Everything You Need to Know in 2022 to Become a Web Developer Part 1

From the most basic apps to the most revolutionary inventions, technology plays a significant role in our daily lives. Every website or piece of software we see was built by a developer. But what exactly is web development, and what do they do? All of these questions will be addressed in this guide on how to become a web developer.

To the untrained eye, it may appear to be a complicated, perplexing, and somewhat inaccessible field. So, in order to shed some light on this fascinating industry, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to web development and what it takes to become a full-fledged web developer.

We’ll go over the fundamentals of web development in detail in this guide, and then show you the essential skills and tools you’ll need to break into the industry. If you decide that web development is for you, the next step is to begin learning the necessary skills, which you can do in this free coding short course for beginners.

But first, we’ll look at the web development industry in 2022 and consider whether it’s a good career move—with a particular focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here’s what we’ll talk about:

• Is now a good time to start a career as a web developer? (2022 revision)
• Is there a high demand for web developers right now?
• What impact has Covid-19 had on the industry?
• So, should you start working as a web developer in 2022?
• What exactly is web development?
• Software engineering vs. web development
• Web development styles
• What is the distinction between web development and web design?
• A summary of the World Wide Web’s history
• What is a web developer’s job description?
  What is a front-end developer’s job description?
  A backend developer’s job description is as follows:
  What is a full-stack developer’s function?
• Developers of mobile applications
• Languages, libraries, and frameworks for programming
• What exactly are languages?
• What is the difference between libraries and frameworks?
• Other web development software
• What is the best way to become a web developer?
• A lucrative job market
• Choose a learning path.

You can skip ahead by using the clickable menu. Let’s get started!

1. Is it a good time to start a career as a web developer? (2022 revision)

Before embarking on a new career, it is critical to consider your options.Is your new industry going to offer you a lot of opportunities and stability? How likely is it that you will be hired after graduating from your chosen programme or bootcamp?

These questions are more important than ever in the aftermath of the last two years. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and the labour market. Initially, the pandemic slowed hiring in 2020, as global lockdowns went into effect. According to Glassdoor, the vaccine rollout and economic rebound resulted in an increase in 2021, with hiring only slowing towards the end of the year. However, the report also states that the leisure and hospitality, education, and healthcare industries, which are particularly Covid-sensitive, account for 69 percent of the employment shortfall.

This is yet another sign that workers are gravitating toward industries and roles that are more “Covid-proof,” such as technology. With that in mind, let us examine the state of the web development industry in 2022.

Is there a high demand for web developers right now?

You’ve probably noticed that, regardless of what’s going on in the world, technology is omnipresent in our lives. Whether it’s scrolling through our favourite social media apps, checking the news, paying for something online, or connecting with colleagues via collaboration software and tools, technology plays a role in almost everything we do. This technology is supported by a team of web developers who not only built it but also constantly maintain it to ensure it works flawlessly.

Those who can create and maintain websites, apps, and software play an important role in today’s technology-driven world, as evidenced by the web development job market. Web developer employment is expected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But, after the unexpected twists and turns of the last two years, does this still hold true? In a nutshell, web developers appear to have weathered the storm fairly well.

Full-stack developer was ranked second on Indeed’s list of the best jobs, and this trend is expected to continue through 2022 and beyond. Simply searching for the most in-demand tech skills in 2022 will yield results such as web development, software engineering, cloud computing, DevOps, and problem-solving.

Employers will continue to be drawn to full-stack development in particular. Sergio Granada writes for TechCrunch about how full-stack developers have been critical to business during the Covid-19 crisis:

“As businesses across all industries migrate to the virtual world in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the ability to do full-stack development can make engineers extremely marketable.” Those who are capable rapidly develop and deliver software projects using full-stack methods have the best chance of landing at the top of a company’s or client’s wish list.”

