The Various Shades of The Job Profile Of Web Developer

6th Aug 2015

With the recent advancement in web technology, the role of web development courses for beginners is gaining prominence. Nearly a third of the IT job posted is for web developers. They are effectively designing e-commerce sites as well as websites that directly influence online business and revenue sales. There are different cool add-ons available for popular web browsers, like Chrome and Firefox that help design as well as develop professional websites.

Now, that brings us to the next question, who are web developers, and what did they do?

To get the answer, read through this entire blog. This comprehensive post will also make you realise whether choosing the job profile of web developer is good for you.

There is more to this post! You also learn about the required skills for web development, types of web developers, salary prospects, and what you need to do to become a web developer.

If you are someone who has just graduated or a professional struggling in your present job with no clue where to head for a successful career, web development is a rewarding choice for you.

With the demand for website development consistently growing, you will have a flourishing career with immense learning opportunities. Take a read.

Who is a Web Developer?

A web developer is an IT professional responsible for building websites and web applications and maintaining them, which users can access easily through the internet. They use various tools, such as design elements, code, layouts, etc., to develop the websites and ensure they work flawlessly.

In technical terms, a web developer specialises in developing websites and web applications that operate on the World Wide Web or widespread network applications that run on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or other protocols from a web server. Web developers need to learn a range of programming languages, including HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor), Java, JS (JavaScript), React, Python, Angular, etc.

The web developer’s responsibilities vary according to the types of websites built – general informational websites, business websites, eCommerce websites, gaming sites, functional web apps, and online portals.

Different types of websites have different functions and requirements. That is why the job of a web developer demands a variety of skills and practical knowledge, which is hard for anyone to gain by self-learning. Therefore to make a career in the booming field of web development, the first step is to acquire web developer skills and qualifications with the help of a reliable IT training academy.

Essential Skills Required To Become A Web Developer

The job profile of the web developer demands widespread skills and requirements. To become a successful web developer, first, understand the responsibilities the job entails and eventually work hard to cultivate the skills needed to fulfil them.

The skills you need to acquire to kick-start your career as a web developer are the following.

1. Programming languages

Core programming skills are very much in demand for web developers all across the globe. You need to develop an understanding of strong fundamental programming languages, such as HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Java, Python, and PHP.

You need to take lessons to learn these through a complete website developer course, offline or online. Getting familiar with the top programming languages is the first essential skill you need as a web developer. It enables you to write applications and solve problems by segregating them into some logical steps, known as algorithms.

2. Web applications

These core skills of web developers include .Net, C#, and Java, which are efficient for developing web applications. A strong understanding of these languages is useful for developing scalable and functional web applications. These apps work by streaming data in real-time for various functions like online transactions.

Web developer skills are useful for developing and managing on-demand applications right for the web. Moreover, web developers need to update themselves with the latest backend programming skills to build applications with better security, functionality, and security.

3. Database systems

Web developers use databases to store, save, and organise information. They build structures for the data, write questions for collecting specific information, and keep the data safe.

Usually, all modern websites and applications function based on robust database systems and deliver responses to user input. To build your career in web development, you also need to skills for working with database systems.

4. Analytical tools

To become a professional web developer, you have to learn web and network analytics tools. It is essential to perceive user behaviour and make informed decisions.

Deep learning of essential analytics tools will help you analyse website traffic, user engagement, bounce rate, user feedback, etc. All these insights are essential for developers to make important decisions for improving the performance of websites.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) process

SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is an integral process that ensures the visibility of the website on search engine results. It is the responsibility of web developers to build websites keeping in mind the SEO aspect.

When you have an understanding and skills in SEO you can enhance the website’s position in Google and other search engines.

6. Problem diagnosis and solving skills

Web development is a complex process, and so is the role or job profile of web developers! Not just technical skills, you need to have skills for problem-solving. If you enrol for a web developer course with a job guarantee, you will find yourself solving problems every day with each assignment. That’s the importance of problem-solving in web development.

A professional developer identifies problems and their root causes, find effective solutions and takes possible actions. Great problem-solving skills are essential for dealing with complex challenges that can come while developing a website or application.

7. Hosting skills

Every website needs hosting, which ensures its performance and security. So, if you are going to become a web developer, hosting is one of the basic skills to acquire.

You need to develop an understanding of various hosting options, including shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and VPS hosting. After developing the website, you also need to know which one is appropriate for your website. You also need to know about Google Cloud, AWS, and other popular hosting service providers.

