Clear Distinction Between Frontend and Backend Development

Just stepping into the world of coding and software development, you may get confused by terms like Frontend, Backend and Full stack Development. Your head may snooze at the sight of programming languages like Ruby on Rails and JavaScript.  At a point you find yourself asking, “What does it all mean? What’s the difference between frontend and backend?”  Offload your bag of worries here, we understand you, we were once there.

At Software Academy, we believe a career in tech is possible for all that are open to learning and put in all it takes to master the art of coding.  Let’s Journey through Unveiling the secrets behind the Digital curtain of Frontend and Backend Development.  Am Sure you are ready to move on and hope you have all that is ready to make the trip an interesting one because we are ready for you.

We’ll be demystifying the  difference  between development styles and getting  a simplified answers to these questions.

1. What is Frontend Development?
2. What is Backend Development?
3. What are the Frontend and Backend development Languages?
4. Frontend Vs.  Backend- What’s the hidden difference.
5. Which is better, Learning Frontend or Backend Development?
6. Who receives a higher pay, Frontend or Backend Developer?
7. Final words.

Before we proceed, We need to look into the meaning of Web Development. In Simple term, Web development is the process of building websites and applications. Most often, Web development focuses more on coding and making sure a website functions well. It is the usability aspect of website and applications. Wondering where terms like Frontend and Backend development come in?
Frontend and Backend development are 2 different types of web development. Am sure you now understand where the both terms comes from.
If that’s the case, Let’s hop in the car and drive down to know more about these web development styles.

1. What is Frontend Development?

Frontend development refers to the style of computer programming that focuses on the creation of elements. It refers to everything the user (You) experiences directly and interacts with on your browser.
Frontend developers build elements like: Layout, Contact forms, Images, Graphics, Animations, and Content Organization. Frontend development is also known as “the Client- Side” of an application.

2. What is Backend Development?

Backend is all about what is going on behind the scene, this may also be referred to as the side users can’t see. It is what makes the site interactive which you can also refer to as “ The Server Side”.  For instance, When a customer browses clothes on a website, they are interacting with the front end. After they select the item they want, put it in the shopping cart and authorize the purchase, the information is stored in the database which resides on the server. A few days later when the clients checks on the status of their delivery, the server pulls the relevant information, updates it with tracking data and presents it through the frontend.
Backend is responsible for storing and organizing data and ensuring everything at frontend is functioning well.
Backend developers work on tasks like:

• Building code
  
• Trouble shooting and debugging web application
• Data base management
• Frame work utilization

3. Frontend and Backend Programming languages?

Humans won’t communicate well if there were no languages. Same way, when you are coding as developer, you’ll use a programming language. These languages allows programmers to communicate with their computer through series of symbols referred to as CODE.

So then, what languages do frontend and backend developers use?
Frontend developers work in languages like : HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Lets take a quick look into what these languages does here

• HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language . It is the fundamental coding language that creates and organizes web contents so it can be displayed in browser.
• CSS is the short for Cascading Style Sheets which is used to style HTML element of your web page. CSS defines a site’s colors, fonts, and the style of site content.
• Java Script is a Language that can be used to make the site more interactive and fun for users. Such as drop down menus, contact forms and module windows.

Together, these 3 languages creates everything that is visually presented to you when you visit a website.
In addition to basic frontend languages, you’ll also come across set of frame works and libraries. Here are a few of the frame works and libraries a frontend developer would work with:

• React.js
• Angular Js
• jQuery
• SASS

Backend developers work in languages like PHP, C++, Java, Ruby, JavaScript, Node.js, Python. why not let’s have a peep into some of these languages here.

• PHP is a server side scripting language 
• Java is a highly popular platform and programming language.
• Python is a general purpose coding. It’s different from some of the others that has been mentioned because it can be used for other kinds of software development and isn’t limited to web development.
  

Backend works in it’s own set of frame works and these are : 

• Express
• Django
• Laravel
• Spring

4. Frontend Vs. Backend: What's the hidden difference

 Reading to this point, you have done a great job, and you deserve to know the hidden difference  between these two. Am sure you are thinking “ Frontend Vs. Backend… What makes the difference?”
You have gotten an overview of both, lets then discuss their hidden differences. There are 4 main things we quickly want to unveil that sets frontend and backend development apart and they include the following

• Front end development is a programming which focuses on the visual elements of a website or app that a user will interact with { Client-Side }. While Backend development focuses on the side of website users can’t see { The server Side }. They both work together to create an active and lively website to allow users make purchases, use contact forms, and participate in interactive activities while browsing a site.
• Frontend makes sure your website looks great and easy to interact with. Behind the scene, Backend holds together all of the frontend components and enables  extra functionality such as storing purchase information and product details.
• Frontend developers uses programming languages to work such as : HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. On the other hand, Backend  developers uses languages like : JavaScript, PHP, C++, and Java.
• Frontend and Backend developers have different strengths But it’s important to know that one side of the development process isn’t harder or more important than other. Both sides have different role, but the two must work together in other for the website to function so that users will enjoy interacting with.

5. Which is better, Learning Frontend, or Backend Developement - Both

While there are some similarities between the two sides of web development, and you are keen to learn web development but aren’t sure where to walk on the path of frontend or backend development, it’s important to consider the day-to-day tasks of each.
If you like working with visual designs and bringing them to life, creating a first-class user experience. Then you might enjoy working in the front end.
If you enjoy working with data, figuring out algorithms, and coming up with ways to optimize complex systems. You probably qualified to learning and enjoy working in the backend. It’s easiest to think of both sides a cassette tape. Frontend and backend are both necessary parts of the web dev process that can be used to create functional, visually appealing websites and applications.

Still there considering walking on the path of a web developer and still don’t know what route to follow through, You could consider becoming a Full Stack Developer.

Wondering what full stack developer mean?
Full stack developers are web developers that are proficient in both worlds i.e. Frontend and Backend development. And their work consists of both frontend and backend elements. Imagine you get to be a full stack developer, its’s like getting to listen to the whole flipping cassette everyday.

6. Who receives a higher pay, Frontend or Backend Developer?

 Now you know the differences between the both and how they function. Just the way they are different in usability and functions , there are also differences in pay . According to Glassdoor, Mid career frontend developers make  an average annual salary of $76,929 in U.S. Meanwhile backend developers bring in an average of $101,619 annually.
Also, According to Bureau of labor Statistics, “ The job outlook for web developers and digital designers including the both is expected to grow by 8% between 2009 and 2029.”
Congratulations! You have unveiled the secrets behind the digital curtain and already have a good idea of the hidden difference between the Frontend and Backend, and how they work together to create functional and a user-friendly websites.

7.  Final Thoughts

To learn more about becoming a guru in frontend and Backend development join us at Software Academy. In Software Academy, our dedicated instructors builds you into a complete Web developer which is sure to earn you your dream job because you get referrals for job from us.

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