Front-end vs Back-end Developer: A Detailed Comparison

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Front-end vs Backend Developer

Let’s explore the complex terrain of Front-End vs Back-End Developer, unraveling the unique domains that shape our digital experiences. Even though both roles are completely different, these roles are incredibly critical for web development. To increase the smooth functioning of the website, each role must cooperate and interact with the other as a unified entity.

What is a Front-end Developer?

UI and design are handled by Front-end developers. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is the physique or body of the skeleton, much as HTML is the website’s structural skeleton.

In terms of websites, CSS allows front-end developers to alter the form of the body, which is analogous to setting up specific parts in advance to give a website a particular look. For websites, you may use CSS to modify particular pages to control how they appear and behave.

These “styles and looks” are combined by front-end developers into a CSS file, which is then added on top of the HTML page. They consult the CSS file containing the pre-defined styles whenever they require a certain style.

Responsibilities of a Front-end Developer

Now, when you are thinking to hire Front-end Developers, you might be wondering what the actual roles and responsibilities of a Front-end developer are. Well, let’s have a brief look at the major responsibilities of a Front-end Developer,

  • Selection of web page’s structure and design
  • Create features that will improve the user experience
  • Achieving harmony between practical and aesthetically pleasing design
  • Make sure the website is mobile-friendly
  • Create reusable code for upcoming uses
  • Make sure that websites are scaled and optimized for performance
  • Use a variety of markup languages to create web pages
  • Maintain the brand identity across the whole design

Front-end Developer Skills

A Front-end Developer must have basic to advanced knowledge of HTML, CSS, DOM, JavaScript, HTTP/URL, and browsers. Apart from these, other front end developer skills are,

  • Content Management System knowledge
  • Cross-browser and cross-platform testing
  • Browser developer tools knowledge
  • Code complexity analysis
  • Code expertise in languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery
  • Recognize server-side CSS
  • Knowledge of graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator)
  • Recognize the fundamentals of SEO
  • Be able to communicate effectively with coworkers, superiors, and clients
  • Possess effective interpersonal skills

Languages Used by Front-end Developers

For effective and efficient development of the business solution, a Front-end Developer uses multiple languages depending on the type of solution. The basic programming languages used by any Front-end Developer are,

HTML:

Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML is a computer language used to create electronic texts known as pages that are displayed on websites. Each page has several hyperlinks or links to other sites. Every web page on the Internet has been created using HTML in some capacity. Understanding how to display texts or carry out the loading of various components is a must for browsers.

CSS:

CSS is used to specify the layout and presentation of documents sent to users. A document is often a text file format that makes use of a markup language, such as the popular HTML and others like XML or SVG. A document is transformed into a format that audiences may utilize using CSS.

This is especially important for browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which are designed to graphically transmit content to screens, printers, and projectors.

JavaScript:

The widely used programming language JavaScript enables users to add complex features to websites. It can be activated whenever a page performs a dynamic activity, such as displaying recurring changes to the content, animated two- and three-dimensional graphics, interactive maps, video boxes, and more. Like Visual Basic, JavaScript is an object-centered language with notions based on the idea of objects.

When an object may take on numerous forms thanks to a feature called polymorphism, object-centered languages are frequently utilized.

Dart:

Dart is a general-purpose, object-oriented, open-source programming language with C-style syntax that Google created in 2011. Dart programming is used to develop the front ends of user interfaces for websites and mobile applications.

It is actively being developed, compiled to native machine code for creating mobile apps, Strongly Typed, and inspired by popular programming languages like Java, JavaScript, and C#.

The compiler parses your code and converts it to machine code because Dart is a compiled language. Thus, you cannot run your code directly.

Swift:

Apple’s 2014 frontend development technology, Swift, is appropriate for building iOS, tvOS, macOS, and watchOS applications. It’s a fantastic choice for iOS mobile applications. This Objective-C substitute is regarded as being out of date and has numerous problems.

Expandable programming is one of the Objective-C ideas that Swift does use. Static typing and protocol design is in contrast.

TypeScript:

Another one of the top ten front-end programming languages, TypeScript is a syntactical superset of JavaScript. Any JavaScript code is accepted as valid TypeScript code and executes as JS in all browsers. JavaScript applications may make use of TypeScript, an additive language with a basic translation layer. Because of its resemblance to JavaScript, TypeScript is frequently mistaken for it.

