manage databases and data on a web server.
As in other tech fields, it’s important for Web Developers to network and to keep learning, as programming languages and techniques change frequently. Apart from coding boot camps, web development courses, panel discussions, and workshops, you can also stay current by contributing to open-source commons, such as GitHub or Bootstrap.
And of course, to become a Web Developer, you will need a portfolio of completed projects for your job search. Regardless of your specific interests, it’s important to showcase your versatility to ensure clients from various industries get a sense of your abilities.
How Many Programming Languages Should I Know?
A simple question with a complicated answer. Multiple variables make it complicated. Are you a beginner Web Developer or a pro? What types of projects do you work on, or want to work on? And what does the future hold?
As a new Web Developer, balance learning the basics with specializing in in-demand languages that set you apart. Focus on skills that are growing in popularity and relevant to your field.
To get a handle on these trends, BrainStation surveyed the current digital landscape. Based on the answers from thousands of professional respondents, we’ve put together an overview to help guide you toward the programming language you should begin learning now.
The More Programming Languages You Know, The Better
If you’re a Web Developer, take comfort in the fact that you’re in a growth industry. The U.S. predicts that the market for Web Developers will grow by an additional 15 percent up to 2026.Bureau of Labor. Because of this rapid growth, the field has seen an influx of relatively new talent; 58 percent of our survey respondents said they’ve been working in development for five years or less.
Our survey also revealed that the more experience Web Developers have under their belt, the more likely they are to work in full-stack development, and the broader their range of specialties. The takeaway: for a Web Developer to move forward in their careers, it’s crucial to continue learning new and more specialized languages—which, ironically, make them less specialized, and better able to collaborate with or manage teams working at more stages of a broader range of projects.
The Most Popular Coding Languages
In the realm of languages, highly specialized and esoteric languages, though a small number, are just as important.
Asked which programming languages they use currently, respondents overwhelmingly pointed to JavaScript (80 percent), with SQL (47 percent), Python (35 percent), and Java (27 percent) rounding out the leaderboard. Consider these the basics: if you’re a Web Developer, one or more of these is a virtual necessity, no matter what your area of expertise.
Respondents also identified JavaScript and Python as the most enjoyable languages to work in, which not only explains their popularity but also suggests that their popularity in the future is reasonably assured.
Most remarkable, even with a list of no less than 17 programming languages to choose from, 33 percent of respondents checked “Other”—making it the third most common response, and proving that while the industry may have its favorites, there’s still plenty of demand for more obscure languages.
Fastest-Growing Languages For Web Developer
As new applications emerge, we should expect the list of most frequently used languages to change. Asked what will have the biggest effect on their industry over the next five to 10 years, a large majority of respondents (78 percent) chose artificial intelligence and its subset of machine learning as the biggest opportunities for growth.
Anticipating other trends, they identify the Internet of Things at (54 percent, augmented reality at (53 percent, and blockchain at (41 percent. But while they’re anticipating these technologies will gain prominence, only a minority of Developers have worked with them directly—83 percent of respondents have yet to work on AI platforms or blockchain tech, and 80 percent have no experience with IoT devices.
Blockchain technology is a rapidly growing field for both beginners and senior developers. It’s a great area to focus on to improve your chances of advancement and stay relevant.
What Languages Should a New Web Developer Learn?
Given the “Big five” areas where growth is expected to happen—AI and machine learning, IoT, AR, and blockchain—what languages should you learn? While the answer depends, to some extent, on which of these five areas you choose to focus on, the same three names came up again and again: C++, Java, and Python.
In addition to the three families of programming languages used in web development, other languages crop up in each concentration. For example, Blockchain uses Ruby and Solidity; IoT uses C, JavaScript, and PHP; AI and machine learning uses R, Lisp, and Prolog; and AR uses C#, JavaScript, and Swift. C++, Java, and Python are leaders in every case.
In 2018, Java-compatible Kotlin grew the fastest year-over-year, more than doubling. HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) for cloud infrastructure, the JavaScript superset language TypeScript, Microsoft’s automation framework PowerShell, and systems programming language Rust round out the top five.
But not far behind, in the eighth position, is Python. Despite its popularity, Python still managed to chalk up 50 percent year-over-year growth—the sign of a true juggernaut on the rise.
Web Development Skills
Although there are a variety of different skills required to become a Web Developer, knowing how to code is likely at the top of the list of the most important web development skills. As the core of web development work involves writing code, Web Developers must have advanced programming skills, and be fluent in several programming languages and libraries.
