Introduction

If you’re new to the world of Software Development, terms like Front end and Back end might be a bit confusing to you. On top of that, terms like JavaScript, Dart and React add further to the ambiguity. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we will be explaining the basics of Front end and Back end Web Development, their functioning and differences.

Web development is the process of building websites and applications and focuses on coding and ensuring that a website functions well. It’s essentially the usability aspect of websites and apps.

Front end and Back end development are the 2 different types of web development. Front end and Back end developers work in cohesion to create the systems necessary for an application or website to function properly. However, they have an opposite scope of work.

What is Front end Development?

Frontend is something that a user can see, interact and experience. It majorly involves programming or coding the parts of the website and applications that are visible to the user. The person who develops the front end is known as a Front End Developer.

The work of a Front End Developer is to build on the User Interface and User Experience designs which are the key elements of bringing design to life. Essential skills of a Front End Developer include knowing programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS whose details will follow later.

What Features of a Website are a part of Front end?

The frontend is everything a user sees and interacts with when they click on a link or type in a web address. The web address is also known as a URL, and it tells what webpage should load and appear in your browser.

The frontend is anything and everything visual that a user comes in contact with. It's all the parts with which they directly interact. It's all the content and styles. It's the buttons and the different hover effects before a user clicks on a link. It's the contact forms with various input fields, the search boxes and the dropdown menus.

The layouts, text, and colors. It's the images and videos. It is also how fast the website loads, how easy it is to navigate through it, and how accessible it is to people with disabilities. It's how usable and responsive it is on a variety of different devices and browsers. Essentially, the frontend is all the parts of a web application that create the look and feel of it.

Other Functionalities of Front end

Server Side Rendering: Is a method of displaying information on the webpage’s screen. It is an application's ability to display the web-page on the server rather than rendering it in the user’s browser.

Client Side Rendering: CSR allows front end developers to render the entire website on the browser of the user locally using JavaScript. 

Optimization: Refining the HTML, CSS, JavaScript in such a way that the website easily displays on search engines and loads fast for the user.

Why having a Visually Appealing Front End is Important

The frontend translates someone's idea and vision into a screen page available for the world to witness.

This idea needs to be represented in the right way and be visually appealing, which will determine how others perceive your idea.

An organization with a site that is not so user friendly, difficult to navigate through, isn’t visually appealing, and does not represent its products nicely, will be losing out on potential customers.

The website’s lack of usability, the unpleasant user experience, and poor web page layout will add to the user’s frustration and they will most likely never return to the website again. Therefore, a front end developer has to be extremely proficient in his work.

What are the main Front end Languages?

HTML: Hypertext Markup Language, also known as HTML, is used to structure the front end of web pages by combining Hypertext and Markup language. Hypertext is a text that is used to reference other pieces of text i.e. serve as a link between two web pages. The markup language defines the text documentation within the tag which defines the structure of web pages.

JavaScript: Often abbreviated as JS, JavaScript is an advanced programming language that makes websites more engaging and dynamic. While HTML is a standard markup language to build the primary structure of web pages, JavaScript adds web-based software and dynamic content to increase the visual appeal of the website.

CSS: Cascading Style Sheets also known as CSS is a language for describing the layout, format, colors and fonts of web pages. Moreover, CSS is independent of HTML and can be used with any XML(Extensible Markup Language)

Dart: Dart is an Open-source programming language developed by Google for designing the front end of web and mobile applications, as part of the Flutter Framework. Dart is known for developing fast apps and is the most effective language for developing cross platform applications.

What is Backend Development?

The back-end is responsible for receiving requests from a client. It processes the incoming request and makes sure it fetches the appropriate data associated with the correct user.

Then, it sends a response back to the client. The necessary user data is presented nicely visually, with frontend code created by a frontend developer, to the right user that has access to it.

Backend is the server-side of the website that makes sure everything on the client-side of the website works fine. It is responsible for storing and arranging user data. It is the portion of the website that is not visible to you nor can you interact with it. Backend makes sure that everything is working optimally. 

Backend developers continually monitor the site and make updates by focusing on Scripting, database and architecture. Other activities included in backend development are writing APIs, creating librariesThe parts  developed by backend designers are indirectly accessed by users through a front-end application.

Main Features of Back end

Databases: It stores all the application’s data and information so that it can be easily retrieved. 

Website Architecture: It involves planning and creating the technical, functional and visual aspects needed in the application.

Scripting: Consists of a series of commands given by the user that are interpreted at run-time. 

API: Application Programming Interface (API’s) are tools that serve as a messenger by helping deliver your request to the provider and returning the required data to you.

What are some Popular Backend Languages?

PHP: PHP is a free and popular server-side scripting language for dynamic web development. PHP can be embedded into HTML which eases the process of adding more functions to web pages.

C++: It is a general-purpose programming language and widely used for developing operating systems, games and browsers. It also serves as a backend language.

Java: Java is one of the most popular and widely used programming languages and platforms. It is highly scalable. Java components are easily available.

Python: Python is a programming language that lets you work quickly and integrate systems more efficiently.

JavaScript: JavaScript can be used as both front and back end language. Java is usually used in projects involving mobile computing, desktop computing and games.