Frontend Developer

As the web space and technology in general continue to evolve, the role of frontend developers becomes more relevant. In the end, providing a web version of an application has quite a lot of benefits, making it the obvious version (unless there is a specific requirement forcing for native development) for most systems, meaning that frontend developers have the potential to be involved in all types of projects and companies.

This renders the frontend developer career one of the most versatile and in-demand paths in the web tech industry.

If you’re looking to prepare for a frontend developer interview, make sure you’ve tackled the fundamentals of the technologies you’ll work with.

And while that is one of the most impactful things you can do for your frontend career, consider focusing on the following points as well:

1. Master the Fundamentals: Ensure a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as they are crucial for the role of frontend developer.

2. Practice Coding: Improve your skills through mini-projects or coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode, especially those focused on front-end development.

3. Learn Modern Frameworks: Familiarize yourself with popular frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.

4. Know Your Tools: Be comfortable with version control systems, testing, and build tools, which are vital for all types of development, including frontend.

5. Understand UI/UX Principles: Learn about accessibility, responsive design, and intuitive interfaces to stand out.

6. Research the Company: Show interest by learning about the company’s business and products.

7. Enhance Communication Skills: Good communication skills are essential for success in any role, so make sure to work on them.

The main difference between frontend development and backend development is that frontend development focuses on the UI, while backend development focuses more on the server-side logic.

You see, frontend development works with the user interface and user experience, dealing with the design, layout, and interactivity of a website or application using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or TypeScript).

On the other hand, backend development handles the server-side logic, databases, and application functionality, ensuring data is processed and served correctly. The tech stack for backend development is much bigger with more options, such as Python, Java, or Node.js.

Both options are equally interesting and challenging, so it’s not really a question of backend vs frontend, but instead of understanding where you feel more comfortable and what type of systems you enjoy creating.

Front-end developers are also known as front-end engineers, front-end web developers, JavaScript Developers, HTML/CSS Developer, front-end web designers, and front-end web architects.

Each of these roles mostly encompasses the same front-end development skills but requires different levels of expertise in different front-end development skills. It's better to look at the job description to get an idea about the job requirements.

You can become a frontend developer by starting with learning HTML and CSS. Don't wait to fully master these and start building simple projects as soon as possible. You could try rebuilding the frontend of your favorite websites using HTML and CSS to start with. Do as many of these projects as possible as you keep learning. Once you are somewhat comfortable with HTML and CSS, start learning some basic JavaScript (DOM manipulation, making backend calls with Fetch or Axios, etc) and learn how to add interactivity to your websites. While you are at it, learn some basics of Git and GitHub. At this point, you should be able to get an entry-level frontend development job. Keep revisiting this roadmap and try to fill the gaps in your knowledge.

The amount of time it takes to become a frontend developer can vary depending on several factors, such as your learning pace, previous experience, and the amount of time you are able to dedicate to learning.

However, to give you a rough idea, if you are a complete beginner, it could take you anywhere from 3 to 6 months to get a job as an entry-level frontend developer. If you are already familiar with some of the frontend technologies, it could take you anywhere from 1 to 3 months. What's important is to practice as much as you can while you are learning i.e., by building as many projects as you can. You should also participate in online communities and ask for feedback from more experienced developers to accelerate your learning process.

Frontend developer salaries can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and company size. According to data from Glassdoor, the average base salary for a frontend developer in the United States is around $80,000 per year. However, this number can vary greatly depending on location, with the highest-paying cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, and New York having an average salary of $110,000 to $130,000.

It's important to keep in mind that these are just averages, and salaries can vary greatly depending on factors such as experience level, specific skills, and the company you work for. With more experience and specific skills, you can expect to earn more.

It is worth looking at a range of resources, including salary surveys and job boards, to get a general understanding of the current market in your location and experience level. Also, try reaching out to other professionals in the field and understanding their experience and salary ranges.

This roadmap contains everything that you might encounter while working as a Frontend Developer. You may not need everything listed on this roadmap to get into the industry; every job is different, and most of the jobs will require a subset of the items on the roadmap. However, knowing what you don't know is as important as knowing things, so you can use this roadmap to get an idea of what you are missing as well.

If you are a beginner who is just getting started, don't feel overwhelmed by looking at this roadmap. Look at the answer to the FAQ 'How to become a Frontend Developer?