In the most recent BrainStation Digital Skills Survey, JavaScript was used by 75 percent of the respondents, making it the most popular language. SQL was the second most widely used language, with 47 percent of the respondents citing its use. However, 86 percent, use Git for version control.
Skills Required to Be a Web Developer
Although Web Developers need a mixture of education, soft skills, and technical skills, ultimately a core job responsibility is writing code, and that means that any Web Developer must have advanced programming skills with a thorough knowledge of any number of programming languages and libraries.
Web developers should have a thorough understanding of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. If you lack experience with code or have only worked with one language, consider a coding boot camp or using free online resources to become more proficient.
There are also certain back-end or front-end skills that all Web Developers should possess regardless of where they tend to work. For example, it’s helpful for someone who works only on the front end to have database, cybersecurity, or SQL experience.
Technical Web Developer Skills
Moreover, there are a range of technical skills or “hard skills” required for web development. In addition, proficiency in programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is essential. Furthermore, knowledge of databases and server-side languages like PHP and Ruby is also crucial. Similarly, an understanding of web frameworks and libraries like React and Angular is necessary. Therefore, web developers must possess a strong foundation in these technical skills to be successful.
First, Web Developers must build experience with the following programming languages:
- HTML and CSS. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are the foundation of any Web Developer’s knowledge. HTML is the standard markup language used for creating web pages, while CSS enables you to program the appearance of the web page, with things like colors and fonts. Learning HTML and CSS is crucial for any number of job roles, given that taken together, HTML and CSS are the building blocks for web development.
- JavaScript, which is often abbreviated as JS, is a crucial programming language, which enables website functionality on both the front-end and back end.
Structured Query Language (SQL) is a programming language that is designed to manage, query, and manipulate data stored in a database. - Python is an object-oriented programming language. Learning Python is important for many data science applications, including machine learning.
- jQuery. A JS library that helps with the efficiency of JavaScript programming by providing a library of common tasks in a compressed, single-line format.
Tracking and restoring previous versions of code is an essential skill for experienced web developers. Some commonly used version control tools are Git and Subversion.
Responsive design is essential for websites to look and function well on all devices, especially mobile devices. Developers who are fluent in responsive design can create websites that adapt to different screen sizes and devices. Responsive design is an essential skill for web developers.
Soft Web Developer Skills
As Web Developers must work with diverse teams, there are also several “soft skills” that are important to develop. Here are some of the most important soft skills for Web Developers:
Communication
From design to marketing, to management, Web Developers are in communication with a host of departments to create products and services. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential to stay on track and complete projects. For a freelance Web Developer, written communication skills are even more important.
Problem-solving
Because a portion of every Developer’s day involves debugging and maintenance, problem-solving skills are high on the list of requirements. Web Developers earn a living by thinking critically and finding creative workarounds and solutions where others have failed. They’ll also have to work independently when needed.
Time management
Web Developers are frequently tasked with multiple short-term and long-term projects in the web development process, and must know how to prioritize tasks and accurately gauge time-to-completion. Having excellent time management skills also makes working with large teams easier, resulting in timely project delivery.
Analytical skills
Good Web Developers are problem solvers, and being able to work backward through a project to spot areas for improvement is key. It’s also helpful to have a head for data.
What Makes a Good Web Developer?
According to BrainStation’s Digital Skills Survey, 50 percent of executives say they will be doing the most hiring in development. Interestingly, though, our respondents also found development the most difficult field to hire for, and as the demand for these skills increases, it will only become more challenging.
What should companies be looking for? How can aspiring Developers stand out when entering the market?
To start, consider the following definition, which provides a well-rounded picture of a good Developer:
“Writes working code, that has been tested for correctness, in the time allocated, following accepted best practices, in a way that can be easily maintained and enhanced, in collaboration with their team, and continuously improve their knowledge and skills throughout their career.”
Let’s take a closer look at these ideas to see what makes a good Developer.
A good Web Developer must:
Write Working Code
Computers are extremely precise, digital machines. The slightest deviation from what a computer expects means that code won’t compile, won’t run, or will crash. The whole point of programming and building software is to write code that the computer successfully processes, producing the desired result. In other words, a good Web Developer has to write code that works.
He or she constantly scans code for anything that looks “off” and has a sharp eye for details. We write clean, well-structured code and use tools to identify potential errors before the code runs.
Write Code That Works Correctly
Just because the code works, doesn’t mean it works correctly. Getting the code to work is only the first hurdle.
