Best Web Development Classes Philadelphia, PA: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About Philadelphia Web Development Courses

Web development is a broad term for the art and science of creating, building, and maintaining websites. Considering the enormity of the digital landscape and society’s reliance upon it in the twenty-first century, it will come as no surprise that developers and other professionals working in the field are in high demand today. Web development professionals can hold various titles such as Full Stack Architect, Front-end Developer, Back-end Developer, or positions reflecting experience like Junior Developer and Senior Developer.

As you may expect, many of these titles reflect different responsibilities and areas of specialization that may fall under the umbrella of web development. A Front-end Developer will focus specifically on creating and managing the client-side elements of a website with tools like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Meanwhile, a Back-end Developer’s responsibilities include databases, frameworks, back-end coding, and debugging of the server-side of a website. Finally, Full Stack Developers are qualified to perform the duties of both Front-End Developers and Back-end Developers, managing every step of creating and maintaining a website.

What Can You Do with Web Development Training?

Web development training is essential for those who wish to work in positions such as Front-End Developer, Back-End Developer, or Full-Stack Developer. If you want to build or maintain websites, web development training is what you need to help you meet your goals. With mastery of web development skills like HTML and CSS, you’ll be able to work in front-end development, while knowing the server-side language, databases, and frameworks will arm you to work in back-end development. Web development training can help you land a job in any of these fields or build a freelance career as a Web Developer.

You may also wish to study web development to support a career in another field or for personal use. Artists, writers, and other creatives who need online portfolios to secure clients and jobs may learn web development to build and maintain their own websites displaying their work. Food bloggers, street fashion photographers, and many other web-based hobbyists will find web development skills helpful in helping them bring their visions to life. Solopreneurs and nonprofit founders can also use web development skills early in their ventures so they can build a strong web presence for their organization.

Web development training is also invaluable for those who are passionate about accessibility. Skills in web development allow you to create websites and applications that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability. Web development training can empower you to implement features like screen reader compatibility, color contrast for those with visual impairment, and clear and concise navigation. By understanding accessibility best practices, you can make your corner of the web more inclusive for all.

What Will I Learn in a Web Development Class?

Web development classes may cover several different skills, depending on whether they are full-stack, front-end, or even focused exclusively on a specific language or tool of the trade. Below is a list of skills you’ll learn in full-stack and other web development classes with a broad focus. These include front-end development tools, back-end development and databases, responsive design, version control with Git, and problem-solving, though this is by no means a comprehensive list of the topics that will be covered in your web development training. Meanwhile, you will also find web development courses on each of these skills individually, or even components of these skills such as HTML and CSS.

Front-end Development Tools

Unless a web development class focuses primarily on back-end development, you can count on front-end development tools to form a significant component of the curriculum. These tools include HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, three languages with three very different functions in the front-end development workflow. HTML is a markup language used in web development to define content and layout, CSS is a style sheet language that controls a website’s visuals, and JavaScript is a programming language developers use to create animated and interactive content. Front-End Developers work exclusively with HTML, CSS, and other front-end development tools and skills, as do other positions that focus on the user’s experience of a website or application.

Back-end Development and Databases

Back-end development and databases are important components of web development. A comprehensive web development curriculum, or one that focuses on back-end or complete stack skills, will typically include Node.js, a runtime environment that allows developers to use JavaScript in their server-side coding. MongoDB is also commonly taught as a useful NoSQL database for back-end data storage. These and other back-end databases and tools are essential for building the core functionalities of a web application that go unseen by users. From data storage and manipulation to server-side logic and communication with the front-end, back-end development forms the backbone of a web application.

Responsive Design

Full stack and front-end development classes will arm students with the responsive design skills essential for building websites for various screen sizes and resolutions. Developers rely on tools such as CSS Flexbox and CSS Grid to make flexible design an easy process. Web development curricula commonly include these two tools along with Bootstrap, a CSS framework featuring prewritten code for responsive design programming. These tools offer a flexible approach to website layout, allowing elements to resize and rearrange automatically based on available screen space. Mastering responsive design will enable developers to create websites that are not only visually appealing but also accessible and user-friendly.

Version Control with Git

Many web development class curricula delve into the topic of version control, an essential component of the development workflow. Version control allows developers to have a revision history for their code. Git is the most popular version control system in the field today, thanks to the usefulness of its system of commits and branches. This system allows developers to track changes made to their projects throughout the development process, enabling effective collaboration, reversion to a previous version of code if needed, and a streamlined method of recording the history of a project’s development.

