Front-end web development is the process of designing and building the graphical user interface (GUI) of any website. Sometimes called client-side development, front-end development refers to the development of the parts of a website the user interacts with, such as buttons and text boxes. We usually perform front-end development using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Front-End Development vs. Back-End Development
If we consider the Facebook login page, the graphics on the page, including the text boxes to enter your email and password, and the login button are part of the website’s front end. The authentication that occurs after you input your data and click the login button happens on the back end of the website.
Why Is Front-End Development Important?
Front-end development connects the website’s design with the back-end development. In other words, front-end development creates and manages the user’s experience by bridging the back-end data and the user’s interactions with the website.
A good front-end design makes a website less confusing and more accessible for the user so they can use the website efficiently.
Front-End Development Tools
There are two ways you can design and build a website’s front end. You can use a platform that does all the heavy lifting for you or have more control using some lower-level tools.
If you decide to do less coding, you can go with platforms like WordPress, Joomla and Drupal, which can help you build a fully functioning website. However, you can use HTML, CSS and JavaScript to have more options and control over how your website looks and functions.
1. HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
HTML is the backbone of any website development process and the core of nearly every web page. Hypertext in HTML means the text has links embedded within it. Users who click on a certain page will go to another web page. Markup means that text can be turned into images, tables or other representations. Think of HTML as the code that provides a framework for how the website will look.
2. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
CSS controls the website’s presentation and lets you give it color and unique style. HTML builds your website’s canvas and CSS is the paint you need to design that canvas. You can add the CSS externally, internally or embed it in various HTML tags.
3. JavaScript
The last piece of the puzzle is JavaScript. JavaScript makes the HTML canvas and the CSS painting dynamic and functional. JavaScript brings your front end to life.
Is Front-End Development Easy?
There are a few challenges to getting started with front-end development. Front-end developers not only need to be proficient in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, but they also need to be familiar with developing interfaces for a variety of devices.
Complex Skill Set
For a front-end developer to be efficient, all design elements, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript, must work together to bring the best user experience. As a front-end developer, you will need to be proficient in all three software tools.
Browser/Device Adoption
The main goal of any website is for users to access them from various tools and browsers. The user needs website data to be in a format that’s easy to read and navigate. These days, that isn’t easy because users come to websites from a variety of devices with different screen sizes and resolutions. A front-end developer must ensure that their site comes up correctly in different browsers and on all operating systems, which requires extremely careful planning and testing processes.
