What’s the Difference Between a Front End, Back End, and Full Stack Developer?
Getting Familiar with the Role of a Front End Developer
When you use a web-based or mobile app, you will interact with a number of pages and tools. Anything you interact with as the user of an app is the responsibility of the front-end developer. These professionals will handle a wide range of responsibilities the user interface and the look of the app or website they are working on. While this may sound like a relatively easy job, it is anything but.
What are the Front End Developer skills?
A front end developer skills involve solid knowledge of scripting languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS3. If you wish to become a front-end website developer, you need to master these three languages.
However, by far, the most critical front end developer skill is proficiency in JavaScript. The versatile JavaScript, which works side by side with both CSS and HTML, features in various applications, including the date and time and “Add to Favorites” button.
Besides, working as a front end developer also requires skills around JQuery, Ajax, UI (User interface), UX (user experience) as well as familiarity with frameworks like AngularJS, EmberJS, Foundation, Bootstrap, and Backbone.
The last piece of the front end development puzzle is JavaScript. All of the animations and interactions you see on a web-based app or website is created using this programming language. When used correctly, JavaScript can make an app or website unique and fun to use.
Back End Developers Work Behind the Scenes
As any developer knows, a functional and reliable back end is important for mobile app development trends and how they are implemented. Without a great back end, the app or website a business puts in place will fail to meet consumer demand. This is why the job of a back end developer is so important. If the servers a back end developer optimizes do not send and receive information, the programs will not work correctly.
What are Back End Developer skills?
The programming languages that back end developers typically need to know include PHP, Ruby, Python, and .Net to build applications. Plus, they should have good command over database technologies like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL.
Since the developer community widely embraces PHP, let’s take that as an example. A scripting language, PHP, works together with Structured Query Language, or SQL, which is the database from where PHP pulls information out to enter it into an HTML file for display. You can find examples of this process everywhere.
For instance, when a user registers on a website, the SQL database stores the submitted information. Every time they log in, the server-side language gets the information from the database, and HTML displays it on your screen. It’s the job of a back end developer to set this process in motion.
Being able to take the needs of the client and write code to meet these needs in a very unique and specialized skill. Most successful back end developers spend years honing their skills. Taking on a variety of different back end development projects is the best way to become a versatile back end professional.
Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career? If so, then becoming a full stack developer is a great option. These developers can handle jobs in both front end and back end development. Not only do full-stack developers have great coding and time management skills, but they are also masters of communicating with customers.
Often times, a full stack developer will be the point person for a business owner in need of a mobile or web-based app. Taking the needs of a client and putting this information to use during the development process is a lot harder than it may seem. Success as a full stack developer will be hard-earned, but well worth the time and effort you invest. One of the best ways to avoid common full-stack development mistakes is by working with an experienced mentor.
What do Full Stack Developers do?
1. Single-handedly manage the project and coordinate with the Client
2. Skillfully translate the project requirements into the overall architecture
3. Write back-end code in Ruby, Python, Node or any other preferable language
4. Write optimized front end code in React, Angular, Vue or any other preferable language
5. Identify, understand and debug database related queries
6. Analyze and optimize the performance of the application as well as infrastructure
Why there is a need for a full stack developer?
Hiring a full-stack developer helps you running every part of your application smoothly and efficiently. A full-stack developer is well-versed with front-end development technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and third-party libraries such as JQuery, Less, Sass, React. On the other hand, a full-stack developer is also connoisseur at back-end technologies like Java, Ruby, Php, Python, Node and others so the developer can solely integrate front-end app with back-end application as well as infrastructure.
Essentially, any web application development project requires both front-end and back-end developer; however, full-stack developer fills the role of both.