Problem-Solving

While web development classes cultivate various technical skills, they also sharpen problem-solving abilities. Problem-solving skills are vital for the developer’s toolkit, ensuring efficient and effective coding even when difficulties arise in the process. Throughout their web development coursework, students encounter various challenges, from bugs in code to unexpected design roadblocks. Over time, students will hone their creative problem-solving abilities so that finding solutions to issues like these becomes second nature. Web Developers confident in problem-solving are flexible and resilient, which are vital traits in their daily work.

How Hard is It to Learn Web Development?

The difficulty of learning web development depends on several factors and varies from person to person. One key thing to consider is your personal definition of learning web development. Suppose your goal is to become familiar enough with HTML and CSS to be able to feel more in control of a personal WordPress website. In that case, your learning journey will be considerably more straightforward than if you wish to learn to master a full-stack web development toolkit. Becoming an expert in web development can be a challenging process, though any background in learning a programming language or other tech skills will make the process easier than it would be for a complete beginner. Web development learners should generally anticipate a steep learning curve, but it is surmountable with a positive mindset and hard work.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Web Development?

Learning a single component of web development such as HTML or JavaScript can take some effort but is very doable with time and practice. On the other hand, mastering a complete web development toolkit comes with a unique set of challenges, considering the number of skills involved. Learning multiple programming languages simultaneously can be overwhelming for some, while others may grasp them naturally. Coding bugs and errors can cause frustration along the way but lead to impressive problem-solving skills when they are overcome. Many find the constantly evolving tools and frequent updates to best practices in the field to be the most challenging aspect of the field. Still, with enough dedication, aspiring web developers can master the art of web development.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Web Development?

Suppose your goal in learning web development is to gain a beginner’s level of comfort experimenting with HTML, CSS, or even JavaScript. In that case, a short but intensive bootcamp should be sufficient for your needs. However, mastery of full-stack web development can take many months of study in a certificate program. Previous experience in learning related tools or skills can make the learning journey a little faster, though the pace and quality of the web development training program you choose will ultimately determine the speed of your learning journey.

Should I Learn Web Development in Person or Online?

Deciding whether an in-person or online web development class is best for you can be overwhelming, especially when you’re uncertain about the advantages and disadvantages of the options. Firstly, it’s essential to recognize that neither choice is objectively better. Both may be great options for you, or one may stand out as the best choice for you based on personal factors. In-person courses echo most individuals’ schooling experience, meeting with a live instructor and peers in a brick-and-mortar classroom or computer lab. Many in-person classes provide any equipment you may require in your educational experience, though others may require you to bring your own device to class. In-person courses provide a learning community, motivation, and accountability in the form of a set schedule and deadlines. Disadvantages include potentially inconvenient commutes and a menu of course choices limited by your geographic location.

Live online web development classes allow you to expand your educational options when it comes to scope, curriculum, instructor, and school. Like in-person courses, live online classes follow a set schedule, only meeting in an online teleconferencing classroom rather than an in-person one. A live instructor leads each class and is available for discussion or to answer your questions as they arrive in real-time. Live online courses allow you to skip the hassle of a commute while keeping the accountability of a schedule and deadlines to keep you motivated in your learning journey. As convenient as live online classes may be, some may simply prefer the experience of learning web design in an in-person classroom and find the commute a helpful ritual in their educational experience.

Asynchronous online classes are a third option that could be the preferred choice for some web development learners. Like live online classes, asynchronous courses can be completed in their entirety on your own device from the comfort of your home. Also known as on-demand or self-paced classes, asynchronous courses allow you to fit your web development training into an already demanding schedule, as any lectures are prerecorded. You can begin an asynchronous web development class at the most convenient time for you and complete it at the pace that works for you. Some people find this idea appealing, but the lack of a set schedule and community can make sticking to a learning journey challenging for many. Additionally, a live instructor is invaluable when learning a subject as vast and challenging as web development, and an asynchronous educational experience lacks this major perk of live online and in-person classes.

Can I Learn Web Development Free Online?

Several free resources are available to support you in your web development training. YouTube videos, communities, forums, and online tutorials are a few options for learners who would like free supplementary resources or peers to connect to as they master HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web development tools. Noble Desktop, the provider of this tool, offers many free online seminars on various topics, including web development. While some may be able to make significant progress with these tutorials and videos, piecing these options into a comprehensive web development training program is a very difficult, if not impossible, task. Mastering a professional skill like web development cannot be accomplished for free and requires investment in a high-quality educational program.

What Should I Learn Alongside Web Development?

