No second thoughts here when it comes to the world being at our fingertips, all because of the evolution of web development types and the technologies that support them. With access to all kinds of information within seconds of searching, more people rely on the internet and hence the migration of businesses to cyberspace.
Websites have become crucial for any company’s success because they serve as their initial point of contact with customers. And the "behind the scenes" work that goes into creating these websites is called web development.
How interactive the website is, depends on how strategic its web development is. And this leads to what our article will cover. Today, we will be manifesting details about the three web development types. Alongside that, we will unravel the tips on knowing what web developer will be best suited for your project. Many e-Commerce companies integrate their eCommerce ERP system with their back-end operations to streamline processes, improve inventory management, and ensure real-time synchronization of data between online sales and the broader business functions.
By the end of this read, you’ll have a clear idea about what web development layering is and where they are applicable to your project.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is the development, creation, and maintenance of websites. An end user clicking on the “Add to Cart” button may not even be aware of the level of expertise behind that simple click. From the layout and design that you get to see on a website to the logic and linking going on backstage and everything in between is all part of web development.
Web development is the blueprint or the work behind a website or a web application. Every click enabled on the website has coding skills behind it that take you to the relevant page. Here is how the life cycle of web development goes:
- Planning
- Designing
- Development
- Launch
- Maintenance
It also includes keeping the web application or websites updated, ensuring the end users get the optimal experience, and how well the core web vitals perform.
Web development is the non-design aspect of a website or a web app. It only works on the functionality of the website through writing programs in certain languages. The advancement in features added to a website is as per the demand of the client.
It can be used for the creation of a simple web page, a series of web pages interlinked to form a complex website, or an advanced social media app.
As a whole, it plays a pivotal role for any business that aims to make its mark as a brand. A robustly built website will bridge the gap between the customer/clientele and the business resulting in more revenues and greater returns on investment.
The 3 Web Development Types
To make things less complicated, web development is categorized into three expertise. And that is what we aim to discuss thoroughly below. With all languages, frameworks, and libraries relevant to these categories, here is all that you need to know.
I. Front-End Web Development
Today where everything is digitized, a good user experience is kept on the pedestal. Front-end development, which we may commonly refer to as the front-end user interface (UI), is the process of planning, designing, creating, testing, and reforming the client side of a software program.
Front-end development tools and technologies are highly dynamic. As much as this sounds positive, this can result in a challenging scenario when finding the right skilled front-end developer. The languages, frameworks, and libraries used for front-end development are mostly specific and limited to coding for the UI.
Another challenge for front-end web development is creating appealing and highly responsive UIs for a small screen like a smartphone.
I.I Front-End Web Development Languages
Here is a list of languages commonly used for front-end web development
- HTML
- CSS3
- JavaScript
I.II Front-End Web Development Frameworks And Libraries
Frameworks and libraries are tools that offer chunks of code aiding in speeding up the development process, with Node js development services being particularly notable for their efficiency. These tools aid in zapping up the development process. These frameworks and libraries have gained popularity for the high-quality user interface they generate. Here is a list of popular frameworks and libraries that support front-end programming languages.
- Svelte
- jQuery
- Node.js
- Amber.js
- React JS
- Angular JS
- Backbone.js
- Ruby on Rails
AngularJS is the most popular among the above-mentioned frameworks for front-end development. This is an open-source web and mobile application framework used by Google and is based on TypeScript.
II. Back-End Web Development
Back-end development, as the name suggests, is the server side of development that includes:
- Planning
- Designing
- Creating
- Testing
- Maintaining
Architecture, server, database migration, back-end logic, and APIs (application programming interface) are terms all acquainted with back-end development.
The real working of a website where the wheels are turning takes place at the back end. That is why it requires more in-depth coding with vast expertise in the relevant programming languages. The back-end code has to be proficient so that it can respond swiftly and correctly to the request made by the client side.
A back-end developer, other than being proficient in coding, should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills along with a holistic understanding of the tech industry dynamic. Since back-end development is deeply rooted and detailed, it is always recommended to hire a dedicated back-end developer for the back-end development needs of any project.
