Web development is the process of building and maintaining websites through web design, web content development, network security, and coding. The very first website was created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991, sparking the lightning-fast development of the online world, virtual retail, and digital marketing. According to Forbes, seventy-one percent of businesses now have websites, making web development professionals indispensable for modern commerce.
Web developers typically choose one of the following specialties: front-end development, where they work on user-facing features; back-end development, where they work on data storage and security; or full-stack web development, which involves working on both front-end and back-end processes. They’re a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to anything web-related, utilizing technical programming skills, an innovative problem-solving mindset, and an understanding of user-friendly web design.
Working in web development has many benefits. Web developers can often work remotely and earn a competitive wage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a Web Developer is $77,200. And with web developers being in such high demand, there are plenty of career opportunities and the chance for career longevity. If you’re interested in studying web development but are unsure where to start, keep reading to learn more about becoming a Web Developer and the best training to help you land your dream job.
What Can You Do with Web Development Training?
Aside from its professional uses, web development training can also benefit you personally.
If you’re a talented musician, artist, or woodworker, or have another skill you want to share with the public, learning to create a website can help you share your work with the world. A personal website is more meaningful today because it allows you to showcase everything you do in one place such as your resume, acting reel, or latest photographs. You can create pages for your professional work, creative projects, and family outings to organize your content and improve the site’s functionality by streamlining navigation.
If you sell your work or merchandise for your brand, having a website is a good idea, too. Customers appreciate an online option even if you sell products in-person (like at markets or special events), and you can control traffic more easily than on social media. Instead of relying on sites like Etsy to host your store, which typically takes a portion of your proceeds, you can create your own online shop and keep the extra funds. It doesn’t have to be a full-fledged business, either. You can keep it as a side hustle, work a full-time job, and enjoy following your passions simultaneously.
What Will I Learn in a Web Development Class?
Web development is a vast and ever-expanding field. A web development class will cover fundamental skills such as managing data, designing websites, ethically hacking computer systems, and using advanced technology to enhance your employment potential.
The topics covered in a course will depend on the type of web development covered, whether front-end, back-end, or full-stack. Listed below are some of the top skills that you may learn in a web development training program, along with a brief description of the benefits of each skill.
Coding
There are three basic tools for front-end development: HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript. Back-end development involves additional tools such as PHP, Java, Ruby, C#, and Python. Being familiar with these programming languages will be essential to your success in web development.
Version Control
A version control system (VCS) manages and tracks changes to documents, files, and database coding. VCS allows developers to turn back the clock and compare earlier versions of the code to find and fix mistakes while minimizing disruption to other team members. Mastering VCS will help you quickly identify and solve problems within web development.
Responsive Design
In today’s mobile-focused age, designing a website that works on both desktop and mobile devices is key to its success. Responsive design allows websites to automatically adapt to the size of various screens, whether a cellphone, desktop, or tablet. Responsive design can improve user experience, increase mobile traffic, speed up website loading times, and improve SEO performance.
Libraries and Frameworks
Both libraries and frameworks are essential for web development. A framework provides a structure for the developer to work within, while the reusable portions of code stored in a library allow the developer more flexibility when determining the architecture of a website. Both are used to make development simple and efficient.
UX and UI Design
UX designers are responsible for project architecture tasks such as creating and evaluating user journeys based on data and insights. They also produce design deliverables to illustrate user experiences. UI designers focus more on the visual and interactive elements of web development. They gather and evaluate user requirements in collaboration with UX designers, product managers, and engineers, and design graphic user interface components like page navigation buttons and search fields. UX and UI work together to create the best user experience possible, so having a basic understanding of both will be extremely helpful in web development.
Testing and Debugging
Testing and debugging are two skills that go hand in hand in web development. Testing is the process of finding bugs and errors, while debugging is correcting or removing the found bugs and errors. Knowing how to test and debug will help you get back on track when software or programs fail to perform as expected.
SEO
If you’re creating and maintaining websites, you’re likely also responsible for ensuring the site ranks well in search engines. While web developers mostly deal with technical SEO (how search engine bots crawl and index a website), you may also handle on-page and off-page SEO to ensure a positive user experience. Web developers often need to know basic SEO-related topics: security, response codes, redirects, Robots.txt files, sitemaps, URLs, mobile-friendly design, site speed, heading tags, and dynamic content.
How Hard is It to Learn Web Development?
Web development is generally considered fairly easy to learn, in the sense that you don’t need extensive math or programming skills to begin. It’s important to have an eye for detail, and any prior experience with coding can make learning web development easier.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Web Development?
There are a variety of programming languages and coding tools that you’ll want to master for web development. If you’re entirely new to coding, this may seem overwhelming, but the good news is that once you’ve mastered one programming language, it can often help you become adept with others.