Learning the tools of web design along with those of web development can significantly elevate your skill set and open doors to exciting new career opportunities. Mastery of graphic design principles and best practices can be especially beneficial if you plan to work as a Front-end Developer or a Full Stack Developer. Knowledge of concepts like color theory, typography, and balance can allow you to communicate more easily with the web designers on your team, work independently as a full-service freelancer, or work visual appeal and increased user experience satisfaction into your front-end coding. Pairing design and development knowledge can help you build a career around your exceptional ability to create websites that are as user-friendly and aesthetically appealing as they are functional.

If you’re interested in users’ experience of the websites you build, you may wish to study UX design, as well. Tools like Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch can enable you to create user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that will allow you to plot and plan your website from the user’s point of view. These tools, combined with knowledge of UX design principles, can allow you to be a Web Developer with a reputation for building user-centered websites with optimized user engagement. Web design, graphic design, and UX design tools, principles, and techniques can all contribute to a Web Developer building a standout portfolio and quality projects throughout their career.

Industries That Use Web Development

Web development is relevant across virtually every industry in the twenty-first century because every business needs to build and maintain a web presence. Many of these websites are built by professionals in the web design and development services industry, either in agencies, studios, or independently. Philadelphia’s financial services industry often employs web developers in-house to attend to its extensive website and application needs, as does the city’s extensive bioscience industry. Meanwhile, Philly’s higher education sector works with a combination of in-house, agencies, and freelancers to develop and maintain their websites and applications.

Web Design and Development Services

Arguably, all web development professionals work in the web design and development sector, though many work in-house for businesses in various industries. However, many web developers work for studios and agencies that provide development and design services for various organizations. Featuring teams of Front-End Developers, Back-end Developers, Full Stack Developers, and designers of various stripes, web development and design agencies offer a one-stop shop for businesses seeking comprehensive solutions for their websites. Some web developers prefer to work independently, offering their services to clients on their own terms.

Thanks to the ubiquitous need for web development in industries around the world, web design and development sectors tend to thrive in cities as large as Philadelphia. Clutch.co catalogs nearly 700 web development and design agencies in the metropolitan area. According to the April 2024 CompTIA Tech Jobs Report, Philadelphia boasted over 3,600 tech job postings in March 2024 alone.

Financial Services

The financial services sector covers a broad range of businesses such as banks, insurance companies, FinTech companies, investment agencies, and payment processing companies. As one of Philadelphia’s key industries, the city’s financial services industry includes businesses representing all of these subsectors. Every company within this dynamic ecosystem requires extensive website development and maintenance, and many provide applications to effectively serve their client’s needs.

Many Philadelphia-based financial companies like Vanguard, Lincoln Financial, and FS Investments employ their own in-house web development team to maintain their extensive web presence needs and keep their applications up-to-date. The city’s thriving population of FinTech startups has a high need for web developers to build their products, as well. However, financial services may sometimes need to employ freelance developers or enlist the help of web development agencies to meet tight deadlines or fill gaps in specialized knowledge around design, security, or other areas in which they may need assistance.

Bioscience and Biotech

The bioscience industry has several subsectors, including bioinformatics, botany, zoology, human biology, genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry. Meanwhile, biotechnology harnesses research in all these fields, partnering biology and technology to create products that change or even save lives. Philadelphia is recognized as a world leader in biosciences, especially cell and gene therapy. Between 60 cell and gene therapy development companies and numerous research labs and organizations, almost 10,000 Philadelphians work in this subsector.

Bioscience and biotech both heavily rely on web development professionals. From proprietary applications designed to manage data internally to web-based biotech products, web developers have ample opportunities to support these industries. Additionally, bioscience and biotech industries have similar needs to those of other sectors in maintaining websites that effectively communicate with potential clients, consumers, donors, and other peers within the industry. With such extensive web development needs, developers often work in-house for bioscience companies. Several web development companies in Philadelphia offer specialized biotech website services for companies and projects that either prefer not to employ an in-house development team or have highly specialized needs best served by an external agency.

Education

With over 100 higher education institutions, the Greater Philadelphia region offers a wide variety of jobs in the industry. University City alone employs 12% of Philadelphia’s workforce. With each of these colleges, universities, and training centers needing a web presence serving students, prospective students, faculty, staff, alums, and donors, web development is a significant component of the educational landscape. Larger universities tend to employ an in-house web development team to maintain their website, while smaller schools may rely on agencies and freelancers to meet their web development needs or supplement them.