If you want to know how much demand there is for web developers in your area, look for “web developer” or “full-stack developer” jobs on sites like indeed, glassdoor, and LinkedIn. We conducted a quick search for web development jobs in the United States and discovered over 60,000 open positions at the time of writing.

As you can see, web developers are still in high demand—despite, and perhaps because of, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.In that vein, what impact has Covid-19 had on the web development industry?Let’s take a closer look.

What impact has Covid-19 had on the industry?

While many industries struggled (and continue to struggle) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the technology industry fared relatively well. Many organisations are relying on digital tools to operate remotely, emphasising the importance of technology and the people who create it. As a result, many are predicting an industry boom: Market Data Forecast predicts that the tech industry will grow from $131 billion USD in 2020 to $295 billion in 2025.

We also anticipate an increase in web developer jobs in certain industries as a result of the most in-demand products and services right now. Healthcare, media and entertainment, online banking, remote education, and e-commerce, for example, will continue to expand to reflect consumer needs and behaviours in a more socially distant world.

In comparison to other industries, the impact of Covid-19 on the tech industry and web developers has been minimal. Despite the fact that the situation is still unfolding, new and aspiring web developers can be confident that they are embarking on a career that is future-proof.

If you’re wondering what it’s like to be a newly-qualified tech graduate in the midst of a pandemic, check out our Covid-19 job search guide. Mike McCulloch, Head of Career Services at CareerFoundry, shares his observations of the tech job market, as well as some excellent advice on how to market yourself as a newcomer to the field, in it.

So, should you start working as a web developer in 2022?

So, what’s the final word? Is now a good time to start a career as a web developer?

We believe the answer is clear based on the job market and projected employment growth. Now is an excellent time to start a career as a web developer! Technology is more important than ever in how we work, communicate with loved ones, access healthcare, shop, and so on.We say go for it if you want to be a part of this exciting industry and help build the technology of the future.

But first, let’s go over the fundamentals. What exactly is web development, and what exactly does a web developer do? Continue reading to find out.

2. What exactly is web development?

Web development is the process of creating websites and applications for the internet or a private network known as an intranet.Web development is not concerned with the design of a website; rather, it is concerned with the coding and programming that powers the functionality of the website.

From the most basic, static web pages to social media platforms and apps, e-commerce websites to content management systems (CMS), developers have created all of the tools we use on a daily basis via the internet.

Software engineering vs. web development

• All of the jargon and buzzwords—including those for the role itself—can be a barrier for those wondering how to become a web developer. Some introduce themselves as software engineers, while others as web developers and still others as software developers! Is there a significant difference between them?
• While software engineers are more likely to work on operating systems and web developers on internet-based technologies, the reality is slightly different. Because both roles use the same programming languages and technologies, which term is used can vary depending on location, industry, and company.
• This graph from Google Ngram Viewer charts the evolution in popularity of the three terms as they’ve appeared in books to give you a rough sense of their fluctuating popularity:
• If you’d like to see more graphs depicting the differences in how these terms are used, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to the similarities between web developers and software engineers.
• For the time being, what matters is that web development and software engineering bootcamps typically teach the same programming tools and technologies. When you graduate and enter the job market, remember to look at the technologies listed in each job description rather than the title to see if they match your own.

Web development styles

Client-side coding (frontend), server-side coding (backend), and database technology are the three layers of web development.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these layers.

Client-side

Anything that the end user interacts with directly is referred to as client-side scripting, also known as frontend development. Client-side code runs in a web browser and directly affects what visitors see when they visit a website. The layout, fonts, colours, menus, and contact forms are all controlled by the frontend.

You can get a good idea of what it’s like to work as a frontend developer by watching this video tutorial and enrolling in our free short course for beginners, where you’ll build your first website from scratch.

Server-side

Server-side scripting, also known as backend development, is concerned with what happens behind the scenes. The portion of a website that the user does not see is known as the backend. It is in charge of data storage and organisation, as well as ensuring that everything on the client side runs smoothly. It accomplishes this by interacting with the frontend.

