If there’s one job that’s easy to land without prior experience or education, it’s web development. You can start right now, and in a few weeks or months of study and practice, you’ll have a working understanding of how to develop a website.
The problem is knowing exactly where to start. Anyone can figure out how to write a simple line of HTML, but creating a functional website that people will use is more complex. The many rules of web development are also a bit more challenging.
If you’re looking for resources or want to know more about the job you’re joining, we’ve rounded up the best online learning platforms, tools for web development, and all the information you need to get started right here and show you step by step. step by step how to become a web developer
What is a web developer?
A website can have anywhere from a single person to a whole team behind it, but at a minimum, you need a web developer. These people write the code that makes a website work and be visible on the Internet.
The main task of a web developer is to write code, which is a set of commands and instructions written in a particular programming language. Code makes up everything in the online world, from your computer’s operating system to the backend of a website you visit.
Take a look at the Wikipedia home page and imagine what it would take to create such a simple website. A web developer configured the layout of this page, from the sidebar to the tables to the top bar. They had to set up scripts to grab ads from featured articles and request dynamic content from the site.
A database stores these articles and their reviews, also set up by a developer.
It takes a lot of work, but it all comes together piece by piece to create a functional website.
With the exponential rise of the Internet, programmers are in high demand and have a great job outlook. Everybody wants to have their website and web developers are here to help them create it.
What does a web developer do?
Wondering what exactly your daily tasks are? Here is the general job description of a web developer:
- Use code to create websites and prototypes
- Design a visually appealing design for a website (either from scratch or with the help of a web designer)
- Keep websites up and running by cleaning up code and debugging
- Create a database using SQL
- Work with clients to decide the scope of the project and discover the fine details of the website features and design.
There are dozens of ways you can specialize, which will change your job description a bit. For example, you may choose to work on frontend or backend technologies, or you may become a sysadmin responsible for keeping servers running.
But, in general, these are the most basic tasks you will be responsible for.
Why become a web developer?
While it may not be for everyone, web development has a low barrier to entry and is one of the most accessible jobs you can do. Despite this, it pays reasonably well and web developers are always in demand.
That’s not to say the job isn’t often challenging, but the fundamentals are self-taught very quickly (and many developers like a challenge!).
Breaking into the ever-growing tech industry is always a good long-term option. If you’re willing and able to stick with popular coding languages, and in web development, there’s always a hot new language that employers are scrambling to hire for, you’re almost guaranteed a steady job.
Finally, web development is a flexible job. Your career can be dedicated to freelance work or in a company with a salary. The tasks you perform and the skills or languages you focus on are up to you.
You’ll need to try coding before you can tell if it’s right for you, but if you put in the effort to try coding for beginners and find that it makes sense, then you can be a good web developer.
Web developer salary and demand
If you’re considering becoming a web developer, it’s good to know what kind of salary you can expect and how easy it will be to get a job.
You can check out our reviews on the average web developer salary, as well as PHP developers and WordPress developers.
But the consensus is that the average developer earns between $60,000 and $75,000 a year.
Of course, pay will depend on your level of experience, the languages and technologies you pursue, and whether you’re self-employed or have a steady job. But it’s a reasonable estimate to start with.
As for demand, the US Bureau of Labor predicts that the demand for web designers and developers will grow 8% between 2019 and 29. For reference, that’s double what it’s projected to grow most occupations on average.
Statistics from the US Bureau of Labor on increases in job opportunities for web developers
Some web developer jobs are more competitive than others; Frontend developer positions, which are much easier to acquire, may well pay less and be more laborious to find a job, but the prospects are still outstanding.
How difficult is it to become a web developer?
Web development is one of the easiest jobs to do, if you can learn to code. Not all jobs are for everyone, and there will be those who have difficulty understanding the code.
For some people, becoming a web developer will be a piece of cake. For others, it may never click on you. But for most people, a little dedication and a lot of practice will go a long way.
The process of becoming a web developer is much less complicated than other jobs, and there are more paths available to get you on the right track. It is also a much more flexible and varied job with many different specializations. So whatever your learning style or abilities, there’s something for you.
Mastering web development will require continual work and dedication, and it is challenging work that requires problem-solving skills. It’s easy to learn the basics, but expect to run into frustrating but solvable issues along the way.
Web development requirements
Curious about what you’ll need to become a web developer? The exact requirements depend on where you specialize. For example, a backend developer should generally create and edit a database, but cannot expect the same from a frontend developer.
Also, the programming languages and frameworks you know will distinguish you as a specific type of developer.
Still, here are some skills and knowledge you’ll need, regardless of your specialization, before you can call yourself a web developer:
- Proficiency in at least one web language. Depending on your role, you will probably need to learn more.
- Knowledge in other related skills (web frameworks, libraries, Git, etc.).
- Troubleshooting skills required to work with code and debug it.
- Attentive to details to prevent mistakes from occurring in the first place.
- Communication and team skills are essential when working with other developers, clients, designers and raters.
- A degree of independence and being able to solve problems on their own.
- Self-motivated learning is another skill needed for success.
- Familiarity with popular web development tools is valuable.
Do you need a degree to become a web developer?
Many jobs require applicants to have an associate’s degree in computer science or a similar field. Other positions may require a bachelor’s degree or simply a certification from an online course.
However, a college degree is not strictly necessary to get a job. Experience and a well-rounded portfolio are often much more valuable. More and more job offers skip the requirement of a degree and choose to request a proof of experience.
