Website development is divided into three phases: front-end, back-end, and full-stack web development. Front-end developers create the design and layout of a website. They use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to make the user interface. Back-end developers design the functionality of websites. They use programming languages such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Node.js to create the back end of a website. Finally, full-stack developers handle a website's front and back ends. This blog discusses the differences between these front end vs. back end vs. full stack and compares their respective salaries.
What is Full-Stack Development?
A full-stack developer works on a web application's front and back ends. The front end controls the website's visual look and feel, whereas the back end controls the site's logic and infrastructure.
Some of the specific tasks that full-stack developers perform include:
- Helping the software design and development teams
- Optimizing software through continuous testing and debugging
- Creating code for the front and back ends of a software application
- Ensuring that a website runs across multiple platforms
- Designing user interactions for a web application.
- Working on the back end of the software, implementing servers and databases.
- Working with graphic designers to create and implement new features
- Keeping software up to date with the latest industry developments.
- Communicating with the hiring company's decision-makers
- Resolving issues regarding maintenance, security, and scalability
Skills Required in a Full Stack Developer:
Below are the technologies and tools you'll need to master to become a developer with exceptional full-stack skills.
CSS/HTML
Front-end technologies extensively use HTML, also known as hypertext markup language. Developers use it to manage the website's text, image formatting, and presentation. It also manages the hierarchy of the website's headings, paragraphs, bodies, pop-ups, and much more. Understanding HTML and CSS is a must for a full-stack developer. HTML elements can be styled and changed using CSS or Cascading Sheet Styles. If you want to give your headings and paragraphs different colors, use CSS's efficient customization tool.
JavaScript
JavaScript is an essential part of any discussion about full-stack developer skills. It is one of the dynamic languages that programmers use to create more interactive front ends. Because of its dynamic nature, it can be used for both server-side and client-side programming.
Because of its full integration with HTML and CSS and its adaptability to significant browsers, JavaScript makes developers' work extremely simple and effective. In addition, there are front-end development frameworks such as Angular, React, React Native, and Vue.
To succeed, a full-stack developer should understand the fundamentals of JavaScript, be aware of any new libraries or frameworks introduced to help the language evolve, and be familiar with all JavaScript features.
GitHub and Git
Without the infamous Git and GitHub, web development feels a little incomplete. It is well-known among both new and experienced full-stack developers. To manage this at each tiny stage of the website development process, developers use Git, a "distributed version control system." One of the primary advantages of Git is its effectiveness in tracking and resolving errors, distinguishing it from other control systems. GitHub allows developers to manage and review multiple projects at the same time. As the name implies, it creates a hub for networking and communication among developers.
Full-Stack Developers Salary:
Full-stack developers earn an average of ₹6.0 Lakhs per year, balancing front-end and back-end skills. However, this figure can vary greatly depending on experience and expertise.
What is Front-End Development?
Front-end development refers to creating and maintaining the part of the website with which end users interact. This includes the font of the text, the page colors, and the styles of the menus and links that appear on the screen. Front-end developers not only design the overall appearance of a website but also its interface and user experience. In carrying out this directive, they also perform a variety of other tasks, such as
- Create an easy-to-use and intuitive user interface.
- Improving the user interface through user feedback
- Optimizing the user experience, resolving issues of design or functionality that may hinder navigation
- Optimizing a website to work properly across device types and browsers.
- Creating concepts and using tools to materialize them.
- Helping to organize and manage the software workflow
- Testing a website's front end for ease of use and possible errors
- Using search engine optimization (SEO) principles to ensure that search engines properly index the website
Who is a Front End Developer?
Front-end web developers take care of the website's style and user interface. As you are probably aware, HTML is the structural framework of a webpage. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are analogous to the skeleton's physique or body. CSS allows front-end web developers to change the body's shape, similar to pre-defining specific sections on a website to make it display a particular style.
For example, if the website represents a human body, you can use CSS to change the structure and appearance of specific muscles. CSS can now adjust specific sections of a website's appearance and style. Front-end web developers combine these "style and look" elements into a CSS file and place it on top of the HTML file. They look to the CSS file containing pre-defined styles when they need a specific style.