II.I Back-End Web Development Languages
Here is a list of some of the most dynamic languages used to write code for the back-end development of a website or a web app:
- C#
- C++
- SQL
- PHP
- Java
- Ruby
- Python
- Golang
- Node.js
- JavaScript
II.II Back-End Web Development Frameworks
Here is a list of frameworks that support the languages used for back-end web development
- .Net
- Flask
- Spring
- Meteor
- Django
- Laravel
- Apache
- CherryPy
II.III Back-End Web Development Databases
The database is an integral part of back-end web development, especially for dynamic websites. In a nutshell, all the data of the website is stored here. Upon request from the client side, this data is retrieved, deleted, created, or performs whatever action is requested.
Here is a list of popular databases used in back-end web development:
- Oracle
- MySQL
- IBM DB2
- MongoDB
- Elasticsearch
- MS SQL Server
III. Full-Stack Web Development
When you combine the developmental phases of the client side and the server side, you get full-stack development. For full-stack web development, you appoint a developer who has mastered the languages, frameworks, and all the nitty gritty details of front-end as well as back-end web development.
From managing databases to testing and debugging, a full-stack web developer does it all. Full-stack development requires mostly the same tools and languages used for front-end and back-end web development.
Expertise in text editors like Atom, Sublime, and Visual Studio aid in speeding up the web development process for full-stack developers. Alongside that, it is always helpful that a full-stack developer has the know-how of designing skills for the layout as well.
III.I Full-Stack Web Development Languages
The languages used for coding are the same ones used for front-end and back-end web development types.
For front-end web development:
- CSS3
- HTML5
- JavaScript
For back-end web development:
- PHP
- Elixir
- Ruby
- Python
- TypeScript
III.II Full-Stack Web Development Frameworks
Here is a list of frameworks and libraries used for full-stack web development
- D3.js
- jQuery
- Django
- NodeJS
- ASP.Net
- EmberJS
- Angular.js
- BootStrap
- Foundation
- Ruby on Rails
III.III Full-Stack Web Development Databases and Other tools
Below is the list of databases used for full-stack development:
- Oracle
- MS SQL
- MongoDB
What you dream about in your project can be turned into reality only when you hire the right web developer. Not only do you need an expert coder but someone who has great analytical and creative skills and is apt for the job. Let's analyze the type of developer that would be ideal for your project.
Which Type Of Web Developer Should You Hire For Your Project: 5 Things To Consider
Here’s to identifying which type of web developer you should be hiring for your project. But before that, we need to understand web development gradients into three layers. And hiring the right developer is mostly based on these factors.
1. The Scope Of Your Project
The first and foremost thing to consider when hiring a web developer for your project is defining your business goals. The development team you need to hire for your project should depend on your project's magnanimity.
Whether your project is large-scaled or medium or something that requires updating an old one, your needs will define the indulgence of the expertise. The clarity of your project's scope can help you land in the right hands who can share your vision.
Large scaled projects may include building web apps tagged with cloud-based storage for user data. Alongside that, the back end also needs to be integrated with the ERP system. These sorts of projects may require a full range of expertise.
Then comes the medium-sized projects that mostly require static information like static web apps or blogs or dynamic shopping cart systems. These are sometimes required to be integrated with third-party services like chatbots, APIs, etc. This kind of project may not require an extraordinary level of mastery.
Sometimes all you require is an updated version of an already existing website or Android or iOS app for mobile devices with no addition of new features or a product landing page. For this purpose, you can even hire a junior web developer that will not cost you much.
2. The Fundamentals Of Web Developer’s Work
Defining the terminologies can clarify the ambiguities in knowing what web and application development expertise is needed for your project. For some reason, the term “web designer” has been caught up in the air.
For people outside the tech industry, web development is a one-man show. A web designer is a planner, designer, and developer of a website. But the fact is that every phase needs a dedicated developer to handle the matters.
The whole point of telling you all this is that when you are on a hunt for a developer to build you a website, you have to be articulate about the expertise of different types of software development.
In addition to this, he must be familiar with different software development methodologies that are most commonly applied, including:
- Agile methodology
- DevOps methodology
- Waterfall methodology
- Rapid application methodology
3. Developmental Phase Of Your Project
For every software application development project, there is a software development life cycle. The SDLC includes the following stages:
- Writing code for application logic
- Integrating database
- Designing UI
- Hosting a website on servers
- Maintenance and upgrading
Each of these steps of web development is designated to front-end web development, back-end development, or full-stack web development. And you must first ascertain what stage of development your project is at before you can hire a web developer for it.