Because this is a highly technical field with plenty of room for self-study, it’s more important that you know how to do the job than it is to be certified to do it. That said, a title will make it easier from the start.
Self-taught developers can find it difficult to land their first job without experience or a degree. You may first need to fill out your portfolio with DIY projects or hire a freelancer to build a work history.
If you don’t want a formal college degree, online certifications like those offered by coding bootcamps may be a suitable replacement.
Types of web developers
Web development is a highly specialized career. Rarely will you find a person who describes themselves simply as a “web developer”. Depending on what you do, what part of the website you focus on, and what technologies you work with, you can choose from a wide range of job titles.
Front End Developer: A popular choice as the skills are easy to acquire, front end/client side developers work on the front end website. The languages of choice are HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Bootstrap and jQuery are also popular technologies.
Backend developer: These developers work with technologies such as the server and the database. No backend developer is the same, as there are dozens of backend programming languages. Common options are Java, Ruby, PHP, Python, and MySQL.
Full Stack Developer: A combination of frontend and backend developers. They know enough languages to function on both the server and client sides.
These are the top three, but you can further specialize by becoming a web engineer, security expert, WordPress developer, mobile web developer, web app developer, and more.
Steps to become a web developer
You can take several paths to becoming a web developer, and your own experience will present unique challenges. But in general, most web development careers follow a similar pattern.
First, you must choose how you will learn to develop. Will you go to college? What type of degree are you studying? An associate’s or bachelor’s degree related in some way to computer science is best.
If you’re not going to college, will you try to get certified? Certification or not, will you take a free or paid online course? Or are you going to do your best to learn for yourself using only online resources?
Once you’ve decided that, you’ll need to choose a specialization (frontend, backend, full-stack, etc.). You can put this off while you experiment with different aspects of web development, but you should choose before continuing with limited study.
Next, what programming languages and technologies do you want to learn?
This may all come in a different order. You can choose to specialize or go in already knowing which languages you want to learn and then select a course accordingly.
Once you’ve picked up some web development skills, you should have a few projects under your belt for your portfolio. Hands-on experience will also give you a better idea of what to expect on a real job. Set up your first server and design a website for yourself. A few small projects will get you on the right track.
With the knowledge you need and a great starter portfolio, you’ll be ready for your first job.
The best web development learning resources
Ready to try web development for yourself? We’ve compiled over a dozen great resources to get you started. Whether you choose to learn on your own or learn online, this is the place to start. And for those going to college, they’re great additions to your courses.
1. StackOverflow
The first rule of thumb for being a developer is to use StackOverflow. Every developer knows that this is the place to go when stuck on a project. Your question has probably been asked and answered. If not, the community of experienced professionals is eager to help.
While this is not strictly a learning resource for beginners, it will be there for you every step of the way.
2. W3Schools
W3Schools is an excellent resource for beginners that will guide you through the basics of various web languages and standards. It is very easy to understand, even if you are not used to coding.
3. Codecademy
If you need a beginner course that offers more than a dozen languages and technologies, Codecademy is the place to go. Better yet, most of the content is free. While there are premium features, the courses themselves are completely available for free.
4. Udemy
Do you need more advanced courses or more specific skills? Udemy could be the right site for you. There are thousands of courses conducted by professional instructors, and some even allow you to become accredited.
5. GitHub Learning Lab
Git can be very difficult to understand if you don’t have prior technical knowledge. It’s easy once you get the hang of it, but crossing that first hurdle can be tricky. The GitHub Learning Lab guides you through a simple, fun, and interactive tutorial.
6. FreeCodeCamp
Want to learn to code and get certified while you’re at it? Unlike Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp is 100% free due to being a non-profit organization. Each certification path is estimated to take around 300 hours, and you can choose from a variety of different skills to learn.
7. Team Treehouse
Treehouse is a helpful resource for beginners that aims to teach you web development and other fundamentals from scratch. The video-based learning platform also includes interactive challenges. Although it is a premium service, it is a great starting point for developers.
8. Coursera
Coursera has a unique advantage over other learning platforms: you can use it to earn both certification and full college degrees from technical colleges. It may be cheaper than enrolling in college, but you’ll learn much of the same content and work with the same professors as college students.
As Coursera offers both accredited and non-accredited courses, make sure you know what you’re getting into if you want to earn a legitimate college degree.
Find a web developer job
Once you’ve taken a course and created a winning portfolio, it’s time to step up and land a job as a web developer.
If you have chosen to work for a company in a salaried position, the next step is simple: start applying! You can find job openings in your local newspaper or on online sites like Google Careers and Indeed.
What if you’ve chosen to be self-employed? Your first step should be to create a website that will serve as your online portfolio. But customers won’t come to you; you will need to communicate.
Sites like Upwork can be a good starting point when you need to make a little money, but the pay is rarely high.
Networking is the best way to get clients. Get involved in open source projects that can introduce you to people who can help you get paid work. Advertise your business whenever you can. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for a job.
Whether you’re self-employed or looking for a traditional job, you can also check out web development job boards.
Summary
Web development is a great option for people who love to try new skills and are ready to take control of their learning. These web development resources are everything you need to get started, and many of them will continue to help you as you become a more proficient developer and that’s basically how to become a web developer.
And if you’re looking for a growing, innovative technology company, you’re in luck! Since Phluit is looking for web developers
Do you have any other tips for becoming a web developer? Share them with us in the comments section!