8. User experience and interface

One should be well aware of the standards implemented by all browsers. They take care of the fact that your website works reasonably well on various important browsers. All consider how the browsers effectively render the site in various operating systems.

User experience and interface skills are important because it helps a web developer to ensure a website in various places other than popular browsers like screen readers and mobiles. This makes user interface and user interface vital skills for web development. While UX design is the blueprint of a digital project, UI design is like decorating the inside.

9. Skills for Mobiles

The world of smartphones is fast developing with the increase in various mobile applications for the benefit of the user. In the world of mobile space, iOS app development, objective C skills, and Android development are some of the most desirable skills, which are looked after in any professional web developer.

Additionally, an Android app development course can be a great way to learn how to create engaging mobile apps for the Android platform, used by millions of people around the world.

10. A degree in computer science

Lastly, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science to become eligible for the job profile of a web developer. The degree prepares you with basic knowledge and theoretical concepts of the technical or IT domain. That is why a B.Sc. degree in computer science is one of the primary skills for a web developer.

Needless to say, the job of a web developer is extremely diverse with lots of skills and techniques making the profession one of the most sought-after today.

What Does The Job Role Of A Web Developer Entail?

As we said earlier, the job of a website developer is to build and maintain websites. But what does the job profile of a web developer comprises?

From leveraging various programming languages to integrating functionalities into the website and optimising its look and feel, there are many things to take care of!

Let’s define the roles and responsibilities of web developers specifically.

Website Design

Web developers need to work as a team with designers to structure and design the website as per the client’s requirements. They need to overlook every aspect of design to ensure the website comes up visually appealing while being navigation friendly and functional.

As a web developer, you need a grip on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS languages. Using these, they need to convert design mockups into web pages.

Front-end Development

There are two aspects of website development, client-side and server-side. Front-end implies the client side of web development, which involves the development of interactive user interfaces, creating responsive designs, and ensuring browser compatibility.

To deliver the tasks of front-end development, you again need to use HTML, CSS, and Javascript languages.

Back-end Development

The backend or server-side development of the website entails vital tasks that ensure the proper functioning of the website. Developers specializing in backend development will take care of the foundational structure, functionalities, and usability features. They ensure that the website or web application properly functions to deliver the desired results to the users and businesses.

The backend development skills of web developers include learning server-side languages such as PHP, Python, Node.js, Ruby, etc. Secondly, they need to manage databases and work on server-side configurations.

Database Management

The database management task is one of the most complex sides of website development. It involves working with a database that helps in storing, retrieving, organising, and manipulating data essential for the proper functioning of the website.

Your role as a web developer includes designing the data schemas, optimising them for website functionality, writing queries, and ensuring advanced data security.

Web Application Development

One of the basic roles of a web developer profile is developing web applications that deliver high-end functionalities and features. Web applications help businesses cater to specific tasks or develop fruitful interactions with customers.

If you want to become a web developer specialising in the area of web applications, you need to learn how to develop interactive components. You can do that using technologies like Ajax and APIs and frameworks using Angular JS and React JS.

Testing and Debugging

Testing the website or web application for bugs and then debugging it is a fundamental web development skill. Once the website or web application is built, you need to test the code for identifying and fixing bugs or errors.

If there are bugs, you have to fix them using appropriate debugging tools. Testing and debugging is a prerequisite stage of web development that ensures web application functions across different browsers and devices flawlessly.

Optimisation and Performance

The performance of a website solely depends on the build and design of the website. Some steps should be carefully taken to increase the performance of the website.

Properly implementing caching if required. That is the reason why it is important to use and understand HTTP caching properly as well as HTML5Manifest.
It is again necessary to optimize images. Never use an image with a size of 20 KB for repeating the background.
It is very important to learn to gzip or deflate content properly.
It is important to combine various stylesheets to reduce the number of browser connections and improve gzip ability to compress effective duplication right between the files.
Make use of Bing Webmaster Tools and Google Webmaster Tools.

Applying optimisation techniques like these is a must to enhance the speed and scalability of the website.

Collaboration

Web developers’ roles and responsibilities also extend to collaborating with designers, clients, and stakeholders. They also collaborate with other developers to use control systems like Git and GitHub for managing code repositories and keeping track of the modifications happening on the website.

Maintenance and updates

Lastly, you are also responsible for updating the website and ensuring it remains functional and delivers the desired results to the users. You should maintain the security of the website time-to-time with security patches.

Other essential tasks for website maintenance, include checking for bugs, fixing them, updating software, undergoing design changes, and implementing modern features.

