Front End vs Back End: What’s the Difference?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for web developers will grow by 16% from 2022 to 2032. Now you might wonder, how do front-end and back-end roles differ, and which one suits you? This article explains their main differences, and how to choose the right career path. You'll surely have the information you need to decide by the end of this. Keep reading to learn more about front end vs. back end development.

What Is Front-End Development?

Front-end development, also known as client-side development, is about creating the parts of websites and web apps that users see and interact with directly. This involves using programming languages like HTML for website structure, CSS for styling, and JavaScript for adding interactivity, animations, and making things move, and responding when users click, scroll, or tap.

Combining these languages ensures that users can easily use the website or app on any device, with a design that looks good and responds quickly. This includes making designs that work well on phones and computers, adding interactive features like sliders and forms, and ensuring everything works smoothly across different web browsers.

How Does the Frontend of an Application Function?

The front end's main job is to make a website or app easy to use and nice to look at. They work to show you texts, pictures, and videos clearly. They are also responsible for making all the functions in the website work correctly like when you click or tap. They also communicate with the backend to get information from databases, making sure everything works well.

Frontend developers also use frameworks and libraries that make development easier. Popular ones like ReactJS, AngularJS, and jQuery are commonly used. They help organize files, handle AJAX requests (which fetch data without reloading the whole page), style components, and connect data with parts of the web page.

What Is Back-End Development?

Back-end development focuses on how websites and apps work behind the scenes. This involves creating and maintaining the technology that powers servers, databases, and applications. This is to make sure that everything users see and interact with on the front end runs smoothly. They also troubleshoot and fix issues within the application, maintain the web server for optimal performance, and collaborate closely with front-end developers to ensure smooth integration across the entire application.