Web developers design and build websites, applications, cloud software and more. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , as a web developer, you may be responsible for the appearance of the website, the technical aspects of the function of the website; - or both.
Some developers handle all aspects of building a website, while others specialize in a specific area. And web developers can work in virtually any industry, according to Loai Alnaji, web developer and associate instructor at SNHU.
From a career as a web developer, you might find yourself creating reports for sales teams, tracking and adding new items for an e-commerce website, or developing new websites for various clients. Developers can also work as consultants to direct business through a design project or the web as systems analysts to help businesses determine their website needs, Alnaji said.
The most common types of web development jobs tend to fall into the following categories:
Backgrounds web developers: These developers are responsible for the technical construction of the site. They create the basic structure of the website and make sure it works as expected. They also establish procedures for adding new pages or other updates to the site.Front-end web developers: These developers are responsible for how the website looks. They create a layout and include website graphics, applications for functions such as e-commerce validation and site content.Full stack of web developers: These developers manage both the front and back end of a website or application. Full stack developers are in high demand, especially among small businesses that may not be able to hire a large web development team, Manning said.API Developers: API, or Application Programming Interface, allows applications to access data and interact with other external programs or operating systems. APIs are critical to many of the online processes businesses use to manage transactions with customers — facing and transaction backgrounds, Manning said, and is a growing area of web development.UI / UX Developers: Developers work in the UI, or user interface and UX, or user experience, focusing on creating an online customer experience that is both visually appealing and functional. With more business being done online, these areas of development are in demand, Manning said.Before starting one of these web development careers, it is important to understand how to become a web developer and the steps you need to take to break into this evolving field.
How to become a web developerNo matter what area of web development you hope to work in, your career will need to start with education, both in the classroom and in the real world.
How to learn web developmentEven if you are not enrolled in a computer science degree program, you can start learning web development right now.
“There are endless lessons on the Internet,” Alnaji said. “Start by creating a web page. It is so simple. With the resources we have that you don't need to memorize anything, you just need to know that it can be done and you can learn how to do it. "
However, while you can learn a lot through e-tutorials, videos, and blog posts, it is important to note that a college degree will be required if you want to pursue a career in web development.
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