It makes use of a few program elements that were taken directly from JavaScript. To effectively use TypeScript, developers must have a working knowledge of JavaScript. This is due to the translation of TypeScript code into JavaScript code before execution.

Elm:

A functional language and framework designed for front-end programming is Elm. It is the foundation of the Haskell programming language and improves JavaScript’s capacity to be maintained.

It is a basic programming option and one of the alternatives that is most similar to JavaScript. Redux-like framework architecture is present in Elm.

Elm provides developers with clear functions, inputs, and outputs. For any given function input, users generate a predictable output. Code logic becomes simpler. Reactive programming support in Elm enables users to design user interfaces with functions.

Through user activity updates, they can produce a reactive cycle. For the production of HTML and CSS, Elm compiles code to JavaScript, allowing it to execute in browsers.

Languages used by Front-end developers

Frameworks Used by Front-end Developers

In order to support the development of front-end, there are numerous frameworks available in the market for Front-end Developers. The top frameworks used by Front-end developers are,

jQuery:

jQuery has been in existence since its creation in 2006, which was quite some time ago. Even though it is an older Framework, it is still frequently used and favored. A very straightforward Framework, jQuery is simple to master. The framework eliminates the need for lengthy JavaScript programs.

The positive aspect is that it is still in use and becoming better every day. The creation of jQuery Mobile has made it simple to create mobile applications, which was previously impossible. One of the most straightforward Frameworks available is jQuery.

One can utilize jQuery with minimal to no programming knowledge. It is still regarded as one of the top front-end frameworks because of this in 2022.

ReactJS:

ReactJS may easily take the top rank for the greatest Front-end Framework, given how simple it is to learn and how much money a ReactJS Front-end developer makes. React, now an open-source framework was first created by the Facebook team.

It was challenging to fix and maintain the code side of Facebook because it was new software that required frequent updates and changes. They were able to easily alter the code thanks to React. The Virtual Document Object Model (DOM) with extraordinary capabilities is what makes React special.

AngularJS:

Angular earns a slot on this list as the sole TypeScript-based front-end framework as of 2022. Google first made Angular available in 2010 under the name AngularJs.

In 2016, the now-famous version of the Framework (Angular 2+) was created and released to overcome the challenges that traditional Frameworks experienced. It is an open-source platform used to create user interfaces on the front end, much like ReactJS.

VueJS:

VueJs’ creators have merged the finest elements of the available front-end frameworks to create an easy-to-use framework. It is simple compared to Angular, making it simple to learn and utilize. Second, it features two-way binding, Visual DOM, and component-based development while being considerably less in size and similar to Angular.

VueJs makes it simple to create both dynamic and compact web apps. Despite its versatility, large-scale businesses have not yet taken to it. This is because the majority of significant businesses continue to rely on Angular for enterprise-based online applications. Alibaba, 9gag, and Xiaomi are a few businesses that utilize VueJs.

BackboneJS:

This framework, which is open-source and cost-free to use, was created by Jeremy Ashkenas in 2010. It is a well-liked and widely used frontend framework for building simple, one-page web applications.

It makes it simple for developers by keeping the functionality and UI of the program apart. It may also be used for larger projects that call for less code and better design.

This framework converts the data provided by the developer into models that are simple to make, check, and discard. To enable custom events and key-value binding, every time a UI action changes, an element of the model is also changed. For items with specific IDs, developers do not need to create different scripts.

Svelte:

Svelte, one of the most popular frameworks for frontend development, provides a user-friendly platform. It is a compiler that was released that year. Instead of posting in the browser, it compiles all the scripts into a single step. This makes it simpler and more in line with the application’s present state to change the document object model.

Semantic UI:

Semantic user interfaces are still very new to the market. It is recognized as one of the top Front-end web development frameworks. The success is attributable to the usefulness, simplicity, and intuitive user interface. It makes use of a straightforward coding language, making it simple for beginners to understand and use.

Its partnership with various third-party libraries and streamlined procedures for web and app development make it an excellent platform for development.

Libraries Used by Front-end Developers

A Front-end developer uses tons of libraries to ensure the perfect and desired development of the face of your business solution. The most popular and frequently used libraries are,

Bootstrap:

The Twitter team created the widely used framework and comprehensive UI package known as Bootstrap. It has all the tools necessary to create modal objects, normalize stylesheets, add JS plugins, and implement other functionalities. It could cut down on the amount of coding time needed to create your project.

