It is no secret that web development is one of the hottest professions in the world right now. The problem is that web developers are usually split among two specialties. So, front end vs back end developer, which is better for you?
In this tutorial, you will find everything you need to know to make that decision for yourself and thrive in your new profession; once you learn enough to start working. We will talk about the technologies involved. We will discuss the type of work you will do. We will describe the typical tasks you will have to deal with.
All of that is in vain if you don't actually go out and learn web development, though. This is best done with a proper online learning platform, such as Udemy.
Table of Contents
- 1. Different spheres of influence: front end vs back end developer
- 1.1. How do websites work?
- 2. A day in the life of a front end developer
- 3. A day in the life of a back end developer
- 4. Technologies you need to know
- 4.1. Front end toolbox
- 4.2. Back end toolbox
- 5. Different specialties for different interests
- 6. What am I going to get paid?
- 6.1. Front end salary
- 6.2. Back end salary
- 7. The Verdict
- 7.1. So, which one do I choose?
Different spheres of influence: front end vs back end developer
Despite both specialists falling under the term “web developer”, the truth is that no matter which side you choose in the front end vs back end developer debate, it could exclude you from working on the other side forever. Unless you’re prepared to go full-stack.
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So, front end vs back end developer and the responsibilities of each, let’s go!
The first thing we should figure out when making the front end vs back end comparison is what each specialty does. It’s not hard because the two specialties couldn’t be more different despite being a part of the same field.
How do websites work?
To explain how websites work, let’s use a really popular one as an example. Amazon.com is perfect for this purpose.
Imagine that you are a user who wants to buy a new book. You see the Search bar, enter the title of the book you want, click the magnifying glass icon and get a list.
Then, you click the product you want, open that product’s page, click buy, put in your data, choose a delivery method and off goes the book.
Sounds simple, right? It’s much more complicated than it looks.
What was made by the front end developer vs back end developer?
Everything you see on Amazon was built by front end developers. The buttons, the product list, the product page, the checkout page, everything.
But.
All these elements only work because of the systems back end developers built. You use the search bar built by front end guys but the results are generated using search algorithms back end people created, from databases maintained by, yes, the same back end people.
When trying to make a website work, it’s not front end vs back end developer. It’s front end and back end developer, together.
Essentially, front end developers make everything that’s generated in your web browser or the client-side. Back end developers, on the other hand, create server-side systems, which make everything the front end guy built work.
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A day in the life of a front end developer
Is there a better way to make up your mind on the front end developer vs back end developer issue than living a day in the life of each? Probably not.
Let’s say that you’re a front end developer at Company X, which has its own hip online skateboard shop.
This company has a team of UI/UX designers, front and back end developers and system administrators.
If you belonged to the front side of the front end vs back end developer debate, your day would start at, let’s say, 9 AM. You would come to work, get a latte and go to a meeting with the web designers to discuss their latest mind-blowing idea about the new and improved look of the website
If it was approved, you’d have to rebuild 60% of the website’s front end. As they present the new design, though, you can’t help but get excited.
Their new design is fully responsive (a feature your website needed forever), looks better than anything you’ve ever seen. It’s full of animations, parallax images. It’s going to be a challenge to build it.
That’s the dream scenario. In reality, you’ll probably be annoyed because the previous version worked just fine, looked okay and this new redesign will just mean months of work for you. And programmers don’t like unnecessary work.
A day in the life of a back end developer
Now, let’s look at the front end vs. back end developer issue from the other side. Now, let’s say that you’re a back end developer at the same company. Your day starts at the same time, you make a cup of coffee (a proper espresso, no pany lattes for this guy) and then go to a meeting with the CTO of the company.
He says that your main competitor’s website has more accurate search results and their website loads much faster. You discuss the issue and decide that improving the search algorithm while streamlining server processes to improve loading speeds is something that has to be done.
Now, it’s time to go to your bat cave and start figuring out how to make it work. It ain’t gonna be easy but you're determined. It’s a difficult puzzle critical problem for the success of the company. You love solving puzzles.
At lunch, you hear about an incoming revamp of the website’s design. You suggest making sure that all the images are optimized properly but don’t care about it too much. As long as it doesn’t stop you from making the website faster, it’s not your problem.
Technologies you need to know
As we’ve already found out, it’s not front end vs back end developer. Both specialties are supposed to supplement each other, making the whole website work on the client and server-side respectively.
With a single exception, there is a clear difference in tools and technologies they will use to make it work.
