At their core, a front-end developer builds websites and applications using a number of web technologies, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript. These three web technologies are used by most websites to create visually engaging interfaces for web and mobile applications. When a site is loaded in a browser, front-end scripts run in the browser and process requests without call-backs to the server. When call-backs are required, JavaScript and AJAX are used to send requests to the server and process the response.
A front-end developer is assumed to have basic to advanced skills in HTML, CSS, DOM, JavaScript, and HTTP/URL. Many front-end developers also have skills in a number of other areas, including but not limited to Content Management Systems (CMS), Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Cross-Browser or Cross-Platform testing, User Interface Design, User Experience, Wireframing, Mobile Web Performance, JavaScript Animation, and Web Font Embedding.
Why do we need front-end developers?
It is important to make sure that when users enter the website, they are presented with clear information that is easy to read. This presents a challenge for web design because users will view the site through a number of different devices that have varying screen sizes and resolutions. The front-end developer must plan carefully to ensure that the site shows correctly across all devices. Responsive front-end design allows the site to adapt to the user’s device. The front-end developer must also make sure that the site displays correctly on different browsers and different operating systems.
Front-end developers typically build websites that run on a web browser delivered from one of the following operating systems:
Android
Chromium
iOS
OS X
Ubuntu
Windows Phone
Windows
These operating systems run on numerous types of device, including desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, and watches. In addition, the type of things that are connected is continually expanding. Connected devices already include cars, refrigerators, lights, thermostats, and many more.
Another challenge faced by front-end developers is the constant changes to the tools that are used in this field. It is important that front-end developers remain up to date with any new technologies so that their applications can keep up with new advancements in speed and capability. Computers, operating systems, browsers, phones, tablets and any number of other new and existing hard- or software is constantly being updated, redesigned and enhanced. For a front-end developer to keep up with all this is nigh on impossible, so we often rely on frameworks and libraries to simplify things. They keep up with the latest software version and innumerable devices, whilst we keep up with the frameworks and libraries.
Generally speaking, a front-end developer works as part of a team that designs and builds websites. The typical roles in a team include:
Visual designer (responsible for fonts, colours, spacing, emotion, visual concepts)
UI/Interaction Designer/Information Architect (responsible for specifying user interactions, animations, UI functionality and structuring information)
Front-end developer (writes the code that runs in client/on device)
Back-end developer (writes the code that runs on server)
These roles require overlapping skills and it is fairly common for team members to take on the responsibilities of more than one role. For example, a front-end developer will usually have good knowledge of UI/Interaction design and back-end development. Teams will typically be led by a project lead and may include additional roles, such as SEO strategists, code quality engineers, API developers, and QA testers.If you are looking for any of the skills involved here, or have any other questions, feel free to get in touch.
Thanks for reading, have a wonderful day!