Philadelphia’s several research universities often require especially sophisticated web development services. Frequent website updates, data visualization features, and interactive tools allow for dynamic sharing of research findings. Top-notch web development can also support collaboration between faculty and students across disciplines and is vital for attracting competitive students and eager donors.

Web Development Job Titles and Salaries

The web development field offers a variety of career paths to choose from. Web Developer is a common job title with a broad scope that will naturally overlap with that of other development positions. Full-Stack Developer is a very similar career path with arguably the most extensive range of responsibilities. Those who prefer to work exclusively in front-end or back-end development have career options in Front-End Developer and Back-End Developer positions, respectively.

Web Developer

Web Developer is the broadest of job titles in web development. Companies use the term to describe positions responsible for building, troubleshooting, and maintaining webpages with various coding languages. The title frequently describes positions with full-stack development responsibilities but may also describe developers primarily expected to work in back-end or front-end development. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Philadelphia is the ninth top-paying metropolitan area for web developers in the U.S. Average annual Web Developer salaries in Philadelphia fall marginally higher than the U.S. average of $79,000.

Full-Stack Developer

Full-Stack Developer is a common job title in the web development field that describes a position with responsibilities including both front-end and back-end development. Full-Stack Developers must know HTML, CSS, and other front-end tools as well as back-end development tools like frameworks and databases. Each job will require its specific tech stacks, so the more tools an aspiring Full-Stack Developer knows, the more desirable a job candidate they will be. Full-Stack Developers may also need to learn other skills such as object-oriented programming and project management to accomplish their day-to-day tasks. Philadelphia Full Stack Developers can expect salaries close to the national average of $127,000, reflecting their extensive list of responsibilities.

Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers work exclusively on the client-side of websites. In addition to building the front ends of dynamic new websites, Front-End Developers also update websites to keep up with current design trends and technology and build wireframe prototypes. Front-End Developers often have considerable freedom in choosing their preferred workflow and techniques. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are essential skills for front-end development, though version control with Git, JavaScript libraries, and other tools are also vital qualifications for aspiring Front-End Developers. The average salary for Philadelphia Front-End Developers is around $96,000, somewhat lower than the U.S. average.

Back-End Developer

Back-End Developer is an alternative web development career path for those who prefer to work on server-side development. Their responsibilities include APIs, web services, debugging, front-end integration, testing, and troubleshooting their work or other server-side components of a preexisting website. Back-End Developers need to know coding languages like Java, Python, PHP, and Ruby, along with Git, cloud infrastructure, and automation integration. Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and other front-end development tools is helpful, but Back-End Developers won’t need to use these regularly. Back-End Developers make average salaries comparable to the U.S. average of $116,000.

Web Development Classes Near Me

Since 1990, Noble Desktop has been a top coding and design school in New York City. Today, its high-quality tech training programs are available in-person in Manhattan and live online for students in Philadelphia and throughout the world. You can attend their live online Full-Stack Web Development Certificate from the comfort of your home in Philadelphia and receive the same educational experience as students in New York City. Noble’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate is one of the most extensive programs offered by the school, featuring a ten-module curriculum providing a comprehensive education in front-end and back-end web development. You have the option of enjoying the 420 hours of hands-on instruction on a full-time or part-time schedule and to retake the program for free within a year of your start date. Tuition may be paid on an 18-month financing plan and covers ten one-on-one mentoring sessions you can use as career support, Noble’s proprietary workbooks, supplemental materials, and a verified digital certificate of completion. By the end of the program, you’ll have advanced knowledge of HTML and CSS, JavaScript, React, Git, and either WordPress or Git, depending on which of the two bonus modules you decide to attend for no additional charge. You’ll be ready to land your first job in web development by the time you complete this certificate program and have the professional-quality portfolio necessary to show off your skills to potential employers.

Noble Desktop provides several other web development certificate programs such as a live online Front-End Web Development Certificate that is also available in-person in NYC. This certificate program features many of the same perks as Noble’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate, including payment plan options, the choice between a part-time or full-time schedule, and the option to retake the program for free within a year. However, Noble’s Front-end Web Development program is considerably shorter than its full-stack one, featuring seven units, 108 hours of instruction, and six one-on-one mentorship sessions suitable for career support. As a student in Noble’s front-end development certificate program, you will attend two modules on HTML and CSS and a module each on JavaScript for Front-end, Front-end Tools & Portfolio, WordPress, and HTML Email. An additional module covers Flexbox, Grid, & Bootstrap. Upon graduation from this web development class, you will receive a NY State-licensed certificate of completion and have a portfolio ready to assist you in landing your dream job in front-end web development.