Front end toolbox
First, let’s keep going through the front side of the front end vs back end developer problem.
Front end developers’ bread and butter are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. HTML is a markup language used to build the website’s skeleton. CSS is a way to tell the browser how everything is supposed to look, styling it. JavaScript is used to add animations, transitions, and functions to on-screen elements.
While you can build a website using only HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it will be a lot of unnecessary work for an experienced front end developer.
To help them out, there are libraries and frameworks like Angular.js, React.js, BootStrap, etc., which streamline the process and allow you to repurpose ready-made tools for your use.
With that said, you should create everything from scratch before making it easier for yourself with libraries and frameworks, at least while you’re still learning. These libraries and frameworks are a crutch that stops you from learning how to twist JavaScript into doing what you want.
If you don’t use crutches in the beginning, you will learn more. Libraries and frameworks are a crutch, which only makes newbies stronger codes while turning strong developers into speed demons. In fighting, it’s better to be both strong and fast. The same is true in web development.
With that said, Company X’s skateboard shop design’s extremely fancy-schmancy, it will require a lot of custom scripts to make it all work properly. As an experienced front end developer, you should take care to save your valuable time and use libraries like React.js and frameworks like Angular.js when appropriate.
Back end toolbox
The tools front end developers use are relatively straightforward. That’s not the case on the back end of the front end vs back end developer toolbox.
Server programming languages
The choice between different programming languages comes to preference, the needs of the project in question and your knowledge. There are several popular server-side programming languages, like PHP, JavaScript used in the Node.js run-time environment with the Express framework, Python, Ruby, C#, Java, and others.
The peripheral technologies used in the back end can also determine the language you’re going to use. For example, if your website is built on Symfony or Laravel, you will almost be forced to use PHP to code. For the Django framework, Python would make more sense, while using the Express framework forces you into Node.js.
Databases
There are two main database types, relational and non-relational. The database type choice will determine which database system your project is going to use and even the programming language the whole project will be coded in.
There are several popular database systems, like MongoDB, MySQL, Oracle, Redis, and others.
Different specialties for different interests
Outside of technologies involved and different responsibilities, your front end vs back end developer choice may balance on your personality.
If aesthetics are important to you, you should choose front end development as your career. A big part of what you’re going to do is make everything the user sees on a website look pretty and comfortable to use.
A great front end developer will be able to understand and participate in design-fu.
What the hell is design-fu? It’s the 21st-century Kung-Fu variant, where designers take a blank document and make a beautiful website.
Anecdotally, front end web development is a great choice for people who wanted to be designers sometime in their lives but never learned to draw.
Back end development, on the other hand, is completely different. The only thing back end developers are concerned with when it comes to esthetics is writing clean code. Even that can be forgotten in the face of a looming deadline.
Elegant algorithms, genius solutions to difficult problems, that is what makes back end developers sit up at attention.
Now, you may get the impression that we somehow consider back end developers superior.
That is not the case at all. The two disciplines are equal, only requiring a different skillset and priorities.
Some people have a natural talent for… visual stuff, while others like to tinker with how things work. Don’t choose your specialty according to what sounds cooler, that’s one of the biggest mistakes you could make!
Pick the job that interests you the most. If that has nothing to do with development, good for you! There’s nothing worse than spending your whole day doing things you hate, even if you make a fortune.
What am I going to get paid?
While both kinds of web developers are well-compensated when compared to national averages around the world, your choice between the two may still depend on what you can expect to make in both specialties.
We will look at average salaries on the front end vs back end developer spectrum in several different countries, which should allow you to compare and choose your specialty if that’s what’s important to you.
Front end salary
According to glassdoor.com, the average front end developer salary in New York City is $111,728, 20% above the national average. This could be explained by the fact that New York City is a metropolis with one of the highest cost of living figures in the world and a thriving business ecosystem.
In London, the UK, the average yearly salary for front end developers is around $52,000, 22% above the national average, according to glassdoor.com. This is a significant decrease from what you could expect in New York, while the cost of living is similar.
In India, the average yearly wage for frontend software developers is around $5,000. This might look like highway robbery compared to what you can expect to make in New York but remember, the cost of living in India can’t even be fairly be compared to what it is in New York!
Back end salary
In New York, an average back end developer can expect to earn around $133,182, which is 17% above the national average. As you might have noticed, it’s a significant improvement over the front end developer salary in the same city.