What Are The Different Types of Web Developers?

As we said there are different shades of the job profile of a web developer, it’s time to unravel them one by one. Typically, it depends on the skills of web development you specialise in. According to the skills discussed, they are six types of web developers.

Front-end developer

A front-end developer works on the client-side aspect and is accountable for creating all the user-facing elements of the website, such as design, navigation, content, clicks, or call-to-action (CTAs). These are necessary to make the user experience smooth and perfect.

To become a front-end developer, learn and develop an in-depth understanding of the HTML, CSS, and Javascript languages. These help in designing and integrating the user interaction components into the website.

Back-end developer

If you have a knack for handling the server-side aspect of web development, become a backend developer. To do the backend development, you need to learn Python, PHP, or Javascript, which are popular languages for server-side programming.

The job role of a backend developer involves utilising databases and managing web servers, both are essential for storing, retrieving and processing data.

Full-stack developer

A full-stack developer is one with skills in both front-end and back-end development. In other words, they should have an understanding of both the client-side and server-side development of the website.

This certainly means you need a comprehensive skillset to become an expert full-stack developer to work simultaneously on the backend and frontend development. You have to learn a combination of languages, including HTML and Javascript, as well as Python and PHP.

UI/UX developer

A UI/UX developer is primarily responsible for developing intuitive and impressive user interfaces of the website or web application. This is a vital aspect of professional web development, which ensures that the website or application provides a seamless user experience to visitors. A UI/UX developer collaborates with the designers to create user-friendly functionalities and experiences in the website from the wireframes and prototypes.

Ensuring better UI and UX for a website ensures that the business gets more visitors converted into customers. So being a highly skilled UI/UX developer, you can contribute to increasing sales and online business success.

Mobile web developer

Getting into the profession of web development as a mobile web developer will need you to work on web applications that work on smartphones and tablets. Such web applications are referred to as cross-platform applications that work both on web browsers and mobile devices.

If you are a mobile web developer, learn the frameworks like React Native and Xamarin. Knowledge of native app development tools like Swift, Kotlin or Java is also necessary for the role.

WordPress developer

WordPress is the most widely used CMS or Content Management System for website development. The developers specialising in this particular CMS must have the capability to leverage its functionalities and customise it to build a stunning website.

To build a career as a WordPress developer, you also need knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP apart from a solid understanding of the WordPress platform and its themes and plugins.

Learn About Web Developer Roles and Responsibilities In Brief

Now that you know the skillset requirements for a web developer, here, in brief, are the roles and responsibilities involved in the job profile of a web developer.

Creating and maintaining websites and website applications of all types for businesses and individuals.
Working with the team of website designers to bring the proposed website design to life.
Using various programming languages, content management systems, integrations, and media to develop a highly scalable, functional, and secure website or application.
Collaborating with other developers to resolve issues, prioritising functionalities in the website, and optimising its performance.
Updating the website from time to time for better performance and enhanced level of security.
Setting test routines to ensure the website performs effectively on all devices and browsers.
Updating yourself with the latest web applications, programming languages, and web development practices through training and workshops.
Backing up websites or web applications to the local directories for safe and quick recovery.
Identifying problems that visitors or customers provide in the feedback after using the website and working to rectify them.
Ensuring the coding practices meet industry standards and are eligible to build websites compatible with different browsers and operating systems.

Web Developer Salary Prospects

The salary or pay scale of an IT web developer job profile varies, just like any other industry. It usually depends on the knowledge levels, skillsets, and industry experience of the candidate.

If you are fresher, just do not go for the salary but seek employment in a reputed IT company to gain experience and know-how. The opportunities for better salaries will keep flowing in once you have the right skillsets, experience, and confidence to work on any web development project.

On average, the web developer’s salary as a fresher is around 3.0 lakhs to 4.5 lakhs per annum. This means the salary of a mid-level experienced professional is somewhere between 5 to 10 lakhs per annum. And a senior developer with skills in team management has a pay scale of more than 10 lakhs per annum.

Step-by-Step Guide On How To Become A Web Developer

A web developer job description pinpoints the roles and responsibilities you need to deliver to create and maintain a website with certain technical skills. It also outlines the specific websites or project types that you need to handle in your job role, tools and technologies to learn, and expectations to meet for the clients.

So, the next question that comes to your mind after learning about web developer job requirements and responsibilities is how to become one. Here are the elementary steps explained for anyone who wants to know how to be a web developer.