SASS:

One of the most well-liked strategies for maximizing CSS is SASS. It is referred to as a CSS pre-processor. Its primary team has been working with it for the past 13 years, and every CSS version is fully compatible with it. Many frameworks have been created using SASS since it has received widespread recognition from the community and industry. They include Susy, Bourbon, and Compass, to name a few.

Redux:

The management of shared data becomes increasingly challenging as applications expand in size and breadth. Redux is described as a “predictable state container for JavaScript apps” that makes it easier to test and ensure that your apps function predictably. Redux may be used with any view library, but we’ll introduce it here before using it in conjunction with React in the following series of courses.

GSAP.js:

This is a JavaScript package used to build fast animations. A fast and highly accurate value updater, GSAP is an object property manipulator. Up to 20 times quicker than jQuery. Animation can be paused, sped up, slowed down, or smoothed out. It includes a ready-made collection of tools that enable cross-browser animation.

Owl Carousel:

This plugin is used to make sliders. It has simple slider breakpoint settings and is highly responsive. Along with that, it is nice on both the desktop and smartphone versions. Owl Carousel has a structure for modular plugins. As a result, you may remove plugins that are not required for the project or add new ones. Older browser versions are compatible with CSS2.

Barba.js:

A “one-page application” is created by this library. On each page, one component of the website is loaded. To put it another way, a page that doesn’t refresh. Nothing loads when you switch between tabs, giving the impression that you are on the same page. It feels like you are within the app.

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What is a Backend Developer?

A website’s user interface must have a visually appealing design. However, the UI of the website wouldn’t even be possible without the background program. That is a situation that tests the abilities of backend developers. On the server side, backend developers are employed.

As a contrast to frontend development, which concentrates on services and programs that are used by customers, backend development deals with the logic and integration of server-side web applications as well as tasks like designing APIs, building libraries, and interacting with system components.

Backend programmers write the code that enables database and application communication. The back end of a website, which consists of servers, databases, and apps, is handled by backend developers. The things you can’t see are under their control. They are unseen and unsung behind-the-scenes heroes.

Backend Developer Responsibilities

To hire Backend developers, you have to be aware of their roles and responsibilities. They have a very diverse set of responsibilities that encompasses coding to testing and maintenance. Let’s have a look at the top roles and responsibilities of a Backend Developer to understand their job role better,

  • Development and maintenance of web applications
  • Analyzing and writing the business logic
  • Develop a scalable architecture
  • Evaluating the speed and efficiency of present applications
  • Writing effective code
  • Control of hosting environments
  • QA inspection
  • Problem-solving and bug-fixing
  • Keeping up with emerging technology
  • Perform UI testing and performance optimization
  • Participate in the lifespan of the application
  • Create web apps with clean scripts that are sustainable
  • Support and train the other team members

Backend Developer Skills

All the Backend Developers must have some of the following basic skills that can aid in creating a perfect backend solution for any business.

  • Java, HTML5, CSS3, NodeJS, ES2015+, and jQuery knowledge
  • Combining databases and data sources into a single system
  • Authentication and authorization of users across many services and systems
  • Proficiency with JS, jQuery, ReactJS, VueJS, and AngularJS
  • Make your code readable and manageable
  • Recognising application compatibility and cross-platform capability
  • Knowledge of various databases like MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, Oracle, etc.
  • Version management tools like Git, CVS, or SVN
  • Understanding of REST and SOAP web services

Languages Used by Backend Developers

Programming languages are the base of development for any Backend Developer. Depending on the various factors such as expertise, type of application, and feature requirements, the Backend developers choose the backend programming language. Here are some of the most popular languages,

Java

Java is a well-liked language for programmers who wish to construct robust, large-scale online applications that need high levels of security to protect data.

It’s a flexible language that you may use to construct online, mobile, and desktop apps and tools with various digital platforms, such as computers and mobile devices.

Java operates on the Java Virtual System (JVM), which standardizes the computer on which programmers run code instead of enabling it to run on each programmer’s particular machine, which accounts for its adaptability and reliability.

C#

High-level languages like C# can readily run on many kinds of processors. This robust language is used by programmers in conjunction with frameworks like .NET to create the internal organization of websites and link client and server interactions for fully functional software.

C# and similar frameworks are dependable options for web and software development due to their adaptability and reliability.