In London, the salary for back end developers jumps up to $74,000, 32% over the national average. In India, you can expect a similar raise over what you could be expected to make as a front end developer as well.
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The Verdict
As far as the money goes, the front end vs back end developer debate is hands-down in favor of the back end track. Back end developers earn more across the board.
Why?
Because the back end job implies much more responsibility. A back end developer’s mistake could cost the company much more than a mistake on the same scale, made by a front end developer.
If a back end developer leaves a serious flaw in his code, the whole website could go down, it could get hacked, it could get exploited by scammers. If a front end developer makes a mistake, none of that will happen because he is not responsible for the website’s server-side.
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So, which one do I choose?
Hopefully, you have a better idea where you stand in the front end vs back end developer debate after reading this tutorial.
If you’re more interested in aesthetics than difficult algorithms and setting up complicated systems, you should go with the front end developer track.
This doesn’t mean that it’s easy to be a front end developer. To be a great one, you will need to master numerous libraries and frameworks. It will take you a long time to know enough to contribute to advanced projects.
On the other hand, back end developers have it a little bit easier in the beginning. Assuming that you know what you have to know, the learning curve is a bit more gentle. It’s because back end developers usually specialize in narrow fields, while front end guys need to know everything HTML, CSS and JavaScript-related. Eventually.
Front end vs back end developer. The stage is set, choices clear. There are plenty of resources available to study and learn both, too. Which one will you pick?
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FAQs
How do you decide between front-end and backend developer? ›
Consider your experience. If you have coding experience and want to try programming for the web, it's a good idea to choose full-stack or front-end development. If you have experience with web servers and databases, but little web-based development experience, back-end programming may be a better choice for you.
Is it better to learn front-end or back end development? ›Is it Better to Start With Front-End or Back-End? In general, it's easier to learn front-end development because there are fewer technologies you need to understand to get started. HTML and CSS are also fairly straightforward compared to other programming skills.
Is front-end developer a good career path? ›Becoming a frontend developer is an excellent career move. It's a job you can teach yourself online, the potential salary is high, and there'll be demand for your abilities for years to come. The best way to become a frontend developer is to learn everything you can about HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and related skills.
Do you need to know front-end to be a backend developer? ›Is front end programming knowledge required for the back end? TLDR; No. Back end development, as mentioned above, involves the programming of a computer sitting probably on the other side of the planet responsible for responding to what your users say from their own computers.
Who gets paid more front-end or backend or full-stack developer? ›Back-end, front-end and full-stack developers all tend to earn high salaries, but specific earning potential varies between the professions. Back-end developers earn an average of $115,437 per year , front-end developers earn $101,876 per year and full-stack developers make $101,612 per year .
Which is more in demand front-end or backend? ›If your goal is to make more money, backend developers have a higher average earning potential than frontend developers. Job demand might be higher for backend developers as well. So, in terms of career opportunities, it is arguably better to become a backend developer.
Which is tough front end or backend? ›For these reasons, if we want to say what is easier between front-end development and back-end, the answer is actually back-end. Knowing this is more important than you think: because many people think that front-end development is easy, they may tend to underestimate the complexity of the learning process.
Is backend much harder than frontend? ›Because it changes more frequently and takes longer to provide results, frontend web development is more difficult than backend web development. But that depends on your set of abilities. Depending on your abilities and the tools you choose, each of them may be simpler or more difficult than the other.
Is front-end development stressful? ›It will take some time. There are a lot of topics to cover in Front-end web development and at times you will feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things that you have to learn.
Do big companies hire front end developers? ›You could get a job at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, or dozens of other high-profile companies that hire front end developers to improve their business visibility. You can also work for development firms that offer design services like mobile designs and digital experiences.
Do front-end Devs get paid less? ›
According to some sources, the difference is as little as 1%, while other sources (such as Glassdoor) suggest that back end engineers can earn even 25% more than front end developers! There is definitely a pattern suggesting that back end software development comes with higher salaries.
Do front end developers have a future? ›Front-end developers and organizations are constantly looking for solutions to improve user experience, scalability, and accessibility, among many other things. JavaScript reigns supreme just like it did in 2021 and previous years but it's never a bad idea to learn a new framework or library.
Which full stack is in demand? ›But which full stack is in demand? While there are many frameworks and libraries to choose from, developers skilled in React and Node. js are especially sought-after. React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Node.
Do I need to know SQL to be a backend developer? ›Though requirements vary between jobs, back end developers will need to have a passing familiarity with, if not command of, several technical languages and programs. These essential back end developer skills include but are not limited to: Python, Java, SQL, NoSQL, and Git.