Get a degree in Computer Science or Technical Domain

Being a core technical field, the first requirement to become a web developer is acquiring a Bachelor’s degree in Technology (B.Tech) or a Computer Science (B.Sc). This ensures you have foundational knowledge and a basic understanding of programming languages, websites, and applications.

For the degree, apply for the main entrance exams like JEE Mains or JEE Advanced after completing your Higher Secondary exam. Qualifying for the entrance exam will allow you to study in a top engineering college or an institute like IIT or NIT. Once you complete the graduation and get a degree, it will open up avenues for you to pursue a career in the IT sector.

Industry Certifications

To become a professional web developer, having a bachelor’s degree is only the first eligibility criterion. You now have to undertake an industry certification or IT certification course to become knowledgeable in the particular domain i.e., web development.

Pursuing an industry certification also prepares you for the challenging web developer interview questions. The certification course in web development will make you aware of the major updates and latest technologies in the industry. Up-to-date knowledge of the industry is a priority requirement of the recruiters.

Web Development Languages and Frameworks

To secure your job in the web development profile, make sure to learn the key web development languages and frameworks. This is also one of the quintessential web developer requirements!

Knowing elementary languages like C, C++, and Java to trending web development languages like Javascript, React, Python, and PHP is necessary. Different projects demand the use of different languages. The more languages you learn, the better it is.

However, initially, emphasise learning one web development language since they are complex. Once you completely grip a language, it becomes easy to learn others and enhance your skills.

Work On Projects

Having practical knowledge of the languages is as important as learning them. Start working on projects to get an idea of what a web developer does. While building your projects and working on them, you will come across many new challenges that never came up while learning the course. That helps you gain practical knowledge and expertise and realise your potential as a web developer.

If you feel that you do not have enough potential or lack the expertise to handle projects in real-time, you can upskill and gradually make yourself ready for the job profile.

Internships

Lastly, attempt to get yourself acquainted with the various types of web projects, industry demand, technology trends, etc., by going for an internship. Many IT companies, including MNCs, offer internships to aspiring students and professionals and open up plenty of brilliant job opportunities for them.

Some companies even offer permanent employment with a handsome salary after completion of the internship if they find the candidate has great knowledge and capabilities. Internships also allow you to work on complex real-world projects of business and hone your skills for a brighter future.

Why You Should Prefer Webskitters Academy For Web Development Courses?

The job profile of a web developer demands you be theoretically and practically skilled so that you can work on a diverse range of web projects. Graduating with a degree in B.Tech or Computer Science is the first step. Then you must pursue a web development course from a reliable IT training institute that fully trains and prepares you to become an expert web developer with a job guarantee.

Webskitters Academy is the top IT training institute in Kolkata, which paved the way to a successful career in web development for many students and aspiring professionals. If you have just passed out graduation and want to make an earning out of the potential field of web development, here’s why Webskitters Academy is the best choice.

1. Highly-experienced mentors/instructors:

We have a team of experienced mentors and instructors having adequate experience in the web development processes and challenges. They have an inherent ability to teach complex concepts and help students grab them.

2. Comprehensive course content and curriculum:

As one of the most reputed IT training institutes in Kolkata, we offer comprehensive and up-to-date course content for students. We ensure that our courses cover all vital aspects of web development i.e., technologies and framework, and also catch up with the latest industry trends.

3. Practical learning or hands-on experience:

We ensure to offer trending web development courses with a job guarantee. That is why each of our courses includes hands-on experience on projects. We make our students work on simple to complex web projects and get acquainted with real-world scenarios. This prepares them fully for the job profile of a web developer.

4. 100% guarantee of job placement:

Being a top IT training academy, we have grown our networks and connections with 200+ IT companies and MNCs in the country. We ensure to get you placed in one of the top companies once the course of web development is complete.

5. Positive reviews and incredible recognitions:

We are perhaps one of the very few institutes in Kolkata that has successfully trained and placed 3000+ students. Due to our extensive professional courses, best industry experts, and latest infrastructure, we are considered the “Best Training Institute” today.

Kick-Start Your Career With The Help Of Webskitters Academy Trainers!

Websites or web applications are at the core of businesses today! They are vital for escalating the business’s presence online, which eventually helps them grow conversions and sales. However, getting a website that looks good and functions well isn’t as easy as it seems. There is a lot of work involved, starting from creating a web design, analysing features, and developing user interfaces to finally, constructing a website.

All these intricate tasks make the job of web developers highly demanding today with businesses from around the world seeking their services. No doubt, this makes the job profile of web developers lucrative with the potential to earn lakhs.

