What is front-end and back-end computer programming?

Front-end development involves working with code that produces the elements that users can see and interact with; it’s all about how a website looks and feels.

Back-end web developers make sure the website works as it should do, and the code they write is normally invisible to users. Back-end web developers work with databases that store information such as customer details, and servers which are where databases (virtually) live.

Both front-end and back-end computer programming jobs are creative in their own ways, but front-end developers often need to have a visual eye so they can judge what will work best for site users.

Basic examples of front-end development include that pretty-looking font on your favorite web page, or that slider on the homepage of a news site, or even the dropdown menu where you can choose your preferred option. Everything from the color scheme to the layout to the positioning to the typography is a front-end developer’s responsibility.

The three main languages front-end developers need to know are:

HTML

Javascript

CSS

The below is an example of some basic HTML coding that has determined the positioning of an image, text bolding, and bullet points.

You might also hear about other elements, such as Bootstrap, AngularJS, and EmberJS, which control how content looks on different devices such as smartphones and tablets. A front-end developer often works with user experience and user interface specialists to make sure the way the website looks, feels, and works is best for users.

On the other hand, common back-end languages include:

PHP

Ruby

Python

.NET

Below is an example of some basic Python code that is telling the computer that I want it to print the phrases (or strings) “hello” and “Karen McCandless” (my name).

To get a better understanding of when you might interact with front-end or back-end code, think about when you’re making a purchase on Amazon. When you’re searching, filtering, and going through the process of buying a product, you’ll be interacting with a front-end developer’s work. But the smooth running of functionality such as recommendations, or when you enter your payment details, is the work of a back-end developer.

Some web developers know both front-end and back-end programming languages. They are normally referred to as full-stack developers.