How Long Does it Take to Learn Back-End Web Development?

If you’re an aspiring Web Developer, you might want to be curious about how long it takes to learn back end web development. Most experts agree that it takes about two or three months to learn if you’re truly dedicated. Of course, the amount of time it takes you will depend on several factors based on your circumstances. This guide will show you some strategies to help you speed up the process even if you’re currently facing obstacles. 

What is Back End Web Development?

Back end web development covers the back end, or “server-side,” of websites. Essentially, it’s the part of websites that handles everything that happens behind the scenes. Without back end web development, websites would only have text, images, and sometimes animations. 

Back end web development is important because it helps websites function. While websites can operate using only front end web development, they will be relatively basic and unable to retain anything. Back end web development allows complex programs to operate on the site, store relevant information, and generate new content based on the user’s actions. Modern websites need back end web development to stay current because simple websites can only go so far in the increasingly digital world. 

Read more about back end web development and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Back End Web Development?

While front end web development focuses on the parts of websites that users see, back end web development handles most of its functions. Back-end web development skills are essential when it comes to organizing, cataloging, and saving (or deleting) data. Without these skills, websites are static and lifeless. You’ll need to use back end web development to ensure that your site meets modern standards and user expectations. Front-end-only websites might lead to user frustration if the site is intended for complex uses such as data retrieval. 

Back end web development allows websites to store login information and prevent user frustration from forgetting their password when they revisit your site. If you’ve accidentally logged out of essential websites after clearing your cache, you know how much of a headache it can be to re-login to every site you visit. Your users will appreciate the ease of access to their accounts, which will help enhance their overall user experience.

Average Time it Takes to Learn Back End Web Development

The time it takes to learn back end web development is closely tied to the amount of time it takes to learn front end web development. Most people who learn front end web development take about two or three weeks to learn HTML and CSS, one of the first languages new Web Developers learn. That’s if you’re dedicating most of your time to coding practice—-if you’re learning it during your downtime, it may take a little longer.

The core of back end web development is tied to JavaScript since it’s the main programming language that Back End Web Developers use when they’re getting started in the field. It takes about two to three months to become an effective JavaScript user. It takes about six months to a year to be truly proficient in JavaScript. 

Realistically, you could start applying to positions after your three-month training. Then you can continue to learn more about back end web development principles with JavaScript and Python as you progress throughout your career. That way, you gain practical knowledge from your work alongside your studies, making it easier to increase your professional toolkit. 

Other Factors

Most people understand that learning a new subject has a variety of factors that don’t directly involve the class. Some factors include your prior experience with programming, any obligations outside of class, and overall learning speed when learning something new. The following sections will go over ways to approach your learning experience to help make your education seamless. 

Your Prior Programming Experience

If you’re planning to start learning back end web development, you might already have some programming experience. The good news is if you have any programming knowledge, especially with front end web development or JavaScript, you’ll have an easier time learning this new skill. That’s because many of the concepts from those subjects you’ll learn overlap with the skills you need for back end web development. 

If you don’t have any coding experience, no worries; plenty of helpful resources are available to help you get started even before you take your first class. Check out some of the prerequisites for back end web development if you’re curious about expanding your skill set while looking up some back end classes. 

Your Current Obligations

Everyone has obligations outside of school, especially in modern times. Naturally, you’ll want to ensure you can balance everything you have on your plate before you sign up for classes. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a moment to review anything that’s vying for your attention right now.

Are there projects at work that are taking up most of your time? Do you have kids you need to pick up from school right after you leave the office? Try to find a class that accounts for your busy schedule. Most people enjoy taking live online back end classes because they allow you to continue learning without extending your commute. That’ll also help you save money on gas and give you a chance to grab dinner while you’re learning from your kitchen. 

There’s no need to wait if you’re eager to learn the basics. You can look up some back end web development video tutorials or on-demand back end classes that go over the fundamentals. The only drawback of these lessons is that it’s harder to connect with your instructor, but they’re perfect while adjusting your routine.

Your Learning Style 

You know yourself best. What conditions do you need to learn effectively and get the most out of your classes? When you’re learning anything new, you’ll want to ensure you can focus and stay engaged with the task at hand. Some people can learn from going to a physical class, while others prefer the tranquility of their bedroom. 

Connect with your instructors and see if they have any insights to help you adjust to their class. They’ll likely have tips and tricks you wouldn’t have considered before. It’s a good idea to look into how to learn back end web development and look over the different training formats. From there, you’ll have a better sense of how you can pursue your education. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

While back end web development is fairly accessible to new programmers, there are key concepts you’ll want to learn first. Most people who learn back end web development also take courses in front end web development because Full Stack Developers utilize both skills. This role is common in the web development industry, and you’ll be able to specialize in either front end or back end skills, depending on your preference. 

JavaScript is essential to back end web development programming; at minimum, you’ll want to learn JavaScript to perform most of your tasks. Python is also useful because it’s a gateway into more advanced skills such as machine learning. 

Read more about back end web development prerequisites.

Most of the costs associated with back end web development and its programming languages are related to classes. These topics are free and open-source, which means they are open to the public, and you can modify them without needing to contact their original creators. Costs also can come into play when you’re building your own website—although, if you’re working for a company, this step is completely optional.

Read more about costs associated with back end web development. 

Regarding overall difficulty, back end web development is relatively simple to learn because most of its concepts pull from the first few programming languages new programmers learn. If you have any experience with web development or JavaScript, you’ll have an easy time transitioning into these skills. You can successfully apply for jobs after taking a back end web development certificate program and then look into more advanced topics once you’re securely in the field.

Read more about how difficult it is to learn back end web development.

Watch a Free Back End Web Development Online Course

It’s perfectly understandable if you’re not ready to take a full back end web development class. You may have a tight budget or schedule that prevents you from committing as much as you desire. That’s normal, and luckily there’s still a way to learn without spending money. 

While in-person and live online courses are ideal for gaining knowledge because you’re working with an expert, free online classes are helpful to get an overview or obtain foundational knowledge of the subject without needing to pay for a class. The free Intro to Node course goes over how to use it to create servers required for back end programs to run properly. This class will help you get ahead of the curve once you sign up for a full class and make it easier to progress into more complex areas. 

Read about more free back end web development videos and online tutorials.

Learn Back End Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Learning back end web development is pretty straightforward, and the process can become easier when working with a well-prepared training facility. Noble Desktop has taught live online back end web development classes and other computer science subjects for over 30 years. They’re an excellent choice when you’re looking to expand your career or start a new one. 

Those fully invested in learning back end web development and related subjects will enjoy taking a Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. This program teaches both front end and back end principles, which will allow you to enter a wide variety of roles. You can also look into a JavaScript Programming Bootcamp since JavaScript is an important skill for back end web development and most other website-related fields. The more you know about these subjects, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

Key Insights

• Back end web development takes about two or three months to learn under perfect conditions.
• It takes about six months to a year to become truly proficient in back end web development, but only three months are needed to start looking into jobs.
• Some factors that can affect how long it takes to learn back end web development may include your prior experience with programming, your current obligations, and your learning speed. 
• You can receive comprehensive back end web development training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.