The job outlook for web developers is better than many occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the job market for developers to grow by 13 percent from 2018 to 2028.
The average job growth is only 5 percent.
Web development is a good industry to get into but what do web developers do, exactly? Let’s find out.
What Is a Web Developer?
A web developer is someone who writes the code that makes a website or web service do what it does. They’re programmers, but instead of writing applications like a word processor or games, they write for the web.
A web developer created every website you read, social network you belong to, and web app you use. They make the internet the useful tool it is.
The 3 Layers of Web Development.
There are 3 types of web development:
- Client-side
- Server-side
- Database
Client-side means code that runs in your browser or on your computer. Server-side is code that runs on the webserver before it sends the information to the browser. And database coding is the connection between the website and the underlying information in a database.
Skills and Knowledge Required.
Many people think of a developer as an introverted, socially awkward “geek” that spends all their time banging away at a computer keyboard.
This couldn’t be further from the truth though. Web developers need to have a wide range of skills and knowledge, including:
- Knowledge of various coding languages such as C+, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, and HTML markup
- Client service and support
- Project management
- Effective communication skills
Developers need to work with engineers, sales and marketing staff, customer support staff, and even CEOs and other executives so they need to understand far more than how to code a website.
Types of Web Developers.
When a company is choosing a web developer, one of the main things they need to decide is what type of development work they need to have done.
Front-end development is the client-facing work that a visitor to your website sees. This is the most obvious component of web development for most people.
Back-end development is the foundational work that makes a website operate. This isn’t as glamorous as the client-side development but it’s every bit as important, if not more so.
Full-stack web developers handle all aspects of the development process – front-end, back-end, and everything in between. Web programmer salaries vary based on the amount of work they’re doing so full-stack developers logically make the most.
What Do Web Developers Do? A Wide Range of Things.
As you can see, the answer to the question “What do web developers do?” covers a lot of ground. And one developer can have a much different range of responsibilities than another, depending on the type of work they’re doing.
If you’re thinking of getting into web development, prepare yourself to spend the rest of your career learning and growing.
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