Difference between Backend and Frontend Web Development

calender May 19, 2023
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Sunil Kumar

Principle Solution Architect

While the term may seem technical, the website or app everyone experiences daily is the front end. If you’ve opened an app to check the weather or scrolled through the headlines on a website, you have interacted with the front end.

What is Frontend Web Development?

Front-end is not a one-person job; it takes an entire team to build the look and feel of the app/website. Simply put, front-end application development combines the graphic design(look) and user interface(feel) of the website or app. Each is created independently, with the visual aspects of the website/app built using many tools by the UI/UX designer and code for the functions of the app/website using various front-end web development frameworks and technologies by the front-end developer.

This blog will explore more aspects, such as what a front-end developer does, the top 10 front-end development languages, architecture, and the best practices one can follow. So let’s begin.

What Does a Front-End Web Developer Do?

A front-end developer is a professional proficient in front-end web development languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or frameworks and designs, and implements the user interface (UI) of the site/app that users see and interact with.

Owing to the demand and flexibility, front-end application development as a career is expected to grow over the years. As per the latest United States Bureau of Labour Statistics, openings for web developers are expected to grow at 23% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than other occupations.

With plenty of career options available across industries and locations, developers can start their own freelance business, work in-house in a mobile app development company, or work in an offshore team remotely across the globe.

Also read: How To Hire A Dedicated Offshore Development Team

The followings are some roles and responsibilities of the front-end developer.

  • Decide the web page/app page structure and design
  • Develop necessary features to include
  • Strike a balance between functional and aesthetic design
  • Build reusable and multi-platform-centric code
  • Ensure the web design is optimized for speed and scalability
  • Use a variety of markup languages to develop web pages
  • Ensure brand consistency in the interface

Some prominent skills to keep in mind as a front-end developer are:

  1. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These languages are a must to know as they determine the look and functionality of a page.
  2. Frameworks: A solid understanding of the frameworks help you create the necessary page structures.
  3. Developer tools and software: Track and control changes in the source code using proper front-end web development tools and software, as it eases writing code, making changes, transferring code, and maintaining code without starting over.

In addition to knowing specific workplace skills, the developer must have the following.

  • Creativity
  • Teamwork
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
frontend web development Company

Now that you know what front-end app/website development is and what a web developer does, let us see the top front-end languages used in developing applications.

Top 10 Front-End Web Development Languages

The followings are the top ten front-end languages and frameworks used to create websites and apps.

HTMLCSS
JavascriptReact
VueTypeScript
ElmJQuery
AngularSwift
frontend web development languages
  • HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language is a user-friendly, easily understandable programming language used to develop websites, web pages, and apps. HTML comprises different elements and tells the browser which contents to load on display. A website is like a document written in HTML code translated through a web browser.
  • CSS: Cascading Style Sheets is a design language that simplifies and makes web pages presentable. Selectors handle different elements on the web page, and styles, effects can be applied easily.
  • Javascript: JavaScript is a robust open-source, client-side programming language that lets you implement sophisticated features on the web page. It can bring an action to any page by performing a dynamic action to show updated content, interactive maps, 2D and 3D images, video boxes, and more.
  • React: React is a widely used JavaScript library and easy-to-learn framework for creating fast, cutting-edge web interfaces. Developers familiar with JavaScript can gain a thorough understanding of React.
  • Vue: Vue is also an open-source JavaScript framework that is used to develop user interfaces that are lightweight and flexible in terms of support for new programmers.
  • TypeScript: TypeScript is a free and open-source programming language similar to and considered the same as JavaScript. It supports all JavaScript libraries, and compiled code can be adopted from any JS code.
  • Elm: Elm is a functional programming language and framework for front-end development. It is said to be the source of Haskell programming language and one of the closest options to JavaScript. 
  • JQuery: jQuery is another leading JavaScript framework that is an objective yet feature-packed library for the application development platform. Code is simple, readable, and reusable with jQuery and supports most web browsers.
  • Angular: Angular is another open-source JavaScript framework based on TypeScript. Owing to its many advantages, it is easy to use and can be used to create huge applications.
  • Swift is a front-end app/website development language suitable for Apple interfaces and an Objective-C alternative. It boasts a large community offering users support, third-party tools, etc.

Front-End Development Architecture

A good design is the building block for any front-end architecture. The front-end architecture is about creating an engaging, navigational experience for users that is achieved by building a sustainable and process-driven website or app.

A scalable frontend architecture allows you to create a productive and sustainable workflow in the long run. It sets the tone for code and provides an impeccable user experience with quality website/app development in less turnaround time. The front-end architecture must function flawlessly with different devices and environments without breaking the flow.

The following is an example of a scalable and maintainable front-end architecture.

