How to Become a Web Developer?
Published: 1/26/2025
It is undeniable that the internet is growing at a very fast pace. Today, websites form a significant part of the internet and are our go to place when we need to find information, talk with someone, and so on. In fact, we are interacting with websites on the internet almost every day for various reasons. In this article, we are going to focus on web developers and their roles in the development of websites.
What is Web Development?
In short, web development is the process of developing and maintaining websites ranging from simple static websites to more complicated dynamic ones. These websites are developed and maintained by web developers with the help of programming languages and technologies, including but not limited to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, databases, frameworks, libraries, and cloud technologies.
What Does a Web Developer Do?
A web developer is a professional who works with web technologies like programming languages, frameworks, libraries, cloud technologies and databases to develop and maintain websites. They are responsible for both technical implementation and collaboration, working closely with other developers, designers, clients, and stakeholders to solve technical challenges by creating functional, efficient, and user-friendly websites. Web developers can work in three primary areas:
- Front-end Development: Frontend developers are responsible for the user-facing part of websites, focusing on visual elements and user interaction. They develop and maintain components like menus, navigation bars, forms, and buttons. They use technologies and libraries including but not limited to HTML, CSS, JavaScript and React. Frontend developers bridge the gap between design and functionality, creating seamless, engaging web experiences that are both visually appealing and technically robust. They ensure websites are:
- Interactive: Improving user engagement.
- Understandable: Converting complex backend data into user-friendly visuals.
- Reachable: Optimising for search engines.
- Usable: Creating responsive designs with excellent user experience.
- Back-end Development: Backend developers are responsible for the server-side of websites, working on logic and infrastructure which are not visible to users. They are responsible for creating website architecture, implementing data flow between server and client, and managing databases and server operations. They essentially create the engine that powers websites, transforming complex server-side operations into smooth, functional web experiences that users rely on. Key technologies used include but not limited to:
- Programming Languages: PHP, Node.js, Ruby, Python, Java, C#
- Databases: MongoDB, MySQL
- Frameworks: .NET, Spring Boot
- Full-stack Development: Full-stack developers are positioned between frontend and backend developers, fluent in both client and server-side technologies. They develop and maintain both visual and technical aspects of websites, using a comprehensive range of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and databases. Full-stack developers can:
- Design and develop complete web applications.
- Work across all layers of web development.
- Bridge frontend and backend technologies.
- Create end-to-end solutions.
How to Become a Web Developer?
Although there aren’t any formal guidelines on how to become a web developer, there are a number of different paths you can follow. In this article, we will break down two of the most common paths:
- Formal Education: Studying Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field can help you become a web developer. Depending on your university’s curriculum, you might take dedicated web development courses or cover topics that overlap with it. Either way, you’ll build a solid foundation in web technologies, get hands on experience with programming and scripting languages, and sharpen skills that you will use later to build and maintain websites.
- Self Taught: Like most tech roles, you don’t strictly need a diploma to become a web developer. What matters is having the right skills and proving you can do the work, even if your degree is in something totally unrelated. Certifications, online courses, or tutorials can help you build that expertise. Here are some of the tutorials we personally tried and found useful:
Which Programming Languages Should I Learn?
There’s no single programming language that guarantees success in web development. The field is full of options (languages, frameworks, libraries), and your choices should align with what excites you or where you want to specialise. With that being said, we think starting with these technologies in the sequence below will give you the clearest roadmap:
- HTML & CSS
- JavaScript
- React & Next
- Node & Express
- MongoDB & PostgreSQL
- Python
- AWS
Which Skills Should a Web Developer Have?
Beyond the technical skills covered earlier, web developers also need a set of key soft skills. These can be broken down into the following areas:
- Teamwork: As a web developer, you’ll almost always work as part of a team, no matter where you’re employed. This is even more true now, with Agile development becoming the go to methodology for many companies. You’ will collaborate with others to reach shared goals, backed by the support of your team and cross-functional partners.
- Communication: This is one of the most critical soft skills for a web developer. You will need to communicate clearly with designers, fellow developers, users, and stakeholders to ensure the right solutions are built for the given technical challenges.
You can explore our in-depth article on the essential skills every successful developer should master here.