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When it comes to a career in web development there are lots of different opportunities and avenues you can take. However, two terms often pop up…Front End Developer and Back End Developer.
But what does Front End Developer mean, and what do they actually do?
Putting it simply…a Front End Developer works on and focuses on the front end, or visitor facing aspect, of a website.
Web design is the way a website looks, but front end development is how the design actually gets implemented on the web.
A Front End Developer’s core responsibility is to ensure that the websites visitors, and users, can easily interact with the individual website pages, and overall site. They essential create everything the user sees, clicks, touches and engages with.
What type of things does a Front End Developer typically do?
A Front End Developer will be involved in the design, structure, layout, content, images/visuals and navigation aspects of a website. Their core focus is on user experience ensuring the website is built to look well, work well and create a super experience for the end user.
The typical types of things they work on include:
- Design, production and maintenance of websites and web applications.
- Working with different teams to increase usability and the overall user experience or existing and new websites and applications.
- Polish and unify existing product appearance, checking for brand consistency across the website(s).
- Optimise graphics and page speed for enhanced user experience.
- Perform testing of core website elements and ensure the website is user friendly across various platforms and browsers.
- Develop features to make websites mobile-friendly.
- Create tools and implement apps and plugins to enhance user interaction.
- Research and recommend UI solutions based on the latest trends.
- Implement and ensure best practice on-site search engine optimisation (SEO).
What experience and skills does a Front End Developer usually need?
Front end development not only requires tech and coding skills, but also creative skills. The necessary experience and skills can include…
- Hypertext mark-up language (HTML)…which gives structure to web pages.
- Cascading style sheets (CSS)…which helps style the HTML elements with colour, fonts, typeface etc.
- JavaScript…a programming language that allows you add interactive features and dynamic elements to the website.
- Frameworks…prewritten code modules for common website elements.
- Libraries…plugins and extensions to add elements to the website.
- Professional UI development skills using ReactJS, Redux, TypeScript / JavaScript etc.
- Experience with Async actions and using RESTful API.
- Experience with writing automated Unit Testing, cross-browser and device testing.
- Web performance optimisation (WPO) and search engine optimisation (SEO).
As you can see the role and activity of a Front End Developer is quite varied. If you are interested in learning more about career opportunities or are considering a career as a front end developer, get in touch with Jane Olden at jane.olden@barden.ie, and I’ll take it from there. Simple.