Front-end development and back-end development are both essential roles in software engineering. However, they tend to be assigned to different people with different skill sets. Backend developers build the logic of an application and its database. They’re responsible for creating data models, implementing appropriate algorithms, and storing data on disk or in a database. Frontend developers build the visual part of an application such as its user interface, appearance, and interaction with users. They’re responsible for creating visual elements like images, buttons, icons, menus, and other things that users see when using an app. Their common goal is to create applications that are useful for end-users based on their specific needs and wants. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between these two roles in software engineering and get insights into which one might be the best fit for you!
Frontend developers are responsible for creating the visual part of an application such as its user interface, appearance, and interaction with users. They’re also responsible for creating visual elements like images, buttons, icons, menus, and other things that users see when using an app. They work on the frontend of an application, so they’re usually not involved in the back-end development process. Frontend developers work with technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build visual experiences for the end user. A good frontend developer understands the visual and user experience of an application and is able to translate that into code.
Backend developers build the logic of an application and its database. They’re responsible for creating data models, implementing appropriate algorithms, and storing data on disk or in a database. Backend developers are usually responsible for the server-side code of an application and work with languages like PHP, Ruby, and Python to create, retrieve, update, and delete (CRUD) data from a database. Backend developers need to understand the business and visual side of the application but usually not the visual side, such as how buttons look or what images are present in the application. They’re responsible for creating the database and the business logic that gets applied when data is retrieved or modified.
Frontend and backend developers have different skill sets and work on different parts of an application. Frontend developers focus on the visual side while backend developers are responsible for the logic. When hiring new employees, companies may hire one person to take on both roles or they may hire two separate people. It depends on the company, the type of application being created, and the specific needs and skill sets required. Frontend developers may or may not know how the data is stored. Backend developers usually store data but may not know how the frontend of the application looks or how to change it.
A frontend developer creates the visual elements, such as the user interface, buttons, images, and menus, while a backend developer creates the logic and data model that allows the application to function.