Precision and attention to detail can also be challenging to master. Computers are extremely precise machines, and the slightest deviation from what a computer expects means that code won’t compile, won’t run, or will crash. The more accurate you are with your code creation, the less testing and debugging you’ll have to do later on, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
These challenges aside, with the right amount of dedication and passion, anyone can learn to master web development.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Web Development?
Web development has become an increasingly popular field of study, in part thanks to how quickly you can learn the basics. On average, you can learn the skills needed to become a Web Developer in as little as 12 weeks, and this timeline can be shortened even further by attending a web development bootcamp that offers accelerated hands-on learning and targeted skills development.
The time it takes to learn web development will also depend on the type of course you attend. Most training programs are offered both full-time and part-time to accommodate a variety of schedules. Additionally, choosing the format that works best for you—whether in-person, live online, or on-demand—can impact how quickly you master web development.
Should I Learn Web Development in Person or Online?
There are several factors to consider when answering this question. The first factor you’ll want to consider is what learning environment is best suited for you. Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where you can interact with your peers and receive in-the-moment feedback from your instructor? Or, do you prefer a more solitary learning environment, perhaps one where you can learn at your own speed?
You’ll also want to consider how much time you can commit to your education and what level of flexibility your schedule requires. Are you looking to immerse yourself in an intensive program? Do you work full-time and need your classes to be scheduled for evening and weekend hours?
In-person classes offer face-to-face interaction with both your fellow students and your expert instructor. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed. Online courses may lack this in-person interaction, but they make up for it with increased flexibility. Live online classes still offer instant feedback from your instructor and interactions with other students, while on-demand virtual courses allow for the most flexibility since you can decide where and when you learn.
The good news is that, no matter which option you choose, you can obtain a quality education with a top-notch curriculum and expert instructors.
Can I Learn Web Development Free Online?
Technically, it is possible to learn web development for free online. YouTube videos, blogs, and free short workshops can all be a great way to learn the basics without investing financially. But when it comes to the more advanced skills, an in-depth training course is going to be your best option. These courses will contain a curriculum developed and taught by experts and offer you the chance to receive feedback or troubleshoot any issues with your instructor or a support team. Formal training can also provide the structure and accountability that some students need to stay focused, creating an environment where you’re more likely to succeed. So, if you’re looking to master more than just the basics, a formal course or class is a better choice than free online resources.
What Should I Learn Alongside Web Development?
There are several other fields of study you should consider learning either alongside your web development training or immediately after. UX and UI design are a great place to start for supplemental learning, as you’ll work closely with these professionals (or even teams of them) as a Web Developer. UX and UI are both important parts of web design and development, and they work together to create a visually appealing and functional website. UX/UI designers answer the big-picture questions, while web developers create solutions to bring the UX designs to life.
You should also consider learning how to use Adobe’s suite of products to help bring your websites to life. Web developers and web designers often use Adobe’s products to create the visual elements, layout, and back-end architecture of a website. Adding these tools to your skill set will improve your performance as a Web Developer.
Industries That Use Web Development
New Jersey is known for many things: its gardens, convenient proximity to New York City, and vibrant beaches in the summer. It’s also known for a variety of robust industries, each with a consistently high demand for web development experts. The top industries are outlined below to help you get an idea of the fields in which you could work as a coding professional.
Biopharmaceutical & Life Sciences
New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical and life sciences sector employed an impressive 76,510 people in 2020, accounting for 2.4 percent of the state’s private sector workers. The industry consists of three primary components: pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturing. New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical and life science employers paid over $14.1 billion in wages in 2020, showcasing both the robust growth and higher-than-average salaries that the industry provides.
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Transportation, distribution, and logistics average employment totaled 401,000 workers in New Jersey in 2020, and it’s no surprise why. Jersey boasts the largest port by value of goods shipped on the East Coast, and is ranked #1 for densest rail and #3 for densest road networks. The transportation and logistics sector accounts for close to 200,000 private sector jobs and $20 billion in GDP, contributing approximately $62.5 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.
Financial Services
The finance industry contributed almost $32 billion in 2020 to the economy. Even with a relatively small share of total employment, New Jersey’s finance sector accounted for approximately 6.6 percent of the gross state product and 2.6 percent of the entire nation’s GDP for this sector. Professionals in this industry can expect salaries substantially higher than the national average. The average annual wage for workers in the finance sector increased 19.4 percent to almost $138,000 between 2015 and 2020. Additionally, the 40 highest-paying occupations (60,000 workers) in the sector each earn a mean annual wage of more than $100,000.
