Demystifying Web Coding

If you’ve done even the shallowest dive down the tech rabbit hole, you’ve probably seen the title “Web Developer.” But what does that really mean? And how does it differ from other roles like front end, back end, and full stack developers? This article helps demystify what web coding is, and how it can help you build your career in the world of tech.

A Web Developer takes the designs and plans created by web designers (a separate, yet related role) and uses code to make them come to life on the screen of a user’s phone, tablet, or computer. They are THE cornerstone of all things tech, and knowing their skills can be a game-changer for anyone looking to transition to a career in software development.

As such, Web Developers need a strong grasp of multiple programming languages and technologies. Some common ones include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL. While specific duties vary by job, all Web Developers should have an advanced understanding of these programming languages and libraries.

The first step in building a website is to create a basic HTML document. It’s important to use a raw text editor rather than a formatted word processor, as these programs often insert characters that aren’t valid HTML. The file name should also be clean, with only letters and numbers. Avoid using underscores or dashes, as well as percent signs, slashes, question marks, exclamation points, or commas. These special characters can interfere with a browser’s ability to properly locate the file.

Once you’ve created your HTML document, you can start adding the basic tags needed to format the text on your page. These should always be followed by a closing tag. For example, the /p> tag signals to the browser that there’s an end to the line of text. Without the closing tag, the browser may continue to display the next line of text, or it may insert a paragraph break where one isn’t necessary.

CSS is another powerful tool that can take a plain HTML document and turn it into something much more visually appealing. It’s a way to control how a web page is displayed, and can be used to create complex layouts with different types of content.

JavaScript is a powerful language that allows Web Developers to create interactive experiences on their websites. It’s a way for them to add animation, create a scrolling element, or make the entire site responsive. It’s a great choice for Web Developers who want to expand their skill set and add more complexity to their sites.

Lastly, SQL is the database language that Web Developers use to store, retrieve, and update information in a website’s database. It’s a common tool for building data-driven applications, and is a requirement for many modern web apps. A solid understanding of SQL can allow you to build and scale robust applications that can run on any device and deliver personalized content based on a user’s preferences.