Front-End Development Architecture

When starting the project, the first thing to do is to structure a robust front-end architecture that delivers an unmatched customer experience. And the next important thing is to follow some best practices mentioned below to streamline your workflow.

Front-end Development Best Practices

1) Code is Legible and Easy to Follow

2) Design for all Devices and Browsers

3) Not Depend much on Libraries and Frameworks

4) Page Speed

Best Front-end Development Practices

1) Code is Legible and Easy to Follow

Having concise and clear code makes it easy to read and understand. As a result, it saves a lot of time in maintenance, debugging, and scaling in the future. On the other hand, having messy, poorly written, unstructured code can be a nightmare and lead to many issues.

You can do the following when writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.

  • Proper Indentation: Indentation visually represents the elements nested in the code. An appropriate closing tag must follow with the opening tag to ensure the code is within as nested. If there are large code blocks, you can add blank lines to separate them.
  • Semantics are elements with tags that define what content is within for both the web browser and the developer. For example, <strong> represents bold,<em> for italics as per the current version of HTML. Most browsers support semantics, and you can see a few reference sites, such as w3schools, to see a complete list for reference.
  • Class and Id Names: They are a practical and most relevant convention used in HTML to define elements. They can be used to determine specific styling of any aspect and reused, allowing elements with identical modifiers.
  • CSS Reset: Most web browsers have their styling by default; for example, some browsers have links in blue or purple. With a CSS reset, all styles can be reset to null and help avoid cross-browser variation and have a consistent baseline.
  • Inline Style: They are CSS sheets in the HTML document, but the practice should be avoided. The CSS must be written in a separate CSS file with a .css extension.
  • Consistent CSS structure: The CSS must be compatible with the HTML code’s structure. Having CSS all over haphazardly can take up much time and effort when changes are to be made.
  • Proper Naming Conventions: The variable names must make sense when writing JS code. Using camelCase to define elements, like iPhone and eBay, can make it readable and easy to understand.
  • Comments: Commenting is very important; it tells anyone what a code is supposed to accomplish. Anyone who sees your code can understand the intent of the code.

2) Design for all Devices and Browsers

A front-end developer must create code that runs on one-to-many platforms and can adapt to any viewport size. This is where responsive web design comes into the picture.

Most websites use flexible images, fluid grids, and specific styling that can change the website’s design and render it according to the size and width of the browser. What is necessary, however, is to test your website on multiple browsers and carry out changes accordingly. Sometimes, separate CSS properties may be required to achieve a particular style on a browser that you can work on.

3) Not Depend much on Libraries and Frameworks

Becoming a pro in a framework or a library is good, but you mustn’t rely on them alone. Since libraries and frameworks are built, updated, and phased out quickly by native languages, having a deep understanding of how it works and building your own can help in the long run.

4) Page Speed

The time taken to load the website matters. The following tips can ensure the website is as size efficient as possible.

  • Image files are essential as larger images take longer to load and use more bandwidth. Also, the file format is necessary. For example, JPG, PNG, and GIF files can load quickly, but heavy formats can take longer. Therefore, avoiding using images to display text is better.
  • Code density: Optimize the code as much as possible. Large, dense code can slow down your website as the browser takes more time to read them. Reuse the style used in common elements, thus reducing the CSS file size. Consider using functions if any parts of the code must be written or called repeatedly.
  • Plugins and packages: Choose the plugins wisely you use on your website. As the more plugins you use, the heavier your site becomes. Also, keep plugins and packages up-to-date, as it ensures the website or app is stable and secure.

Summing Up

Front-end development is more than just writing code. It is about balancing various elements.  With technology improving at an ever-increasing rate, keeping up with the latest products and practices is something businesses and developers should always continue doing.

If you are ready to enhance customer experience and boost conversion to your business, Ailotte can help. We are a bespoke front-end web development company providing top-notch solutions all over the globe. By understanding your business goals and objectives, our team can build sophisticated web applications, mobile apps, single-page apps, and cross-browser/platform apps using modern front-end development frameworks and customer-oriented technologies. Contact us today to get a free quote.

FAQ

Which languages are primarily used in the front end?

The top 10 front-end languages that are commonly used include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, Vue, SASS, Swift, Elm, and jQuery.

How do front-end and back-end technologies work together?

The front end focuses on the visual aspect of the website that users can see and interact with, and the back end consists of the site structure, data, and logic. The front-end and back-end combine to form a visually pleasing and interactive website.

What is the process of executing front-end app development?

Front-end development is building components or client-side programming with which users interact. The following steps are the process of executing front-end app development. Gather requirements initially and set up the work environment. Finalize the architecture and tech stack. Create a prototype and develop the application/website. Finally, do quality analysis and testing.

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