Are you searching for a front-end developer? If yes, then, first of all, you should focus on getting a very good understanding of what does a front-end developer does.
Not only that, but you need to know what front-end developer skills they must have. You have come to the right place as here we will talk about the top front-end developer skills and what do they do.
Who Is A Frontend Developer?
A frontend developer is an individual who understands the software development process and can design, code, test, and debug complex websites or other integrated online applications. Frontend developers build the visible parts of websites and applications. They aid in the creation of the UI or User Interface. It is the elements that the users get to see. Not only that, but their work also involves how the websites or applications behave based on user actions.
The main objective of these professionals is to build websites using HTML5 & CSS3, JavaScript frameworks or libraries like AngularJS, React JS, Backbone JS so as to ensure consistency in design and develop mobile-friendly websites in WordPress platforms thus providing an awesome user experience for users across all platforms.
Top Front End Developer Skills
Front-end development is a diverse field. If you are looking forward to entering the technical industry, then one of the easiest entry points involves frontend development. From UI design to HTML, CSS & JavaScript coding – a good front-end developer must have a grasp on a wide range of skills.
But, to become a frontend developer, there are certain skills that you will need. So, in the below-mentioned section, you will get to know about some of the must-have front-end developer skills that the market desires currently.
Technical Frontend Developer Skills
1. JavaScript, CSS, HTML
Anyone who wants to get specialization in frontend development should be fluent in three languages i.e., JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
Talking about HTML, it is regarded as the main structural component of any particular website. CSS, on the other hand, words like the styling part. By having a very good idea about these tools, you will get the ability to build some basic apps and websites.
But, if you have basic knowledge of JavaScript, then you will be able to make them interactive. So, if you are considering a career in frontend development, then it becomes very much important to know these three languages.
HTML is an important markup language; CSS refers to the style sheet language. Ultimately, JavaScript is the only language among these three which can be regarded as a real programming language.
Both the CSS and HTML help in the identification of the presentation on the page. On the other hand, JavaScript helps in the determination of the function of its elements. If you need interactive features like animations, scrolling abilities, or games, you will require JavaScript.
2. Knowledge Of JavaScript And CSS Frameworks
As already discussed, JavaScript and CSS are an integral part of frontend development. But, it is not only the languages which you need to know. JavaScript and CSS specifically come with a huge collection of frameworks.
These are JavaScript or CSS tools that can contribute to performing a lot of work for you. The good news for the frontend developers is that they do not need to write each functionality from scratch.
For instance, logging in to a particular website or search bar on a blog are some of the well-known functionalities. You will get to find components for them specifically in these frameworks.
Frameworks come with their weaknesses and strengths. This is the main reason you should know which particular framework is the topmost choice for the type of app you are building.
Some of the JavaScript frameworks works effectively for building complicated user interfaces whereas others will be much better, in case you only wish to display simple and highly optimized website content such as paragraphs of images and texts.
Another important advantage of this particular approach is that you can make use of more than one framework together.
For example, frontend developers often combine the framework of Bootstrap UI with ready-to-use components to speed up building page structures.
So, the developers can effectively deliver fast and high-performance apps. While the content is handled by Angular, both the feel and look of the app is the Bootstrap domain.
As you will be making use of JavaScript and CSS all the time in your projects and most of them will consider starting with similar sorts of elements and so, you should have an effective knowledge about these frameworks. It will help you to become an efficient team member.
We therefore greatly recommend that you get solid basics before you try any of these frameworks.
3. Version Control Along With Other Developer Tools
The frontend developer works as an integral part of a development team. He or she must understand how to utilize the most common software development tools.
A frontend developer’s job is a bit complicated, and it’s quite probable that you’ll go through many revisions throughout the development process.
If anything goes wrong along your development journey, you would not want to be forced to restart from the beginning. This is where the concept of version control comes into play.
By using version control, you can control as well as track changes in your source code, so this type of situation never occurs.
Version control software is used by developers in a variety of ways. Git, an open-source program that records changes for you so you can go back to earlier versions of your work and figure out what went wrong without ripping the whole codebase apart.
It is one of the most popular options to consider.
4. Responsive Design
The days of just utilizing one device to access a web application are long gone. Consumers today utilize a wide variety of devices, many of which are mobile, such as smartphones as well as tablets.
When it comes to web development, frontend developers must be aware of this and understand the fundamentals of responsive design. At the time of creating a website, make sure that the pages adjust themselves to the device that your visitors are using.
Today, it is critical to know the concepts of responsive design as well as how to apply them in your code. Remember that although the responsive design is built into CSS frameworks like Bootstrap, nothing prevents you from creating your own responsive CSS rules.
5. Testing Skills
A bug-free software development process is impossible to achieve. You’ll need to test your codebase for bugs along the way to keep things moving in the correct direction. So, another essential technical talent for a frontend developer is the ability to test and debug.
In software development, there are many types of testing. Functional testing, for example, analyses a specific piece of functionality to ensure that it performs precisely as you intended.
Unit testing, on the other hand, concentrates on the smallest bits of code that are only responsible for one aspect of your program. Frameworks such as Jasmine or Mocha assist developers in accelerating as well as simplifying the testing process.
Soft Skills That The Frontend Developers Must Possess
1. Creativity
As frontend developers are in charge of how websites and apps appear, they must be innovative to solve the most frequent user interface issues. They must be able to blend well-known components with novel ideas.
Frontend development trends, as well as technologies, change at a rapid pace, much like every other aspect of software development. As a result, frontend developers must stay up with the latest developments and provide as much value to their projects as possible.
2. Communication Skills
As they work with UI/UX designers along with backend developers amid the software development process, frontend developers must be excellent communicators. Having strong social skills is a must in frontend development.
When a team uses an agile software development approach like Scrum, the process itself helps to improve communication. Working with others, on the other hand, requires excellent communication skills.
As a result, frontend developers should be able to effectively express their ideas and create clear documentation that their teammates will find helpful. So, communication is regarded as one of the most important front-end developer skills.
3. Teamwork
This point follows from the previous one. Frontend developers, of course, must be skilled collaborators.
You will need to communicate effectively with the client and cooperate with the whole project team since collaboration is a part of a frontend developer’s day-to-day life – even if you wind up being a freelance software developer.
Frontend engineers must know how to help others, seek help when required, improve workflows, as well as deliver the finished product promptly.
Conclusion
This list of essential front-end developer skills is, of course, far from complete. After all, the specific skills they need will mainly depend on the project and its needs.
However, if you want to get a head start in frontend development, you’ll need all these skills we stated before.
Our expert team at Solwin Infotech offers their knowledge and experience to assist new developers to figure out their career paths and acquire the skills they need to thrive in this fascinating industry.
If you are seeking top-notch frontend developers for your upcoming project, you can engage with our experienced team members to get the finest results.
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