What are the skills of a front-end developer?
A front-end developer's skills include a solid understanding of scripting languages like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS3. To be a front-end website developer, you must master these three languages.
However, the most crucial front-end developer skill is JavaScript proficiency. The versatile JavaScript works alongside CSS and HTML and is used in various applications, including the date and time and the "Add to Favorites" button.
Furthermore, a front-end developer requires knowledge of JQuery, Ajax, UI (User Interface), UX (User Experience), and frameworks such as AngularJS, EmberJS, Foundation, Bootstrap, and Backbone.
Front End Developer's Salary:
An average front-end developer in the United States can earn approximately $104,893 annually.
What is back-end development?
Back-end development is the creation and maintenance of a website's internal operations. A website's back end comprises a server, an application, and a database, so the primary responsibility of a back-end developer is to ensure that these components are functioning correctly.
With them, the front end of the site is possible. Aside from that major responsibility, the primary duties of the job are:
- Understanding a site's main objectives and deciding how to facilitate them
- Ensuring that data is properly stored and easily accessible to end users
- Manage application programming interfaces and ensure they work across platforms.
- Organizing and optimizing a website system's logic so that it runs properly on various devices
- Establishing payment systems when necessary, including allowing users to input their data and securing said data according to regulations.
- Developing website architecture that is easily adaptable for future upgrades.
- Implementing algorithms.
- Resolve back-end issues as they arise.
Who is a Back End Developer?
A website's user-facing interface needs to be visually appealing. However, the website's user interface would only exist with the software running in the background. That puts back-end developer skills to the test. Back-end developers work on the server side.
What Are Back-End Developer Skills?
To create applications, back-end developers should be familiar with PHP, Ruby, Python, and other programming languages, such as JavaScript and JavaScript. They should also be proficient in database technologies such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL.
Let's use PHP as an example because developers widely adopt it. PHP, a scripting language, works in tandem with Structured Query Language, or SQL, the database from which PHP extracts information to enter into an HTML file for display. Examples of this process can be found everywhere.
For example, when a user registers on a website, the SQL database saves the information entered. Every time they log in, the server-side language retrieves information from the database and displays it on your screen using HTML. A back-end developer is responsible for initiating this process.
Back-end Developer Salary:
What is the average salary for back-end web developers? Compared to front-end developers, they generally get a higher annual salary, which may fall within $128,880 per annum.
Difference between Front End and Back End and Full Stack
| Parameters | Front End | Back End | Full Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Languages | Front-end developers use JavaScript as the core language. | Back-end developers use languages like PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Python to power the website or application. | Full-stack developers have a mix of both skill sets and can work with all levels of the web development process. |
| Project Involvement | Front-end developers are heavily involved in the look and feel of the application, working closely with designers. | Front-end developers are heavily involved in the look and feel of the application, working closely with designers. | Full-stack developers can oversee and contribute to the entire project lifecycle. |
| Jobs | More Jobs than back-end developers. | Low jobs than front-end and full-stack developers. | Highest number of jobs available. |
| Skill Requirements | Front-end development requires a strong sense of design and proficiency in markup and scripting languages. | Back-end development demands a good understanding of database management, server architecture, and API development. | Full-stack developers need to juggle both skill sets efficiently. |
| Salary | Low earning potential than back-end and Full-Stack Developers. | Have higher earning potential than front-end developers. | Highest earning potential. |
| Learning Curve | Front-end development often has a more accessible learning curve, making it a popular entry point into web development. | Back-end development requires a deeper understanding of systems and logic | Full-stack development demands mastery of both areas, which can be more challenging. |
Which is better? Full-Stack Developer, Front-End Developer, and Back-End Developer
Individual interests, strengths, and career goals influence whether a back-end, front-end, or full-stack developer is the best fit.
Front-end development: is ideal for those with a keen sense of design and user experience. If you enjoy visual creativity and face-to-face interaction, this is the career for you.
Back-End Development: Ideal for those interested in logic, data management, and server-side operations. Consider this position if you are curious about how things work behind the scenes.
Full-Stack Development: is ideal for versatile individuals who enjoy variety and want to understand the big picture of web development. It provides numerous opportunities and challenges.
