What is the difference between a Front-end, Back-end & Full-stack developer?

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Today on my blog, I will be writing about the differences between three types of software developers. Oftentimes, people don't know the difference between these three categories of developers and there is always a mix-up but I'm hoping that after reading this piece from me, it will give a better perspective and understanding into the world of these developers


Without further ado, let's get right into it. First off, who is a software developer? In simple terms, a software developer is someone who uses their design and coding skills to create, manage, update, and test computer software or programs for clients and users. They are often referred to as programmers or developers. There are various kinds of software developers such as game, mobile, web, front-end, back-end, and full stack, but today we are only focusing on three out of these groups of developers.

Let's start with front-end developers which is my current role. In simple terms, a front-end developer is someone who is responsible for updating and managing what a user sees and interacts with on a website. My role entails the ability to

» Create websites and applications using web languages such as HTML, CSS, and javascript which allows a user to have interactions with a web page. 

» Test and optimize the functionality of a web page in terms of speed, and accessibility amongst others.

» Maintain and improve websites

» Design mobile-based features

» Create quality mockups and prototypes

This role focuses more on understanding human-computer interaction and design. The top most required skills include (but are not limited to) user experience (UX), CSS, HTML, and Javascript amongst others


Back-end developers on the other hand focus more on what happens behind the scenes. They specialize in the design, implementation, and performance of systems. Their role entails the ability to

» Design and implement data storage solutions and also responsible for API development

» Optimize applications for maximum speed and scalability

» Integrate user-facing elements developed by front-end developers with server-side logic

» Implement security and data protection

» Improve various back-end processes and update the design of existing programs

This role focuses more on server-side applications. The top most required skills include (but are not limited to) .NET, PHP, Ruby, Java, C++, and Python amongst others


And finally, the third type of developer is the Full-stack developer. These developers are responsible for both the front-end and the back-end work of an application. They basically can do the job of both a front-end and back-end developer. They are more flexible and often work in a variety of niches. Their role entails the ability to

» Develop front-end website architecture and user interaction on a webpage.

» Manage databases and servers

» Ensure cross-platform optimization for mobile phones.

» Perform security checks and data protection on clients' sites.

» Design and develop APIs


This role focuses on both client-side and server-side applications. The top most required skills include (but are not limited to) proficiency with front-end languages such as HTML, CSS, and javascript. Back-end languages such as .NET, Ruby, Java, PHP, and Python amongst others


That will be all from me today. I hope this article has been able to give a better understanding into the world of these three sets of developers and what their job entails. I'm sure this piece will be very useful to any newbie trying to transition or decide on a career path to choose from or specialize in. Also, there are other types of developers as I mentioned above but I'm just focusing on these three in my write-up today. That being said, thank you so much for stopping by and reading this piece to the end, I hope to see you soon. Bye👋

Quote:- "Things aren't always #000000 and #FFFFFF." ~ HTML Proverb

HAPPY CODING!!! ❤️