Front End Vs Back End Developer? What is the major difference?
We are living in a digital era. Every business is shifting to an online store and every person has an online profile. In such times, everything related to the digital world is now ten times more valuable. Websites are a major part of the entire package. Without a smooth website, it is next to impossible to build a credible reputation. The websites you visit might seem like an online listing to some whereas, a lot of hard work goes into it. Web developers take professional education and/or training to be able to create working websites.
There are different aspects of a website and specific expertise are required for each. Maybe you have heard the terms front-end development and back-end development. These are the two most important and common types of professional web developers. It is important to understand the difference between the two. Since website development is an ever-growing field.
What is front-end development?
As the name suggests, the front end includes everything that is right at the front or visible to the visitors of the website. Front-end development revolves around the user experience. Even though the design aesthetics are handled by a web designer, the functionality of the elements and features are all handled by the front-end development team. The job of a front-end developer is to make all the elements and features of a website smooth and functional. It helps the user to enjoy their experience while surfing the website. Front-end developers work in collaboration with the UI/UX to make sure their design is functional. If you are unable to use a feature on a website, blame the front-end development team. Buttons, menus, links, pages, navigation, animation, and graphics all come in the front-end section. The three main coding languages used in this part of web development are HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
What is back-end development?
The back-end is also called the server-side which consists of the server, application, and database. The server is responsible for providing on-request data, the application channels that data, and the database organize all that information. A practical example could be that if a user is exploring the products on a website, they are interacting with the front-end. Once they finalize their order and put in the required information, it is saved in the database. Later on, while tracking the order, the information is pulled out from the database and then displayed to the visitor through front-end features.
Differences between the two:
Even though both front-end and back-end development are a part of website development and are equally essential, still there are major differences between the two.
The developers work on different sides of the websites
As we explained previously, these are two sides of the website. For each side, there is a specific developer for it. You must have also heard of full-stack development which basically includes both types of development. However, it is not very common or practical. Front-end developers work on the display of the website and how it is catering to the visitors. Whereas back-end developers work on the base of a website and how it goes live on the web.
Both have different strengths
Both types of developers have their own strengths and weaknesses. The idea that anyone type of development is better than the other is completely wrong because each of these is equally important in its own way. A website is perfectly functional when the front and back ends work hand-in-hand.
Both have different languages
Lastly, the coding languages used in both types of development are different. Front-end requires languages like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. Secondly, the frameworks it requires are AngularJS, JQuery, React.js, and Sass.
On the other hand, back-end development requires languages like PHP, C++, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, and Node.js. As for the frameworks, the back-end works with Django, Laravel, Spring, Django, and Express.
Front and back end skills:
Skills in both areas are different and equally important. As a career, it depends on the student’s interests and personal preference in which direction to head otherwise both sides of the website are just as crucial and there is no better or worse.
Front-end and back-end development are quite common terms in the website development field. However, both are entirely different from each other with separate requirements, outputs, and specifications. Nonetheless, both hold equal value on a larger scale and none is better than the other. We have discussed the major differences in detail. Moreover, there are full-stack developers as well at professional web development agencies like Tekglide who know both types but that is not as common. Choose according to your needs and what suits you the best!