When something occurs on the client side, such as a user filling out a form, the browser sends a request to the server side. The server “responds” with relevant information in the form of frontend code, which the browser then interprets and displays.

Technology for database management

Websites also make use of database technologies. The database contains all of the files and content required for a website to function, and it is organized and saved in a way that makes it easy to retrieve, organize, alter, and save. The database is hosted on a server, and most websites use a relational database management system (RDBMS).

To summarise, the frontend, backend, and database technologies all collaborate to build and run a fully functional website or application, and these three layers serve as the foundation of web development.

What is the distinction between web development and web design?

The terms “web development” and “web design,” similar to those used in software engineering, can be used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous.

Consider a web designer and a web developer collaborating to build a car: the developer would be in charge of all the functional components, such as the engine, wheels, and gears, while the designer would be in charge of both the visual aspects. How the car looks, the layout of the dashboard, the design of the seats. And the user experience provided by the car, such as whether or not it’s a smooth drive.

• Web designers create the look and feel of a website. They design the website’s layout, ensuring that it is logical, user-friendly, and enjoyable to use. They consider all of the visual elements, such as colour schemes and fonts. What buttons, drop-down menus, and scrollbars should there be, and where should they go? Which interactive touchpoints does the user use to get from point A to point B?
• Web design also studies the website’s information architecture, deciding what content to include and where it should be placed.
• Web design is a broad field that is typically subdivided into more specific roles such as User Experience Design, User Interface Design, and Information Architecture.
• It is the web developer’s responsibility to turn this design into a live, fully functional website. A frontend developer uses coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build on the visual design provided by the web designer. A backend developer creates the site’s more advanced functionality, such as the checkout function on an e-commerce site.

In other words, a web designer is the architect, and a web developer is the builder or engineer.

3. An overview of the World Wide Web’s history

The internet as we know it today has taken decades to develop. To better understand how web development works, let’s go back to the beginning and look at how the internet has evolved over time.

In 1965, the first WAN is constructed. WAN (Wide Area Network)

The internet is, in essence, a network of networks that connects all different WANs. WAN is an abbreviation for Wide Area Network, which is a telecommunications network that spans a large geographical area. In 1965, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology established the first WAN.

This WAN became known as ARPANET later on. It was first supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the United States Department of Defense.

In 1969, the first internet message was transmitted.

Charley Kline, a UCLA student, sent the first internet message in October 1969. He attempted to send the word “login” via the ARPANET network to a computer at the Stanford Research Institute. But the system crashed after the first two letters. However, the system recovered approximately an hour later and the complete text was delivered successfully.

The rise of the LAN in the 1970s (Local Area Network)

In the early 1970s, several experimental LAN technologies were created. LAN is an abbreviation for Local Area Network, which is a computer network that connects devices in the same building, such as schools, universities, and libraries. The development of Ethernet at Xerox Parc from 1973 to 1974, as well as the development of ARCNET in 1976, were both significant milestones.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocol (IP), the Domain Name System, and dial-up access were all introduced between 1982 and 1989.

In 1982, the ARPANET protocol introduced the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). And TCP/IP is still the standard internet protocol today. The Domain Name System was designed in 1983 to provide a more user-friendly method of labeling and classifying websites. Cisco shipped its first router in 1987, and World.std.com became the first commercial provider of dial-up internet access in 1989.

Tim Berners-Lee and HTML in 1990

HTML—HyperText Markup Language—was created in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee, a scientist at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). HTML evolved into, and continues to be, a fundamental building block of the internet.

The World Wide Web enters the mainstream in 1991.

The World Wide Web entered the mainstream with the rise of the visual internet browser. In 2018, there were more than 4 billion internet users worldwide. According to Statista, this has increased to 4.66 active users in January 2021, or 59.5 percent of the global population.