How long does it take to learn backend? ›It usually takes three months to four years to become a back-end developer depending on the skill set needed to be acquired. A coding boot camp can be an immediate option to become a back-end developer. But four-year degree courses will land the developer in a better position.
Which full stack developer has highest salary? ›...
These are the top skills of a Full Stack Developer based on 30050 jobs posted by employers.
- Javascript.
- HTML.
- Java.
- Angular.
- JQuery.
- We are surrounded by technology. ...
- Learning a new coding language is one of the primary ways to upskill as a software developer. ...
- Scala. ...
- Go. ...
- Objective-C. ...
- Kotlin. ...
- Ruby on Rails. ...
- Perl.
Java Full Stack Developer salary in India ranges between ₹ 2.4 Lakhs to ₹ 14.4 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 5.3 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 1.7k latest salaries received from Java Full Stack Developers.
Is back end developer a good career? ›As far as job prospects go, it is competitive for back-end web developers, but you can rest easy that there will always be a demand for a back end web developer as long as your skills are up to scratch.
Is front-end still in demand? ›Good front-end developers will always be in demand due to the constantly evolving technologies of today's world. Front-end development is a great career choice. Consider that the average front-end developer's salary has increased by nearly 35% over the past 20 years.
Why do you choose backend as your career? ›
If you love to solve problems, create impactful solutions, and pursue your passion for programming, backend development is meant just for you. Backend developers write logical code that is responsible for the optimal functionality, speed, and efficiency of an application.
Which is the easiest backend to learn? ›- Python makes it easy to engage in modern programming tactics.
- Python comes with several sophisticated libraries that contain a large quantity of pre-written code. ...
- Python is an excellent choice for backend development because of this.
It takes approximately six months to learn front end web development under perfect conditions. Learning HTML tends to take about three weeks. You can receive comprehensive front end web development training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.
Is it easy to learn front-end developer? ›These coding languages are the essential building blocks for web and app development, so you need to learn them. Fortunately, it's not a very difficult undertaking. There are lots of online resources available out there that can help further your education in the coding languages.
Do full stack developers make more than backend? ›As a full-stack developer, you won't end up touching on many of these narrower points of web development. So how do the salaries compare? Put these together, and you get an average of $95k/year for backend developers, while full-stack developers get $97k/year.
What is the best language for backend development? ›- Python. Python is one of the most powerful and best multi-purpose languages used for Web Development, as well as data analysis. ...
- PHP. PHP is one of the best languages for Web Development. ...
- Java. ...
- C#
It's one of the most promising and exciting career opportunities for you. This field has great potential, high-paying jobs and growing demand, making it a top choice for young professionals. To better understand, here is everything you need to know about the front-end developer career path that will help you out.
What is the least stressful job in tech? ›- Junior Web Developer. Junior web developers may start out making simple changes to new websites and applications. ...
- Computer Programmer. ...
- Junior Web Designer. ...
- Data Scientist. ...
- Technical Writer. ...
- Graphic Design. ...
- Digital Marketing. ...
- Cybersecurity Analyst.
No, You're Not Too Old to Become a Web Developer
The very easy answer is… No! Doubling back to the idea that front end web development is a skill-based job, this applies as much to your age as it does to your education background — if you have the skills, they will pay the bills.
- Xl Dynamics. 4.5 ₹10,20,511per year. 653 reviews7 salaries reported.
- Orange Business. 4.0 ₹8,53,166per year. 235 reviews227 salaries reported.
- Future Focus Infotech. 3.7 ₹8,38,744per year. 117 reviews38 salaries reported.
How many hours a day does a front-end developer work? ›
Most web developers are employed full-time, which typically translates to 40 hours a week, eight hours a day. Additionally, some of them work overtime to complete projects on time. Web developers can also be freelancers, which means they get to determine their business hours.
Which company pays best to front-end developer? ›The top paying company in Personal Consumer Services for Front End Developer is Fiverr Inc..
How much do entry level front-end developers make? ›How much does an Entry Level Front End Web Developer make? As of Mar 6, 2023, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Front End Web Developer in the United States is $60,480 a year.
Should I learn front-end in 2023? ›If you're considering a technology career, front-end development is a lucrative and in-demand specialty. This type of programming is an essential part of the app and web development process — it bridges the gap between user-facing design and back-end programming.
Will AI replace backend developers? ›The short answer is: 'No.
