The basis of every web development course is learning the differences between front-end and back-end development. And if you are teaching yourself how to code, it is important you know how to distinguish between the two before you do anything else.Â
Our Central Coast Web Development team at the Website Guy has clearly explained the differences between the two sections so you can get started immediately.Â
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Know the basics of how Websites Work
If websites are stripped down, they are nothing but a bunch of files. These files are stored in a computer which is called the server. And when you load that website through your browser, your computer becomes the client.Â
You may have seen Front-end and back-end terms regularly used across different web development guides. As the names suggest, front-end tasks are the ones that take place while interacting with clients. On the other hand, back-end tasks are everything that happens off-screen to run and maintain the websites, such as the logistics and functionality.Â
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Learn the Front-end Basics | Web Development Central Coast
As mentioned earlier, front-end developers design the visual aspects of websites for users to interact with. This includes the colours, layouts, fonts, etc. And to ensure visitors can properly interact with the website, all central coast web developers must learn various programming languages, design skills and other tools.
Most website developers learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript, the three basic types of files within all websites. You can develop these skills by getting a degree, or through previous work, boot camps, other projects and courses.Â
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HTML
HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the main file that loads up on your web browser. It contains all the content and has specific tags to denote them. HTML lays out the website’s structure.Â
CSS
CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, adds design features and makes your content look pretty and attractive. You can add colours, custom fonts or even animations or shapes! To speed up this process, some web developers may use preprocessors like SASS or LESS.Â
JavaScript
JavaScript is the programming language needed to make your websites dynamic. This runs in the browser for the clients to interact with the website. For example, a weather widget displays the temperature and weather conditions depending on the user’s location anywhere in the world.
Learn the Back-End Basics | Central Coast Web DevelopmentÂ
Back-end developers create the site’s structure and functionality to host the website’s front ends. There are mainly three components:Â
Server Â
Traditional servers are centralised and based on Linux or Windows operating systems. That is, all the website files, back-end codes, and data are stored within one server.Â
However, we now also have decentralised setups, such as AWS or Netlify. These architecture-less structures usually split up the components and let them be hosted by third-party vendors. Although, this doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t need at least some kind of server to store your website files.Â
Decentralised websites are better for static sites that do not require much maintenance whereas the traditional servers are better suited for dynamic and complex websites.
Programming LanguageÂ
Popular programming languages for the web include PHP, Python, Ruby, C# and Java. Python is used for writing data structures and algorithms. There are also Python libraries and frameworks for building web apps, such as Flask, Django, and NumPy.
Developers may also use Java to build applications as it is highly compatible across different platforms. Ruby is a great free, open-source back-end programming language as well and has everything a full-stack developer might want to use, especially for high-traffic websites.Â
Databases
A database is where you store information for your website. Most databases use the SQL language to create, update, read or delete data. A database running on a Windows server requires a Microsoft SQL server while one running on Linux requires MySQL.Â
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Full Stack Development | Website Developer Central Coast
Full stack developer creates the website entirely, working on both front-end and back-end web development. These developers know all programming languages and have extensive knowledge of web architecture, algorithms, databases, etc.Â
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Learn your Basics RightÂ
Knowing how you want to specialise will make sure you have the right plans to learn your web development skills. Otherwise, you might get easily overwhelmed and won’t know where to start.Â
If you are looking for an experienced web development team, look no further than the Website Guy. Our website development team will bring your product to life online and will give you the platform to match your best. Â