4. What is the role of a web developer?

The web developer’s job is to create and maintain websites. Web developers can work in-house or freelance, and the tasks and responsibilities will differ depending on the type. If you want to learn how to become a web developer, you should consider whether you want to be a frontend, backend, or full-stack developer. Full-stack developers specialise in both the frontend and the backend; we’ll go over what a full-stack developer does in more detail later.

Web developer’s Responsibility

Creating a product that meets the needs of both the client and the customer or end user. Web developers work with stakeholders, clients, and designers to understand the vision for the final website: how should it look and function?

A significant portion of web development is also concerned with identifying and fixing bugs in order to constantly optimise and improve a website or system. As a result, web developers are adept problem solvers, constantly devising solutions and workarounds to keep things running smoothly.

Of course, all web developers are fluent in at least one programming language. However, depending on their job title and area of expertise, different developers will work with different languages. Let’s take a closer look at the various layers of web development and the tasks associated with them.

What is a frontend developer’s job description?

The frontend developer’s job is to code the part of a website or application that the user sees and interacts with. They take backend data and transform it into something easily understandable, visually appealing, and fully functional for the average user. They will use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to bring designs provided by the web designer to life.

Frontend developer responsibilities

The layout of the website, interactive and navigational elements such as buttons and scrollbars. Images, content, and internal links are all implemented by the frontend developer. Frontend developers are also in charge of ensuring proper display across various browsers and devices. They will code the website in such a way that it is responsive or adaptable to different screen sizes. Ensuring that the user has the same experience. Whether they visit the website on mobile, desktop, or tablet.

Frontend developers will also conduct usability tests and troubleshoot any bugs that arise. At the same time, they will think about SEO best practises, software workflow management, and developing tools that improve how a user interacts with a website in any browser.

Do you want to work in web development?

A backend developer’s job description is as follows:

The backside refers to the brains behind the face (the frontend). A backend developer is thus in charge of creating and maintaining the technology required to power the frontend. Which consists of three components: a server, an application, and a database.

The code written by backend developers ensures that everything built by frontend developers is fully functional. It is the backend developer’s responsibility to ensure that the server, application, and database all communicate with one another.

So, how do they accomplish this? To begin, they build the application using server-side languages such as PHP, Ruby, Python, and Java. They then use tools like MySQL, Oracle, and SQL Server to find, save, or edit data. Before returning it to the user in frontend code.

Backend developers, like frontend developers, will communicate with the client or business owner to understand their needs and requirements. They will then deliver these in a variety of ways, depending on the project’s specifics.

Backend development responsibilities

Backend development tasks commonly include

1. database creation
2. integration and management
3. server-side software development using backend frameworks
4. developing and deploying content management systems (for a blog, for example)
5.  working with web server technologies
6. API integration
7. operating systems

Backend developers are also in charge of testing and debugging any system or application’s backend elements.

What is a full-stack developer’s function?

A full-stack developer is knowledgeable about and capable of working with the “whole stack” of technology. Which encompasses both the frontend and backend. Full stack developers are professionals in every stage of the web development process. Which means they can not only get their hands dirty but also provide strategic advice and best practices.

If you’d rather watch a video of me explaining full-stack development, I’ve summarized the key elements for you:

Most full-stack engineers have years of experience in a variety of positions, providing them a strong foundation in all aspects of web development. Frontend and backend programming languages and frameworks, as well as server, network, and hosting environments, are all covered by full-stack developers. They also have a good understanding of business logic and user experience.

Developers of mobile applications

Web developers and software engineers may also specialize in the creation of mobile apps for iOS or Android.

iOS developers create apps for the iOS operating system. Apple’s gadgets use this format. Swift is the programming language most widely used by iOS developers. Apple’s programming language designed specifically for their apps.

Android developers create apps that work on all Android devices, including Samsung smartphones. Until Kotlin, the new kid on the block, Java was the official programming language for Android.