Golang

Since Golang, frequently abbreviated as Go, is a static language that detects problems before the program is executed, it is simple to identify particular issues in your code before running the program. You can effectively create code for the back end of a piece of technology using its straightforward and useful syntax and scale it up or down as necessary.

Golang was developed by programmers to make web development simpler and more secure, so you can use this dependable language with confidence for your back-end development.

PHP

PHP, which stands for hypertext preprocessor, is a scripting language, which means that the code you write in it is read by the computer directly rather than being translated into machine-readable code by a compiler.

PHP’s deployment tools and capabilities make it simpler to submit and approve your code, which is best suited for server-side functionality.

PHP is beneficial in many different fields of development because HTML, a common front-end tool for developing online apps and pages, can contain PHP code.

Python

Python is a clear language with a simple syntax that makes it simple to comprehend and debug. It is an object-oriented language that focuses on manipulating things that hold data.

With the help of web development-specific tools and routines, Python programmers may utilize the open-source framework Django to build scalable, readily updated, or side-graded applications for the web more rapidly.

Python is a popular language choice for new programmers because it is simple to learn, accessible, and has a wealth of published materials available online for learners to use.

Ruby

Ruby on Rails (RoR), a framework designed especially for Ruby, is a programming language that you may use to construct and carry out tasks with less code.

Frameworks are frequently excellent tools for software architects, who use them to create code libraries, integrated tools, and unique functions that streamline the coding process as they lay the groundwork for an application or program.

For instance, you might utilize RoR with Ruby to construct a particular task for your product with just one line of code rather than several.

SQL

The term “SQL” refers to a computer language that employs queries, also known as data requests, to get information from databases. You may use SQL to get important server-side data from databases and utilize that data to carry out operations that ensure an application’s or program’s client-side functionality. This programming language is particularly helpful for getting information for clients or updating corporate databases.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a language that programmers frequently use for web development. Important qualities like a simple setup process and a helpful community of JavaScript specialists have made this language one that most websites rely on.

The straightforward scripting syntax and client-side validation capabilities of this language, which enable JavaScript applications to interface with browsers and validate data, are some of its benefits for back-end development.

Languages used by backend developer

Frameworks Used by Backend Developers

Backend developers use various frameworks based on the type of solution to be developed. The most popular frameworks used by backend developers are,

Django

A well-known open-source backend framework built on the Python programming language is called Django. Model view controller (MVC) is the pattern that it adheres to. One of the simplest backend frameworks, Django is appropriate for the creation of complex and feature-rich database-driven websites. One of the greatest backend web development frameworks is Django.

ASP.NET

In the tradition of ASP.NET, a popular backend developed in collaboration with the .NET Foundation, ASP.NET Core is an open-source and free framework. A modular framework called ASP.NET Core may be used with the entire .NET Framework on both Windows and .NET Core.

ExpressJS

Express.js, also referred to as Express, is an open-source web application framework for Node.js that is distributed under the MIT license. It is regarded as a typical Node.js server framework and is used for creating APIs and online applications. Along with the NoSQL database and the AngularJS frontend framework, Express is a part of the MEAN stack. One of the top web application development frameworks is Express.

Laravel

For creating Symfony-based web applications that adhere to the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, Lavarel is an open-source PHP web framework. It provides specialized dependency management and a modular packaging mechanism. One of the top web frameworks is Laravel, which some experts believe to be the best backend development tool.

Ruby on Rails

MIT-licensed Ruby on Rails usually referred to as Rails, is a framework for server-side web applications. Rails is an MVC framework that provides web pages, web services, and database default structures. One of the greatest web development frameworks is Ruby on Rails, which some programmers believe to be the best web framework for performance.

For data transfers and user interface, Ruby on Rails encourages the usage of web standards like XML or JSON as well as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML.

Flask

A tiny web framework built on Python called Flask doesn’t need specialized libraries or equipment. Form validation, a database abstraction layer, and other features that depend on external sources are absent from this backend.

Flask supports extensions that can add features in a way that makes it appear as though they were built into the framework itself.

Libraries Used by Backend Developers

Apart from the complete knowledge of various languages and frameworks, the Backend developers also have a grip on a few libraries that can help them in effective backend development. The most commonly used libraries are,

Bcrypt

The Bcrypt library is used by developers all around the world to hash user passwords. In addition to Python, it is also available in Golang, Javascript, Ruby, and other languages. A dependable technique for hashing passwords is provided by Bcrypt. One line of code may hash the password using Bcrypt.