3.1 Designing Phase
If your project is in the designing phase and needs an impressionable design and layout of the website, you need to hire a website designer. A web designer will decide the logos, graphics, color scheme, and all design-related tasks for a website.
Most people confuse a web designer with a front-end developer. A professional who makes sure that the website is interactable and all user queries are transferred and answered to the back end of the website is your front-end developer.
A front-end developer will write code for the website which will decide how it will interact with the users and vice versa. A website designer and a front-end developer will be your project’s requirement if it needs a seamless user experience through responsive and well-designed web pages.
3.2 Functionality Phase
If your project is past the design phase and is now in the functionality phase, you need to look for a backend programmer who should have adequate knowledge of databases and knows how to link them with the code and host them on servers.
This phase is more complex and requires hardcore development designated for the server side. Therefore, your chosen back-end developer should be proficient in the latest languages for logical coding and debugging. A back-end developer is the brains behind the face or working of a website.
Usually, most projects need end-to-end services where a complete website needs to be built from scratch. For such scenarios, the expertise of a full-stack developer will be needed. Since full-stack developers withhold the expertise of a back-end developer and a front-end developer, they can handle:
- User interface design
- Logical coding
- Database linking
- Server hosting
A full-stack developer is always a preferred option for a project. But it also has its downsides. The approach of a front-end web developer may not be on the same wavelength as the back-end developer. This can create conflicts and unnecessary delays and affect web and mobile app development with delayed completion time.
4. Evaluate Skills
Half of the things get sorted when you align your project goals with your requirements. Now you know which end of your project needs what kind of expertise. You need to pick whether you require a back-end developer, or a front-end developer, or your project requires the expertise of both and requires a full-stack developer.
In any case, your web developer should be proficient in HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Wordpress, and Photoshop. At the same time, the developer you hire for your project should have the necessary updated skills as the tech world is constantly evolving.
Besides technical skills, the ideal candidate should possess essential soft skills because they must be able to empathize and communicate with others. Developers that can communicate well can explain technical concepts to other team members better. It will improve working conditions, cut down on errors, and save time.
Even if you hire a remote developer to work for your company, you should still value teamwork skills because it brings individuals together and combines their talents to produce great results. Writing code is only one aspect of website development. Good problem-solving and critical thinking abilities should be shown in the work of the web developer that you plan to hire.
5. Choose The Correct Hiring Model
While you may get exposed to the availability of free tools and online tutorials that can get the job done, for a brand that needs to excel and make its mark in the competition, don't waste your time, energy, and effort on such ventures.
Having a clear road map of the hiring model makes it more streamlined. Evaluate if you want to hire developers based on projects which seem to be a perfect fit for a small web development job. For a more complex web development job, the outstaffing model will help you retain the budget with expertise in all types of development.
Aloa can make things easier for you in this situation. We offer a pool of expert web developers that have been selected after a thorough recruitment process. We ensure transparency throughout the project and adequate communication helps have a clear picture of the standing of your project at every stage to ensure the timely delivery of every sprint.
The bottom line is that when you are looking to hire web developers for a project, it is always feasible to hire from firms like Aloa that provide you with web development and cloud-computing expertise under one roof. This move can turn out to be extremely profitable for your project in terms of time and costs.
Conclusion
So you want your business to make a mark in cyberspace? Get a hold of an expert team of web developers who can build a strong web portfolio for your enterprise on the internet. For a business, a well-constructed website or web app compatible with all operating systems like Linux and Microsoft Windows is more than what meets the eye.
Web development types have been classified into front-end development, back-end development, and full-stack development. For an excellently interactive website or web app for your business, you need to have expert developers who are specialists in their calling.
A web development project can become quite a challenge when you lack the right pool of expertise. At Aloa, our team of highly vetted web developers knows exactly which spot to hit. Whether your project requires in-house web development expertise or talent from across the globe, send us an email at resources@aloa.co and we’ll offer all the help you need for your website to be up and running.
