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What Does a Front-End Developer Do?
A front-end developer builds the front-end portion of websites and web applications—the part users see and interact with.
December 13, 2021
Article
As an entry-level front-end developer, you’ll be creating websites and applications with web languages that enable people to interact with it seamlessly. Get started in this career path by building the right skills.
Learn the basics of front-end development
Skills you'll gain: User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Interface (UI), User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Usability, Design and Product, User Experience Design, Front-End Web Development, Experience Design, UI/UX Research, Web Design and Development, React.js, Version Control, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Git (Version Control System), HTML and CSS, Javascript, Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Pseudocode, Data Structures
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Front-End Web Development, Web Design and Development, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), HTML and CSS, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Web Development, Web Design, Web Applications, Responsive Web Design, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JavaScript Frameworks, Web Development Tools, React.js, Software Development Tools
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Skills you'll gain: Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), GitHub, Software Development, Software Engineering, Git (Version Control System), User Interface (UI), React.js, User Interface (UI) Design, React Redux, Systems Development Life Cycle, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Centered Design, Web Design and Development, Software Development Life Cycle, Front-End Web Development, Wireframing, Digital Design, HTML and CSS, Web Development Tools, Interviewing Skills
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Front-end developers create websites and applications using web languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—it’s what people see when they first access and interact with the site or app. These software developers design the user interface (UI), ensuring it’s visually pleasing, functional, and intuitive.
As an entry-level front-end developer, you’re expected to know the basics of web languages to craft how users navigate the site or app. You need to have strong skills in attention to detail, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, in addition to technical skills.
Similar roles include UI designer, full-stack developer, software developer, web developer, and UX designer.
Here is some career guidance for entry-level front-end developers:
Front-End vs. Back-End Developer: Understanding the Differences
8 Front-end Developer Interview Questions + How to Answer Them
Entry-level front-end developer can expect to make an average base salary of $66,115 with 0-1 years of experience, according to Glassdoor. That number goes up to $74,386 per year with 1-3 years of experience. Glassdoor. “Front End Developer Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/front-end-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm.” Accessed February 1, 2024.
Front-end development is the design and programming of websites, applications, and other software tools that people interact with. Back-end development, on the other hand, creates the logic and frameworks that enable the front-end to work properly, by working with databases, servers, and application programming interfaces (APIs) to integrate the processes in a functioning structure.
To become a front-end developer, you’ll want to build your skills in the three web languages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also want to develop a basic understanding of SQL and NoSQL, frameworks, and responsive design. Beyond the technical skills, problem solving, creativity, and communication are useful to have. Many entry-level roles seek candidates with bachelor’s degrees, so consider earning a degree in computer science, or pursue a professional certificate to gain job-specific skills, before applying to entry-level positions.