Technology
Home to more than 10,000 technology companies, New Jersey is centrally located in the Northeast corridor and is the leader in high-speed internet connectivity. The state is a hub for emerging technology sectors including: cyber security; big data analytics; FinTech; artificial intelligence; communications; and digital health. In 2020, New Jersey’s technology sector accounted for 184,400 jobs and the annual average wage for the technology sector was $146,100, nearly double the statewide average ($74,100) for all industries.
Web Development Job Titles and Salaries
Working alongside designers, product managers, and project managers, web developers spend most of their time building and deploying products using programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Web development can often be a completely remote career, offering you the flexibility to live and work from wherever you choose.
There are currently an estimated 216,700 web developers and digital designers in the United States, and that number is projected to grow quickly, thanks to the position’s high demand. In fact, employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 16% between 2022 and 2032, substantially faster than the average for all other occupations.
Web development jobs can have various titles like Web Developer, Web Designer, front-end developer, Back-End Developer, and UI or UX Designer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, web developers have a median pay of $80,730. Your title can make a big difference regarding salary, with Forbes and several other online sources reporting that back-end developers often earn more than front-end developers.
Web Developer
As a Web Developer, your primary role is to create and maintain websites and web applications that are functional, user-friendly, and secure. From planning to coding, testing to debugging, web developers' sole focus is to create and maintain functional and engaging websites. In New Jersey, the base salary for a Web Developer is around $114,000, with the potential for much higher earnings with just a few years of experience under your belt.
Back-End Developer
A Back-End Developer creates and maintains the server-side of a website or application (the part of the site that users can't see). In this role, you will write code, design and maintain databases, and configure server settings. You will also integrate third-party services such as payment processors into the website. Back-end developers earn around $153,000 in New Jersey, well above the national average income.
Front-End Developer
Front-end developers create the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of websites and web applications. They often collaborate with other stakeholders such as back-end developers, designers, and product managers to understand project requirements and ensure that the project aligns with its goals and timeline. You can make around $93,000 as a front-end developer in New Jersey.
Full Stack Developer
A Full-Stack Developer is a jack-of-all-trades who can work on both the front-end and back-end of a website or application. They are responsible for the entire software lifecycle, from start to finish, and can often complete projects that would normally require multiple employees. As a Full-Stack Developer, you can make around $118,000 per year.
Web Development Classes Near Me
Software Engineering Bootcamp
If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in all things software engineering, then look no further than this online General Assembly bootcamp. This full-time course consists of 12 weeks of live coding instruction, one-on-one career coaching, and connections to top employers to help you get hired. You’ll learn the fundamental software engineering skills needed to build full-stack web applications: computer science frameworks, collaboration tools, and the programming languages modern employers demand. Throughout the course, you’ll apply essential object-oriented programming concepts, leverage JavaScript libraries like React, incorporate functionality from third-party APIs, and add complexity and nuance with Python, Django, and more.
Private loans, payment plans, tuition assistance, and scholarships may be available to help make this program more financially accessible. Tuition includes access to technical interview prep, including resume reviews, mock interviews, and whiteboarding practice. You’ll also have exclusive access to alumni discounts, networking events, and career workshops, and can connect with a professional network of instructors and peers. There are no prerequisites for this course, so whether you’re new to the field or looking to formalize your practice, you can gain fluency in the programming languages, frameworks, and libraries that modern employers demand.
Offered through Noble Desktop, this thorough certificate training teaches you how to program the visual appearance of a web application (the front-end) and the infrastructure that allows it to function (the back-end) to create complete webpages. Project-oriented, it will cover everything you need to know to code websites from scratch while building a portfolio of working web applications to showcase to potential employers.
Held live online, this course takes 17 weeks for full-time students and ten months for part-time students. This course includes 1:1 mentoring and one free retake. Financial assistance options (like installments and financing) are available for those in need. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of this training that can be added to your resume, cover letter, or online portfolio.
Offered by Noble Desktop, this online program is divided into front-end development, React development, and Django (Python) development. You will learn HTML to mark up webpages, CSS for styling, the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git, and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt webpage content to different-size screens. You’ll then move on to fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM manipulation. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.
By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.
Also offered by Noble Desktop, this three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, and then move on to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST.
It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate included with your purchase.
Web Development Corporate Training
If you’re looking to offer in-person or online training to your office or team, Noble Desktop can help. They offer a variety of corporate training programs, including in social media marketing. You can order vouchers in bulk at a discount, choose which courses are available to employees, and even let your employees choose their own schedule. Plus, you can choose to have your training hosted at a location of your choosing, live online, or at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan office.
With a top-notch customizable curriculum and instructors who are experts in their industries, Noble Desktop’s corporate training is designed to cater to your business or organization’s needs. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, you can reach out to Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com.
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