How to Learn Front-End Web Development

The internet helped give individuals the power to express themselves, grow their small businesses, and showcase their talents. One of the best ways to harness that power is by making your own website, which can be done using front end web development skills.

There are plenty of options to learn front end web development, which might feel overwhelming at first glance. Even if you narrow down the options based on your learning style and preferences, the list of books, classes, and video tutorials that can teach you will still feel long. This guide will walk you through each method for learning front end web development to help you make an informed decision before you start.

What is Front End Web Development?

When people think of the internet, websites are one of the first things that come to mind. Front end web development covers the parts of websites everyone can see, known as the “client-side.” HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the programming languages that tie everything together. This power trio is commonly associated with front end web development, but they also have uses in other programming fields, giving you the option to pivot if you desire.

Web development has been a highly welcoming field, especially over the last few decades. Many people can get jobs as Front End Developers after taking a certificate program. HTML and CSS are two of the simplest programming languages you can learn, and JavaScript is known for its versatility in the programming world. A few months of dedication can launch you into a brand new career or amplify your importance to your current one.

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

What Can You Do with Front End Web Development?

On the surface, front end web development has plenty to offer. You can build a website for your business, passion project, or hobby, and that’s only a handful of topics you can approach. Front end web development is versatile because it can adapt to your interests—and the interests of others. The internet allows us to connect for a common cause, and you can foster that connection through your own website.

Once you’ve established the kind topic of your website, you can leave a unique impression on your visitors by customizing it with code. Even if someone else has the same topic idea as you, they may approach creating their website differently, and that slight difference can make you stand out. That’s where front end web development can help. By honing your skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can create a website that others will feel compelled to use again and again because of the special touch you’ve left on it.

In-Person Front End Web Development Training

In-person classes are the ones you’ve likely experienced throughout your education. Common perks of this learning method include distraction-free environments and social interactions with like-minded peers that share an interest in front end web development. Some drawbacks are that they’re inflexible to schedules and require you to travel to the physical location for classes, which can be hard if you have work, family, or other obligations filling up your day.

You can find in-person front end web development classes using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me search engine. Noble Desktop has in-person classes available in Manhattan, New York. Other in-person training facilities include Digital Center Workshop, Beachcoders Academy, Penn Boot Camps, Claim Academy, and Ascend Training. For those that can’t find an in-person location nearby, live online classes are another ideal option taught in real-time.

Live Online Front End Web Development Training

Live online training has been around for the past few decades but has gained more traction within the last few years. It’s ideal for anyone seeking the same quality training as in-person classes, which the same experts teach. The major difference is that you can take these classes from anywhere—many live online options teach students internationally and offer technical support to those who need set-up assistance. A drawback is that you’ll need to create your workspace and ensure it’s distraction-free, but you can accomplish that easily if you know how to approach learning online.

Check Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me search engine to find several live online front end web development courses that fit your needs. The Intro to Web Development with HTML & CSS class is an excellent place to start. Other excellent live online training providers include Wild Code School, Code Fellows, and Strive School. NextGen Bootcamp also has quality live online courses for high school and college students over the summer.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Not ready to take a course yet? That’s completely understandable. When you’re learning something new, it’s best to start small. Ideally, you’ll want to try a free front end web development class. Most free courses are pre-recorded video tutorials that you can access anytime, and you can rewind and pause them as needed.

You can find plenty of free courses through Udemy, Coursera, General Assembly, and Noble Desktop. Each has a quality HTML and CSS class that will guide you through the fundamentals of front end web development. You’ll be in good hands no matter which one you choose.

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

On-Demand Front End Web Development Classes

On-demand front end web development classes are best for those interested in front end web development but need to balance a hectic schedule or a tight budget. The main drawback is that you won’t easily be able to contact your instructor if you need help. Depending on the context, you might not be able to contact them at all.

This training format is best for gauging your interest in front end web development and establishing some basic skills before you enroll in an in-person or live online course. On-demand classes should be used as needed; you can review topics you didn’t understand, but you shouldn’t rely on them to carry you through your entire front end web development education. The main reason is that you won’t know if you’re making mistakes that can have long-term consequences.