What is the trend for frontend developer in 2023? ›Frontend developers need to be on board with the SSR trend that's making a comeback in 2023. Web development in the past involved building all websites with HTML and rendering them on the server side, but with the rise of JavaScript, server-side rendering became less common. But now, SSR is back and better than ever.
Which tech stack is easiest to learn? ›If you're new to web development, the MEAN or MERN stack are good starting points. These stacks are relatively easy to learn, and they use a single programming language (JavaScript) which makes things simpler.
Which full stack is easiest to learn? ›If you're looking for a full stack web application framework that is fast, efficient, and easy to use, the MEAN stack is a great option to consider.
Which tech stack has most jobs? ›The MEAN (MongoDB, Express. js, AngularJS, and Node. js) is one of the most popular tech stacks of 2023.
Is SQL and Python enough to get a job? ›Is Python and SQL enough to get a job? Yes, knowing the fundamentals of more general languages like Python or R is critical. However, ignoring SQL will make it much harder to get a job in data. Here are three key reasons why you absolutely need to learn SQL in 2022.
Do backend developers need to know math? ›
Back-end developers typically work with databases and code that interacts with them. As such, they need to be comfortable with basic algebra and geometry. In addition, they should be able to understand basic trigonometry and calculus.
Can knowing SQL alone get you a job? ›SQL is most useful in data-focused careers, but it's also valuable for Web Developers and Software Engineers. While learning SQL alone won't get you a job, it's a great place to start. In combination with other programming languages like Python, SQL can help you launch your career as a developer or data specialist.
Can I learn backend in 3 months? ›The core of back end web development is tied to JavaScript since it's the main programming language that Back End Web Developers use when they're getting started in the field. It takes about two to three months to become an effective JavaScript user.
Is it hard to switch from frontend to backend? ›Making the switch from front end to back end can feel daunting. It means having to learn new frameworks, new languages, and mastering a different way of thinking. Luckily, having front-end experience can help set the foundation for becoming a back-end developer.
Is Python enough for backend development? ›Having many advantages, from the ease of learning to a large number of frameworks that simplify the development process, Python is often used for backend web application development. In addition, Python is well-equipped to work with analytics, calculations, AI and ML, and statistics.
Why we should separate backend and frontend? ›To use different frameworks in the frontend and backend is like creating an anti-pattern. This division between the two considerably improves the chances of protecting the application from unauthorized access.
Is back-end developer a good career? ›As far as job prospects go, it is competitive for back-end web developers, but you can rest easy that there will always be a demand for a back end web developer as long as your skills are up to scratch.
Can you be both a front end and back-end developer? ›As a developer, you don't have to settle for just frontend or backend; you can do both as a full-stack developer. This is, in my experience, where the fun begins. Full-stack developers can create sites and web applications that render both on the client-side (frontend) and the server-side (backend).
Is it easy to switch from frontend to backend? ›Making the switch from front end to back end can feel daunting. It means having to learn new frameworks, new languages, and mastering a different way of thinking. Luckily, having front-end experience can help set the foundation for becoming a back-end developer.
Should I do front end back end or full stack? ›Full-stack developers command the higher salary package than front end or back end developers. Employers are willing to pay more for a full stack developer because it makes more business sense to hire an individual with front and back end skills, rather than getting two people to do the same job.
Which language is used to connect frontend and backend? ›
Languages. The front end uses web languages such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. The programming languages used in the back end may include PHP, Java, Python, and Ruby.
Is front-end harder than back-end? ›Because it changes more frequently and takes longer to provide results, frontend web development is more difficult than backend web development.
Does backend developer have future? ›The future scope of a back-end developer is very vast and many companies are looking to hire them. They can specialize in any of these fields: – Data Integration – This involves gathering data from different sources and mapping it with the appropriate databases.
Do front-end developers get paid less than back end? ›In the end, when comparing front end vs back end developer salary, the question is, is back-end developer a higher paid career path? According to some sources, the difference is as little as 1%, while other sources (such as Glassdoor) suggest that back end engineers can earn even 25% more than front end developers!
Is Front End developer still in demand? ›Good front-end developers will always be in demand due to the constantly evolving technologies of today's world. Front-end development is a great career choice. Consider that the average front-end developer's salary has increased by nearly 35% over the past 20 years.
Do front-end developers do design? ›2. Is a front-end developer a designer? No, a front-end developer is not a designer. A front-end designer is someone who ensures a good user experience by executing both visual design and code.