More often than not, web developers are mixed-up with web designers. Though with some similarities, there are differences between their tasks and responsibilities. If you are planning to have a website for your business, it’s important to know what a web developer does to know if you need one.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is the process of creating and maintaining a website. It ensures that a website is easy to navigate and performs smoothly. A web developer will also make sure that all the parts of the website are cohesive and that the site is user-friendly for online visitors.
General Tasks and Responsibilities of a Web Developer
Web developers generally perform the following tasks and responsibilities:
- Creating the coding to build a website
- Designing how the website looks and operates for the end user
- Managing what functions can be performed when a user opens a web page
- Makes sure that the website runs smoothly
- Testing the website for performance and user experience then troubleshooting the errors that may arise
- Placing multimedia onto the site such as images, graphics, videos, and other content
- Collaborating with web designers, other developers, and stakeholders
Types of Web Developers
Not all web developers have the qualifications and knowledge to perform all the tasks mentioned above. Some focus on certain tasks thus can be classified under 3 main types of web developers: back-end developers, front-end developers, and full-stack developers. Some web developers work as webmasters.
Back-end web developers
These developers are responsible for creating the website’s structure, writing the server-side code, and verifying that the code works. They are also sometimes in charge of controlling access points for others who need to manage a website’s content.
Front-end web developers
Their main responsibility is to manage the user interface or the visual part of the website that visitors see and interact with. They are in-charge of designing the layout of each webpage, integrating graphics, and using HTML and JavaScript to make the site better.
Full-stack developers
This type of developers have the knowledge and skills of both a back-end and front-end developer.
Webmasters
They are responsible for keeping the website updated and checking whether the links and applications on each page are working properly.
Do I Need to Hire a Web Developer for My Business Website?
When planning on building a website, you may wonder if you’d rather do it yourself and save money or hire a professional to do it. The following are important things you should consider:
- The amount of money that you are willing to spend for a professional
- The amount of time you can allocate to build the website on your own
- The experience you have with creating websites
- The level of your standards for a good website