Pillow

Digital image manipulation is made possible by the free and open-source Pillow module for the Python computer language. It has more than 7.9k ratings on Github and a huge range of people are always working to improve the library. One of the greatest and simplest libraries for offering powerful image processing skills.

Pyinstaller

Have you ever attempted to create an executable from your Python code? Guess what, this library provides you with that service. Typically, PyInstaller creates a single package that contains the Python program and all of its dependencies. The user may launch the packed program without installing a Python interpreter or any modules. This GitHub utility has more than 7.4k stars, making it a great addition to your Python toolbox.

TensorFlow

Every developer immediately thinks about TensorFlow when someone mentions machine learning. We can all agree on that, I’m sure. A free and open-source machine learning software library is called TensorFlow. Although it can be applied to many different tasks, deep neural network training and inference are given special attention. Sincerely, I don’t believe an introduction is necessary.

Both large organizations and new businesses use this library in a real-world setting. It is one of the top ML libraries available online, with more than 150k stars on Github.

Scrapy

Python is the programming language used to create the free and open-source web-crawling platform known as Scrapy. In large IT companies, it is the library that is most frequently used for web scraping. Additionally, it offers a mechanism to harvest data through data mining, monitoring, automated testing, or as a general-purpose web crawler employing APIs. On GitHub, it has more than 38.9k stars.

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Salary Comparison: Front end vs Back end Developer

There are various factors on which the salaries of Front-end developers and Backend developers rely. For instance, the experience of the developers, skills, expertise, type of business solution to be developed, and more. Also, it depends on various factors such as if you hire a Front-end team lead, or hire Backend team lead, then the salaries will definitely increase. From the data collected by Indeed, here are a few overall salary comparisons.

Front end Developer Salary

For entry-level developers, the salary starts at $59,747, and ranges up to $147,109 on average annually, for Front-end developers with more than 10 years of experience.

Backend Developer Salary

In the case of Backend Developers, the salary of entry-level developers starts from $67,000 and ranges up to $95,000 for highly experienced dedicated developers.

Front end vs Back end Developer: Key Differences

Now that you are familiar with almost everything you need to know about both Front-end and Backend Developers, let’s sketch out the key differences between them.

ParameterFront-end DeveloperBackend Developer
PhilosophyCreating amazing UXBuilding robust backend architecture
ToolsHTML, CSS, JavaScriptPHP, C#, MongoDB, Python
RenderingBrowser-sideServer-side
User dataCollects user dataProcesses user data
FocusAccessibility, UI, and SEOSecurity, Backup, and efficiency
StrengthArtistic, creative, visionarySystematic, logical, analytical
Metrics trackedGraphic render time, Crash rates, Page load time, Session duration, etc.HTTP call failure rates, Server response time, Database throughput, Load capacities, etc.
Average SalarySalary starts from $59,747Salary starts from $67,000
PrioritiesContent layout, UX, responsiveness, device compatibility, and image renderingAPI security, service orchestration, data integrity, integration management, and server responsiveness

Front-end vs Backend Development: Which One Should You Choose?

When you are creating any solution, whether it is for your business or personal agenda, you will definitely need both Front-end developers and Backend developers. As both front-end and backend development are complementary to each other and need each other’s support. Let’s see a few situations in which you can choose either of them or both,

Choose Front-end development

When you already have a robust backend system ready, and you just want to change the UI/UX of your system, Or, if you want to add new features and functionalities to the existing system, the Front-end developer can help you. But, adding or removing any functionality from the Front-end, will require assistance from the backend developers for smooth functioning.

Choose Backend development

When you already have a completely running front-end, and you want to solve any bugs in the backend or solve database errors or add a new database system completely, you can hire Backend Developers.

Wrapping up

When you are choosing between Front-end Developer and Backend Developer, it kind of becomes a dicey situation as both job roles are complementary to each other. The work of both Front-end and Backend developers is dependent on each other, and so you cannot choose either of them independently.

If you still want to know more about Front-end Developers and Backend Developers, our tech experts are always available, just share your requirements, and they will get back to you in no time.

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author
Bhoomi Ramanandi
AUTHOR

Bhoomi Ramanandi is a Content Writer who is working at OpenXcell. With an IT background and more than 7 years of experience in the writing field, she loves learning new technologies and creating useful content about them. She loves pens and paper as much as she loves pan and pepper. Give her the latest technology or any recipe, she is always up for it.

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