Code that doesn’t work correctly is as useless as code that doesn’t work at all and potentially more dangerous. Wrong results can have consequences, from mundane (and occasionally humorous) UI annoyances that frustrate end-users and inhibit their productivity — to the disastrous loss of life or business revenue.
All errors missed by Developers will cause program crashes, system failure, data corruption, security breaches, or turn away users who expect reliability. These errors become increasingly expensive to fix as they find their way into production and are discovered by end-users. Just as physical structures require thorough testing to ensure they are “up to code,” software requires the same stringent standards.
A good Developer, therefore, adopts a test-driven mindset, actively imagining all scenarios where errors can occur, how they should be handled, and writing tests that prove the code is correct.
Respect Timelines and Deadlines
Computers represent the promise of efficiency and productivity. They allow users to accomplish and understand more. Web Developers work within this fast-paced world using computers to bring this productivity and efficiency to reality.
A side-effect of this world is the expectation of having everything done now. That pressure comes from managers, clients, users, and the business climate of getting to market first. That can create a lot of pressure, and Software Developers are only human.
Estimating time on complex software projects is difficult because unknown problems can arise. It’s tempting to underestimate the true details required, but that can lead to stress, burnout, and cutting corners. To avoid these problems, identify all possible details, have a realistic perspective of the work to be done, and overestimate timelines to account for the unknown. When timelines start slipping, communicate early to avoid missing deadlines.
A good Developer sets reasonable expectations, communicates openly about unexpected roadblocks, and maintains the trust of their team and other stakeholders.
Follow Web Development Best Practices
Once the code works (and works correctly), then it needs to be written in the best way possible. Whatever approach the Developer has taken in writing the code, it should be weighed against the solutions of the larger Developer community. A unique, novel approach may be an innovative solution–or it may lack considerations that other Developers have discovered over the years.
Writing software is a complex process with a rich history of many minds thinking about the best way to solve common problems. The result is numerous best practices.
Following these best practices saves time because problems don’t need to be resolved (instead, existing solutions just need to be applied appropriately). This allows developers to build “on the shoulders of giants.” Further, as different Developers contribute over time, there is a common understanding that any new Developer on a project can readily understand.
There are two levels of best practices: industry-wide and company-wide. Company-wide practices will generally be a subset of industry-wide practices but adapted for the specifics of a company’s software domain, and the preferences of the Developers.
A good Developer learns the best practices of their company and applies industry-wide best practices to save time and improve the overall quality of the code.
Write Code That Is Easily Maintained and Enhanced
The code compiles runs, and has been tested for correctness. Things look good, but…how easy is it to change the code in the future? What happens if a new feature needs to be added?
Engineer and Author Martin Fowler says: “Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good Programmers write code that humans can understand.”
While a computer can run any valid code, ultimately the code is maintained by humans. At some point, a Developer is going to have to read, understand, and modify code that may have been written by another Developer (who may no longer be part of their team or company).
Software development is a social endeavor, with many people working and relying on the codebase. Questions such as “How much is obvious from the code? How much needs to be explained? How quickly can the code be scanned and understood?” all help a Developer remember that they are not writing code for themselves.
A good Developer writes high-quality code that other Web Developers can easily understand and modify.
Collaborate With Their Team
While a Web Developer spends much of their time interacting with a computer, the reality of their work environment is social. It’s important to respect the team, know the roles, and responsibilities, and what’s expected. Big picture questions ensure the Developer is properly aligned to the company and their role: “What is the vision/mission/values of the company? What is the product suite offered by the company? Who are the customers? Who do problems get reported to?”
Developers need to understand their company’s best practices and standards to grow within the company. They should also strive to improve the development process to save time and increase productivity. They should have a positive attitude to create a more productive and supportive workplace. Ultimately, developers are responsible for their careers and reputations. They should always be a pleasure to work with and find ways to make their team’s workload lighter and more efficient.
A Good Web Developer Is Continuously Learning
Technology is always evolving, which is part of what makes it so exciting. While some principles and approaches of computer science have remained for decades, areas of software development are constantly changing. Some software domains are more stable, others are more volatile. Legacy software is entrenched with older technology that requires more maintenance with little innovation, while emerging domains may require frequent rewrites every few years as things change.
In other words, web development professionals are expected to constantly look to upskill and stay on top of changing trends.
That’s not necessarily a problem if it is embraced. Knowledge in domains like data science, UX design, product management, digital marketing, and SEO, can strengthen a Developer’s overall understanding of technology, helping them relate and work with colleagues and clients across departments and industries.
Successful Web Developers, then, are lifelong learners who are always looking to expand their knowledge and skills, year after year.
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