While learning using this method, you should plan to build up the resources to attend an in-person or live online class eventually. Experts will be able to point you in the right direction and give you feedback, which will significantly accelerate your progress.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

While beginners have plenty of different resources to learn front end web development available, there’s a chance you might feel overwhelmed about where to start. Your preferences and learning style can affect how you approach your education, and you’ll want to experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the best parts of self-directed learning is that you can pick which combination of tools you prefer and don’t need to follow your instructor’s choices verbatim.

It’s also important to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have family or work obligations, you may be unable to devote time to a structured course that requires daily attendance. If that sounds like you, self-paced classes and video tutorials may be a better fit since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a flexible schedule may prefer the structure that an in-person or live online course provides.

Why Learn Front End Web Development?

People enjoy the flexibility that front end web development offers. You can use it as part of your side hustle, hobby, or career. This skill can be a career by itself—Front End Developers can confirm that! You can also take these skills into other programming areas, which means you can start a rewarding new career with plenty of growth potential.

Even if your goals aren’t directly related to programming, having front end web development skills is incredibly valuable in the modern world. Wouldn’t it be great to lead your company’s online projects, even though the business operates in person? It’s another valuable skill to add to your resume that applies to every industry. If you ever plan to switch careers but aren’t sure where to start, front end web development can be the bridge that brings you closer to your goals.

Read more about why you should learn front end web development.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost

Front end web development is one of the first fields people enter when they learn to program. Although there are technically no prerequisites to start, knowing WordPress, user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, digital marketing, or search engine optimization (SEO) can significantly help once you start building websites. These skills, alongside front end web development, will make the process more manageable.

Learn about the prerequisites for front end web development.

Regarding pricing, front end web development training usually costs about $2,500 to $60,000, depending on the training facility. The only recurring costs associated with front end web development are registering the domain name and hosting the website. Domain names usually cost around $10 to $20 per year, and website hosting platforms usually charge around $20 to $600 per month, depending on your chosen price. Many hosting platforms, such as WordPress, also offer a free plan and tier-based plans for additional storage space and extra customization features.

Read about the costs associated with front end web development and what you can expect to spend on front end web development training.

Beginners might think that front end web development is difficult to learn before they take their first course. Most of the perceived difficulty stems from Imposter Syndrome. You might feel overwhelmed when you see everything you have to learn, but the concepts are simpler than they seem. Give yourself a grace period for making mistakes and take care of yourself to avoid burnout—you’ll feel more satisfied with your progress if you do.

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

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

Ready to dive into front end web development? Many expert-led classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs are available through Noble Desktop that will bring you closer to your goals. The Front End Web Development Certificate program teaches HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress concepts in one compact but effective bundle of courses. It’s essential for anyone who plans to add these skills to their resume.

Another excellent certificate is the Web Design Certificate program, which focuses on design principles. It complements the web development knowledge base effectively—while front end web development focuses on the programming of websites, web design covers design principles. This skill set is useful for making your website engaging and visually appealing to your visitors. Each program will give you a certificate upon completion, further displaying your knowledge to potential employers.

You might not be ready to dedicate your time to a bootcamp or certificate program. If that’s the case, you can try the Intro to Web Development with HTML & CSS class, which teaches the basic principles of front end web development. Use this class as a starting point to decide how you want to approach your learning.

You can also explore some front end web development courses and bootcamps on your own to find the ones that are a good fit. A large selection of courses is flexible to your current schedule—career preparation, financial assistance, and one-on-one mentoring are available through each certificate program and bootcamp. No matter your choice, you’ll be another step closer to a satisfying career.

Key Insights

• The primary learning methods are in-person, live online, video tutorials, and on-demand classes.
• Video tutorials and on-demand classes are best used when you’re on a budget but should only be used for the basics and can’t help in the long term.
• In-person and live online classes are the most engaging and interactive.
• In-person classes are helpful if you desire to be in a distraction-free environment.
• Live online classes are best if you want to work from home and avoid commuting.
• These learning methods are available through Noble Desktop’s comprehensive front end web development training sessions.