The WorldWideWeb first came into our lives in 1989. Since then, leagues and strides of advancement have turned it into what we know now as the internet. In the past years, the developments of this vast portal are thanks to who we know as the “web experts.”
Among them are web developers. Studies show that over 93% of Americans access the internet every day, even more so in the past year. With this surge, the demand for web developers has increased at a steady rate.
For over 30 years now, it’s safe to say that being a web developer is still one of the best careers in the industry. Not only is it in high demand, but it’s also a lucrative trade.
Want to learn more about becoming a web developer? Read on to find out more.
Why Should You Be a Web Developer?
If you feel like you might be quite late with getting on the web developing bandwagon as a career, then think again. It’s never too late to take on this worthwhile path. Whether you want a career shift or are looking for a new hobby, web development is a field you should get into.
Still unconvinced? Then you’ll be glad to know that there are more reasons and advantages to being a web developer. Let’s start with the most unexpected: you don’t need a degree to be a web developer.
Anyone can learn web development, and you can be a self-taught specialist. What’s even better is that there’s always room for growth, and you can broaden your horizons. The playing field with the tech industry is wide, and the sky’s the limit.
It doesn’t matter if you specialize in the more traditional aspects of web development or are venturing into mobile. With your growing skillset, your network, demand, and pay also increases. Additionally, you get to be creative and flexible.
With web development, you can opt to be part of a structured work environment or freelance. For example, engage in freelance work, or become part of a dedicated development team and work remotely. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, then here’s everything you need to know about being a web developer.
Types of Web Developers
What is a web developer? While there are more complex ways to answer this question, it’s easier to break it down to the basics. There are three types of web developers: front-end, back-end, and full-stack developer.
Front-end developers create the web pages as we see them. They do this with programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Dealing with the surface features of a web page is their forte.
As for the back-end developers, they specialize in the inner workings of a web page. They use programming languages that handle and transfer data from a server to a webpage.
Internet users don’t have direct interaction with their work. However, it’s what they do that keeps websites and web pages in working order.
Combine the first two types of web developers, and you get a full-stack developer. They are proficient in both aspects and have the experience and capabilities of both.
Crucial Web Development Skills
Programming languages are the lifeblood of the web developer career. Learning and mastering them is your ticket to success. Here’s the list of programming languages you need to comprehend.
Want to become a front-end developer? You need to learn the following programming languages:
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
- JavaScript
To become a back-end developer, you need to learn:
- PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
- Python
- Ruby and Ruby on Rails
- SQL ( Structured Query Language)
While it’s not a programming language, knowing how to utilize a CMS like WordPress can help. This gives an advantage to novices who get the hang of programming languages. WordPress holds your hand while allowing full customization.
Additionally, it won’t hurt to know and have tools like QlikView or Qlik Sense. These business intelligence tools help with converting, generating, and managing huge sets of raw data. This makes them ideal for back-end programming.
Requesting and operating with lots of data from servers can be quite an ordeal. However, it’s not impossible. Qlik tool integrates programming languages like SQL and even C++ to deliver the best.
Having a knack for web design can increase your advantage in the field. Understanding concepts like layout and navigation help you give better results. It allows you to use the right strategies when planning a code for web design.
Getting Started
Finding the ideal way of gaining these skills is dependent on multiple factors. Would you prefer to get formal training, or do you enjoy the challenge of DIY learning? While both have their own merits, there’s something more satisfying about being self-taught.
There are numerous online courses, boot camps, and modules about developing websites. Many of them are also open source, and communities like Reddit are also great sources. Forums like r/webdev or r/learnprogramming have lots of great tips about being a web developer.
Finally, you can practice your coding and programming skills through mock projects. This will help you gain confidence and build your portfolio. Soon, you’ll be ready for your first gig as a web developer.
Whether you want to do it as a freelancer or are aiming for a corporate position, you’re sure to land a job in no time. Being a web developer is a future-proof job. Every industry needs web development, from healthcare and manufacturing, to the government.
All you’ll need are the right tools, skillset, and grit.
Become a Web Developer Today
Web developing is a skill that anyone can acquire, with different ways on how to approach it. There will always be a demand for a web developer. To become an effective programmer, you need to have the right supplementary knowledge and be flexible.
More so, a well-informed and skilled developer fits into any job. Polishing your programming, resource data management, and analytical skills goes a long way.
Check out the rest of our blog to find out more about this and related topics.