Certstaffix Training is a business and computer skill school offering corporate onsite and live online training on a wide variety of different topics. Students in Philadelphia can attend Certstaffix courses—including HTML5 & Cascading Style Sheets 3—from home or another preferred location. Certstaffix maintains computer labs across the country for students who would benefit from attending class from a location away from home. Students in Philadelphia have access to a Certstaffix computer lab in Malvern, a suburb west of the city. HTML5 & Cascading Style Sheets 3 is a hands-on short course on the essentials of the two languages suitable for anyone on a web development learning journey ready to get their feet wet in HTML and CSS.

JavaScript Programming is another live online short course provided by Certstaffix Training and taught by a remote instructor. This class covers the foundational concepts of JavaScript, making it an appropriate next step following the mastery of HTML5 and CSS3 or for preparing to learn React or another JavaScript framework. Students can retake the intermediate web development course within six months of their start date and will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the final class. Prior to attending this class, prospective students should have experience in HTML. CSS and other programming experience is also recommended but not required. Students are welcome to participate in the course from Certstaffix’s Malvern computer lab.

As the only public and open-admission educational institution in the city, Community College of Philadelphia is an establishment recognized for the number of lives changed by the education it provides. CCP offers programming at four campuses throughout the city, including its Web Development I Proficiency Certificate. This short-term 18-credit program provides students with a proficiency certificate upon graduation. This certificate verifies that students have gained enough knowledge of the essentials of web development to be hired for their first entry-level job in the field. Students will graduate with a proficient understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Database Management Systems.

Community College of Philadelphia also provides a Web Development II—Cloud Computing Proficiency Certificate for students who complete the Web Development I Proficiency Certificate and desire to add a deeper understanding of running and managing cloud applications to their toolbox as a developer. Students will expand their knowledge of database management and basic programming while also learning how to operate cloud services, manage web server infrastructure, and other skills for web management. Students will attend classes on Linux, Unix, webpage design, advanced JavaScript, and other topics for a total of 17 credits.

For more than 40 years, ONLC Training Centers has provided IT training in various applications, languages, and other topics. Today, ONLC offers classes live online, on-demand, and in-person at training centers across the U.S. Students in Philadelphia can attend ONLC courses such as HTML5 and CSS Content Authoring: Level 1 at its Center City location in Commerce Square. This short is for beginners to programming who already have basic computer knowledge. ONLC recommends this level one class as an entry point to anyone planning a learning journey in web design or development. Students will discover how to create standards-compliant web content and gain hands-on experience developing responsive designs.

ONLC also offers JavaScript and jQuery Programming: Level 1 for beginners to the language and library. ONLC recommends that prospective students have the equivalent knowledge of ONLC’s HTML5 and CSS Content Authoring: Level 1 prior to attending this JavaScript and jQuery class. Ideally, class participants will already have experience building webpages and the desire to add JavaScript to their web development toolbox. Students will learn the essentials of JavaScript before moving on to jQuery, which is a tool to add interactive elements quickly and easily to a webpage. Note that the class is not for advanced web developers who wish to learn how to build jQuery programs from scratch.

Web Development Corporate Training

Noble Desktop provides options for corporate web development training. Suppose you’re looking to train several team members in one or two programming languages or the entire topic of web development. In that case, Noble offers onsite training that can be customized to meet your group’s needs. Alternatively, your team can attend regularly scheduled in-person or live online classes in web development at Noble Desktop.

If you prefer the latter option or would prefer your team schedule their Noble web development class on their own time, discounted bulk vouchers are available to support your team in continuing their education in Noble’s in-person or online courses. Email Noble Desktop’s corporate training department to begin a conversation about your unique web development training needs today.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Philadelphia Web Development Courses

What Can You Do with Web Development Training?

What Will I Learn in a Web Development Class?

Front-end Development Tools

Back-end Development and Databases

Responsive Design

Version Control with Git

Problem-Solving

How Hard is It to Learn Web Development?

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Web Development?

How Long Does It Take to Learn Web Development?

Should I Learn Web Development in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Web Development Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Web Development?

Industries That Use Web Development

Web Design and Development Services

Financial Services

Bioscience and Biotech

Education

Web Development Job Titles and Salaries

Web Developer

Full-Stack Developer

Front-End Developer

Back-End Developer

Web Development Classes Near Me

Web Development Corporate Training

Philadelphia Web Development Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Philadelphia Web Development
Corporate & Onsite Training