How to Become a Front-End Developer in 2022: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Become a Front-End Developer in 2022: A Comprehensive Guide | Coding | Emeritus

The internet has become embedded in every aspect of our day-to-day lives. It has opened our world to limitless possibilities. Currently, 63.1% of the world’s population is connected to the web. The growth of the internet has also resulted in the growth of the web development industry, providing excellent job opportunities, and also making front-end development a highly lucrative and coveted career. If you are not sure where to start in your journey to become a front-end developer, we have created a simple roadmap for you to follow. If you explore this comprehensive guide, you will have a basic understanding of how to become a front-end developer. 

What is a Front-End Developer?

Web development falls into two categories: front-end development and back-end development. Front-end development focuses on the visual aspects of a website. It is the part that users interact with and see. On the other hand, back-end development refers to a website’s structure, logic, data, and system. Both front-end and back-end go hand-in-hand to create an interactive and visually appealing website.

Front-end developers are responsible for the client side of the website, and the back-end developers are responsible for the basic framework of web development. A developer with the skill and knowledge of both the front- and back-end is a full-stack developer. 

Proficiency in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development will open up multiple opportunities across industries. The most significant advantage of having full-stack experience is developing and managing a website end-to-end.

Also read: What is Full-Stack Development & Why It’s a Lucrative Career

What Does a Front-End Developer Do?

Before learning how to become a front-end developer, knowing what the role entails is essential. Let’s look at some of the roles and responsibilities of a front-end developer:

  • Visual aspects of web development, such as designing and structuring
  • Handling the user interface of web development
  • Transforming the design into front-end code with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Developing websites’ aesthetics and making them functional 
  • Creating and enhancing user experience
  • Optimizing web applications for a mobile-friendly user experience
  • Writing high-quality, scalable, and reusable code
  • Problem-solving such as troubleshooting, debugging errors, and maintaining the website’s performance

How to Become a Front-End Developer

Step 1: Learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript

The front-end of a website essentially has three types of files: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

HTML, which stands for Hypertext Markup Language, creates the basic structure of a website. It is the primary file type loaded in your browser when you look at a website. 

CSS, which stands for Cascading Style Sheet, designs and lays out the web page to enhance its aesthetics. With CSS, you can add elements such as colors, custom fonts, widgets, and animation to the website. 

JavaScript creates the logic of a website. By using this programming language, you can make the website responsive and interactive for users.

Learning these three main languages is a must to enter the field of front-end development. 

Step 2: Practice for Free

Once you have learned the core concepts, you must practice and improve your coding skills. First, you should practice the coding languages you have learned and try to create projects on your own such as building a website. Several open-source online tools can help you practice HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.  

Also Read: Which Coding Language Should You Learn? Check This List Before You Start!

Step 3: Connect With Other Front-End Developers

Learning is always fun and effective when done with others. So while practicing your coding skills, you should connect with other front-end developers. There are many online communities you can easily join and communicate with other coders.

Participating in coding communities can help improve your soft skills, resolve queries, share projects, receive feedback, and help you become a better front-end developer.

Step 4: Mastering Command Line Professional Certificate in Coding: Women's Cohort at MIT xPRO

A Command Line Interface (CLI) is a text-based user interface navigated by typing commands as prompts. It can perform various tasks with single-line instructions. Mastering CLI can help developers troubleshoot, perform regular tasks and have better control and management over the developed application.

Step 5: Consider a Front-End Developer Online Course

If you aim to learn skills in a short course that fits into your budget, online courses for front-end development from top universities can provide an alternative to a full-time degree. 

These bootcamps are short-term, intensive learning programs that can provide an educational structure and help you engage in the learning process. Investing in such courses can help you obtain skills to become a front-end developer and enhance job opportunities. 

Step 6: Seek a Mentor

Look for a mentor who can guide you and help you hone your skills and knowledge. An expert who has spent many years in the field will be able to evaluate your strengths and areas of development much better than your peers. Speak to one such subject matter expert before diving into the development field. A good mentor can have a significant impact on your life and career.

Step 7: Look for Internships

No learning is complete if you don’t have hands-on experience. Internships can provide high-impact, experiential learning. It is an effective way to gain valuable exposure

and give insights into the required skills for long-term career growth. Platforms like internships.com, LinkedIn internships, and ZipRecruiter can help you kick-start your career. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Front-end Development a Good Career?

Yes! Front-end development is a highly lucrative career and is very much in demand. The average salary for a front-end developer is $102,762 per year in the United States, as per Indeed.com. Likewise, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2030, employment opportunities for web developers are projected to grow by 23%. 

Do You Need a Degree to Become a Front-End Developer?

You don’t need a formal degree to become a front-end developer. While a degree is considered an advantage in any profession, it is the skills truly needed to become a front-end developer. If you are looking for a career change or new job opportunities, taking a (short-term and inexpensive) Bootcamp course will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become a front-end developer. 

Emeritus offers an expansive range of online coding programs that can help you become a web developer. In addition, after completing the coding course, you can earn a certificate from a top university that can enhance job opportunities.

By Krati Joshi

Write to us at content@emeritus.org

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About the Author

Content Marketing Manager, Emeritus Blog
Manasa is the content ninja that every brand needs. Apart from being an expert in tech-related trends and digital marketing, she has found her calling in edtech. Her 10-year-long tryst with education started with a teaching fellowship for underprivileged children, followed by a stint as an edupreneur. It gave her the perspective she now uses to create impactful content for Emeritus. Manasa loves the life of a digital nomad that allows her to travel and hopes her reels go viral on the Gram.
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