In this article, we are going to talk about web development, its history, its frameworks, what is front-end and back-end development, how you can become a successful web developer, and which online courses are best suited if you want to become a web developer.
The term “web development” refers to the work involved in developing a website for the internet. This process includes web design, client-side or server-side scripting, handling of network security issues, and many other tasks. In other words, building, creating, and maintaining websites all fall under the wider umbrella of the term “web development”. The professionals who do this work in web development are called web developers.
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the three basic concepts that a developer should have knowledge of while planning to pursue a career in web development. They all fall under web development, from simple plain text files to complex web applications. The applications you develop and use on the internet are called websites.
History of Web Development
The idea of web development started with the invention of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1989 by a British scientist, Tim Berners-Lee. Tim wanted a common computer platform where all the researchers and scientists could share their information. This was the main reason behind the invention of the WWW.
The invention of the WWW led to the creation of the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) in 1990. HTML became the basic building block of the WWW. It enabled coders to organise web layouts that could be easily understood. The first website went live in November 1992, and it was 100% text-based. In 1993, it was announced that anyone could use the WWW on a royalty-free basis. This was an important milestone in the growth of web development.
Since that time, there has been a rapid change in the field of web development. The rise of the WWW and websites has been tremendous. For example, you can now see almost all types of websites on the internet for teaching and learning, buying and selling, sharing and collaborating, etc.
Different Types Of Web Development Framework
Frameworks include all the necessary tools and functionalities that a developer needs to develop a website or an application. It also has utility programs, code libraries, and other software programs required to build and integrate various components of a software program.
Many web development frameworks are available on the market. Here we are discussing some of the key frameworks.
Express
If we talk about the best backend frameworks, Express is one of the most popular ones. This framework is very flexible, and the quality of Express makes it very popular among large enterprises. It is an open-source framework. Java Express is written in JavaScript and provides all the features for creating web and mobile applications. It is also compatible with third-party frameworks.
Django
Django is another open-source backend framework. All security issues related to web development are solved with Django. All your web products are safe here. It is a very reliable framework that allows the fast development of applications. Django is written in Python. Big names like Google, Instagram, and Youtube use this framework.
Laravel
Laravel is also an open-source backend framework. It is written in PHP, which is one of the most popular languages on the web. It is a Model-View-Controller (MVC) framework. It comes with API support out of the box. You can’t compare Laravel with Django or Express because it is the newest among them, which can be a drawback if you are working on a large and complex project. You can learn Laravel with the help of a tutorial website, Laracasts.
Angula
Angular is a front-end framework. It was released using Javascript, but later, all its releases adopted Typescript, a superset of Javascript. If you are building single-page applications, then Angular is the best choice. This framework’s size is very large compared to other frameworks, which is its disadvantage. Google, Paypal, and Microsoft use this framework.
Vue
Vue is a young, open-source front-end framework. It is based on JavaScript. When compared to the angular, it is very small in size.So it is the best choice if you are doing dynamic projects. The architecture of Vue is highly flexible, so it can easily be integrated with third-party solutions. It is a progressive framework, which means if you have a project made in another framework, you can easily use Vue for developing one portion of the project without any consequences.
Front-end vs. Backend Development
The two most popular terms used in the field of web development are “front-end” and “backend.” Both are needed in web development but are quite different from each other. To improve web development functionality, both need to communicate and operate seamlessly with each other.
If we explain it in a simple way, front-end development means client-side development, and back-end development means server-side development. The part of a website on which the user interacts directly is called the “client-side.” The part of the website that a user cannot see or interact with is called “server-side.” Front-end developers are responsible for the design of the website, and back-end developers deal with the server or handling of databases. Now, we will explain these terms in detail.
Front End Development
As we discussed earlier, front-end development deals with application or website design. Anything that a user interacts with directly, like text colors, images, buttons, and navigation menus, is included in it. It is also referred to as “client-side development” because the front-end interface is what is visible to the world.
Front-end developers do the front-end development process. The structure, design, content, and behavior of a website or app are implemented by front-end developers. The developer must ensure that the site is responsive. By responsive site, we mean that the site appears correctly on all devices of different sizes. It is also an important task of front-end developers to make sure that the site is accessible to all users.
The languages that are used in front-end development are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. HTML is used to design the front-end portion of web pages. It’s a hybrid of hypertext and markup language. Tags are used to describe the structure of web pages. Cascading Style Sheets, referred to as CSS, are used to apply a style to web pages. It makes your web pages presentable. JavaScript, a famous scripting language, is used to make your site interactive for the user. It enhances the functionality of a website.
Some frameworks that are used in front-end development are:
- AngularJS
- React.js
- VueJS
- jQuery
- Bootstraps, etc.
Back End Development
If we talk about back-end development, it refers to the server-side interface of a website that is invisible to the end-user. Users cannot see and interact with this part of the website. In other words, we can say that it doesn’t come into direct contact with users. It is also called “server-side development.”
The back-end development process is done by back-end developers. They store and arrange all the website data in databases. It is also the responsibility of the back-end developer to make sure that everything on the website works fine. Users can indirectly access the parts and characteristics developed by back-end developers through a front-end application. Creating system libraries and writing APIs are also done by back-end developers.
The languages that are used in back-end development are PHP, C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, etc. PHP is the most popular server-side scripting language used in backend development. C++ is a general-purpose programming language used as a backend language. Java is a highly scalable programming language used in the backend. JavaScript can be used on both sides (front end and back end). Python is also a very popular programming language used in the backend. It integrates systems more efficiently. Whichever language you choose for backend development depends on your work requirements.
Some frameworks that are used in back-end development are:
- Express
- Django
- Rails
- Laravel
- Spring, etc.
Tips to become a successful Web Developer in 2022?
As you all know, web development is the process of building websites and applications for the internet or for the intranet. Design and coding are both included in this process. All the web interfaces, like simple, static web pages or social media platforms and apps, have been built by web developers. If you want to become a successful web developer, here are a few tips that you must follow.
Passion for Writing Code
The first step in web development success is a passion for writing code. To pursue and succeed as a web developer, you will have to learn new languages as time goes by. Problem-solving skills are also a must.
Choose a Speciality
You will have to choose if you want to become a front-end developer or a back-end developer. If you are interested in front-end development, you must know all the concepts of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, etc. If you are interested in backend development, then you must be skilled in PHP, Java, Ruby, etc.
Take on Small Projects
First, start with the small projects. After that, as you get more experience and confidence, you can move on to bigger projects. All of the problems you encounter while working on small projects teach you how to deal with the complex issues of a large site.
Testing and Debugging
When you debug your coding, do it very patiently; by doing that, you will be aware of all the errors and not repeat them in your coding.
Learn from other Websites
If you want to become a good professional, you must check out other websites designed by other designers from time by time. This will enhance your learning and working skills. You can learn new concepts from there.
Join a Web Developer’s Forum
You must join an active Web Developer community. This will keep you up to date with the latest news, trends, apps, and technologies related to your work. You get to learn about important updates and other useful information.
Create Your Online Portfolio
You can create a web page that shows all your work and experience. Your portfolio is your online resume. It is always important to show people what you have done instead of what you can do.
Use Social Media
You should also use social media to show your skills to others. You must have an account on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. this will help you meet and collaborate with other coders and find new projects and opportunities.
Skills
If you want to improve your chance of getting success in the field of web development, you must also learn other skills like basic marketing, communication, and social skills. Instead of just focusing on coding, you need to have these skills also in order to promote your work, interact with clients and customers.
Never Give Up
Don’t be discouraged by failures. It is always said that every failure gives us a new lesson. The never-giving-up nature assures you success. So keep doing hard work.
Online Interaction
You can join some coding communities like Facebook groups, Twitter chats and can ask questions there. You can also ask and answer questions on Stack Overflow, Quora as well.
Keep Practicing
A good website is a result of many hours of training and practice. Practice again and again to develop and design a better one.
Top 10 Online Courses To Join For Web Development
There are many online courses available online that you can join if you want to begin your career in Web Development. Here is the list of the key courses you can get started with:
Code.tutplus.com-Practical React Fundamentals
If you want to become a front-end developer, then you can take this course. You can learn about the React framework here, which is used for front-end development. It will help you to build dynamic single-page applications in an easy and quick way. In this course, you will learn how to build a complete web app. You can also create a new app project and build out all the components. This course will also help with working with the web as well as lifecycle events.
You will have to pay $16.50/month, and you will get the opportunity to access 1,280+ video courses plus 120+ eBooks. You can have one subscription and have access to two great, useful sites.
Become a Web Developer with Codecademy.
This course is helpful for beginners to learn the basics of web development. You can learn the fundamental structures of front-end languages like HTML and CSS in this course because it provides you with a self-contained development environment. Codecademy offers many self-guided tutorials, which are helpful in the learning process. It is one of the most popular online courses in web development.
The duration of this course is 30 weeks. It gives you a 7-day free trial, and after that, you have to pay $39.99/month. This course will also help you build a web app, including an API. You can also learn backend languages like Ruby on Rails and Python in this course. A certificate will also be provided to you after completing this course.
Computer Programming by Khan Academy
If you want to learn web development for free, then this course is the best option for you. Khan Academy is very well known for its excellent education for everyone. You can get detailed information about topics through slides and video tutorials. Experts are also there to provide you with audio and video guidance on each topic.
This course includes topics like intro modules and advanced modules in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Every program is free of charge. There is no duration for this course. Completion of the course depends only on your speed of learning. This course will also teach you to query and manage data using SQL. If you are a beginner in web development, then this course best suits you.
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
This course is offered by MIT, the best technical school in the United States. MIT offers many courses related to programming, development, and computer engineering. This eDx course is taught by MIT professors and lecturers in computer science and engineering. This is the best option for students who want a deep knowledge of web development instead of just one or two topics.
The duration of this course is 9 weeks. It is a completely free course with no certificate. But if you want a certificate, then you will have to pay $75. You have to spend only 14 to 16 hours per week.
This course will teach you about the Python programming language, algorithms, and algorithmic complexities. You can also learn to handle computer bugs.
Programming for everybody by Coursera and University of Michigan
There are many online courses provided by Coursera for programming and development. Some of them are paid, and some are free. If you want to learn Python for free and also want a certificate, then you can join the Python course on Coursera.
Students can learn Python basics and how to use programming tools like loops and functions. You can also get knowledge about how to store and retrieve information using variables. Charles Severance, a professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Information, teaches this course.
The duration of this course is 7 weeks, which means 2 to 4 hours per week. This course is completely free, but if you want a certificate after completion, then you have to pay $75 for the certificate.
Learn about Web Development by Mozilla
Mozilla has created the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) for developers of all levels. Students who want to become experts in web development can take this course. There are many tutorials and articles provided by MDN. You can learn basic as well as advanced topics in web development. You can self-assess yourself using various assessments provided in the course.
You can also learn HTML basics, basic web page creation, CSS styling, JavaScript objects, debugging tools, and knowledge about hyperlinks and formatting.
This course is completely free of cost, and there is no certification after completing the course. There is no duration for this course. It all depends on your learning capacity.
The Web Developer Bootcamp 2022
This is the most popular web development course offered by Udemy. This course is best suited for beginners. Students who want to start their career in web development in a very short time can take this course. You will learn many concepts like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL databases. Students have to give plenty of their time each week because it is a longer course.
You will get knowledge about front-end and back-end development, functions and loops, building web apps, full-stack web application creation, and many more.
The duration of this course is 63 hours. You will get a certificate after completing the course. You will have to pay $16.99 for this course.
JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures by freeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp offers many free courses with certificates that are also free. It is the best platform for people who want to start their career in web development for free. If a student has a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, then he can take this course to learn the concepts of JavaScript. This will help you make your web page more interactive.
You can learn the concepts of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and Functional Programming (FP). This course also includes knowledge of basic data structures, functions, and loops, as well as algorithmic scripting. You can also learn how to manipulate a string on web pages.
There is no fee for this course, and a certificate will also be provided. The duration of this course depends on your learning speed. It is entirely up to you how long you take to complete the task.
Skillshare-CSS Essentials: Getting Started with CSS Grid
This course is all about the CSS Grid. The CSS Grid is the most powerful layout system available in CSS. This course will teach you about nesting grids to create easy overlays, creating hero images by combining manual and auto-placement, and adding gaps and borders with a single line of code.
This course will also teach you how to create large-scale, unique, and asymmetrical layouts in an easy and efficient way. You can get a free 7-day trial of this course.
Modern HTML and CSS for Beginners
This course teaches you about the more advanced functions of HTML and CSS, like CSS Grid and Flexbox. You must have at least basic programming knowledge if you want to take this course. If you want to code like professionals at Netflix or Apple, then you can take this course. These companies also offer this course to their employees, so it is the best choice if you want more professionalism.
You will learn HTML and CSS basics, animations, an introduction to website functions, hosting, how to build websites and UI projects, and many more new things in this course.
The duration of this course is 20 hours. A certificate will also be provided after the course. The cost of this course is $10.99.
Conclusion
We are confident that by the end of this article, you will have a good understanding of web development, its history, frameworks, what front-end and back-end development are, how to become a successful web developer, and which courses you can take to do so.
After thoroughly discussing all of the topics, we can conclude that web development is a burgeoning industry field. Almost every type of website can be found on the internet. A basic understanding of coding is required for a beginner. However, if you want to become a professional in this field, you must be aware of all the latest technological changes as well as in-depth knowledge of programming languages and frameworks. It is essential to keep yourself up to date.