If you are aspiring to be an IT professional and have no clue how to get started, we at Webskitters Academy will guide you. Our expert mentors or instructors have got your back! They provide relevant courses along with scopes to work on real-time projects for practical experiences. We also offer flexible learning modes, i.e., both offline and online web developer courses for students. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch today with our academy and kick-start your journey toward a dream IT job!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does a Web Developer do?

The job of a web developer entails creating and maintaining websites and web applications. They work with a range of programming languages, frameworks, and technologies to develop functional websites and applications. It is also the responsibility of a web developer to ensure that the website or application works smoothly across different devices.

Web developers are also responsible for handling tasks like designing user interfaces, SEO-friendly, writing code for interactive features, hosting, and optimizing websites for speed and performance. Overall, their role is to make the visual and functional aspects of websites happen.

2. What are the duties and responsibilities of a web developer?

The primary responsibilities of a web developer include creating websites or web applications, ensuring desired functionalities with coding, making them look good, and optimising their performance for their users. They simultaneously work and collaborate with web designers who create user-friendly interfaces (UI and UX) for the websites or applications. The UI and UX ensure the website or web app works smoothly on different devices and browsers.

Web developers are also responsible for testing the websites, identifying errors or bugs, and debugging the website. It is necessary to ensure that the website is running smoothly before handing it over to the clients. Alongside this, they work with different databases needed to store, organise, and retrieve data. Web developers stay updated with web development trends and technologies. It helps them to continuously enhance the functionalities and user experience of the websites, and make them relevant to the market.

3. What makes a good web developer?

A good web developer is considered one with strong skills in basic programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They also should have an in-depth understanding of various web development frameworks and tools, which make them capable of developing responsive, secure, and interactive websites.

Other essential skills that you need to be a good web developer are problem-solving abilities, confidence, attention to detail, and eagerness to learn. These help to solve challenges they encounter while coding regularly. Lastly, you should have effective communication skills to properly collaborate with designers and clients to ensure the final project delivery aligns with expectations.

4. Who does a Web Developer work with?

Web developers need to work with designers, specifically UI and UX designers. They create and manage the designs of the websites. Web developers collaborate with them to ensure the conversion of the wireframes and prototypes into actual web pages with user-friendly navigation. Many times, they also have to work with the marketing team and other developers to optimise the website performance.

5. What is a web developer?

A web developer is a trained professional accountable for conceptualising, building, and maintaining websites and web applications. They have to learn programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and use them for developing the visual and functional aspects of websites.

Web developers also work simultaneously with UI and UX designers to ensure a seamless user experience. They collaborate with other teams to optimize the functionalities and performance of websites. Problem-solving skills, attention to detail, a knack for learning, and staying up-to-date with the industry are some of the characteristic traits you require to be a successful web developer.

6. What are the roles and skills of a web developer?

A web developer role encompasses concept creation and construction of websites, implementing interactive features and functionalities using programming languages, and ensuring user-friendly interfaces with UI and UX designers. They also work to optimize website performance, integrate SEO-friendly aspects, additional plugin implementations, troubleshoot technical issues, and work with databases.

The necessary skills you need to shape your career as an IT web developer are strong coding skills, proficiency in relevant web development frameworks and tools, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication. You also should stay updated with evolving technologies and trends in the web development industry to build modern and efficient solutions.

7. What type of job is a web developer?

The job of a web developer is a completely technical job, which needs learning programming languages and great coding skills. Apart from that, you need to have basic soft skills like effective communication, collaboration abilities, fast-learning capabilities, and problem-solving in this job.

8. Who is eligible to be a web developer?

Anyone is eligible to be a web developer who has a degree in B.Tech or Computer Science. While this is a minimal qualification for the job profile of a web developer, the person must also undertake web development courses from an IT training institute to start working as a professional.

9. Does a web developer need coding skills?

Yes, a web developer needs coding skills along with technical learning and soft skills like problem-solving and communication.

I hope this blog will help you to know the The various shades of the skills of a web developer. Share it with your friends colleagues. If you want to read more such informative blogs here is a list for you:

Ayan Sarkar

Ayan Sarkar is one of the youngest entrepreneurs of India. Possessing the talent of creative designing and development, Ayan is also interested in innovative technologies and believes in compiling them together to build unique digital solutions. He has worked as a consultant for various companies and has proved to be a value-added asset for each of them. With years of experience in web development, product managing and building domains for customers, he currently holds the position of the CTO in Webskitters Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd.