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Mark H., Full Stack Developer |
November 28, 2024
In the world of web development, terms like “front end” and “back end” are often mentioned, and you might have a general sense of what they mean. Drawing from my experience in the field, I usually describe the front end as the visual layer of a website, while the back end handles the functionality and logic. While this is a basic explanation, in this article, I’ll explore the deeper distinction between frontend and backend.
To start, let’s imagine a scenario. Picture yourself in your favorite coffee shop. You glance up at the beautifully designed menu and order a caramel latte. The barista smiles, takes your order, and even asks for your name, adding a little heart next to it on the cup (at least, that’s what happens in my experience, haha). Moments later, you’re handed a perfectly crafted drink with caramel drizzle on top. This is the front end—the part you see and interact with.
But what you might not notice, or perhaps never think much about, is what goes on behind the counter. The espresso machine brewing, the milk being steamed, and the barista carefully adding just the right amount of syrup to ensure your drink tastes perfect. This is the back end—the behind-the-scenes work that brings your order to life.
Front-End: The Face of the Website
By now, you likely have a general idea of what front-end is. To reiterate, it encompasses everything you see and interact with on a website. However, it doesn’t just apply to websites—it also extends to every application or program you use on your computer or mobile device.
My take on front-end development
I believe front-end development isn’t just about making a website look good; it’s about creating a meaningful experience that ensures users feel satisfied and comfortable.
In my experience with front-end development, collaborating with a web or UI/UX designer is essential. While some may assume that front-end development also involves handling the design aspect, that responsibility typically belongs to a separate role. To clarify, front-end developers are responsible for building the interface by writing codes and ensuring that the site is functional, responsive, and well-performing. On the other hand, UI/UX designers focus on the visual aspect, such as the layout, colors, and overall appearance, while optimizing the flow and user journey to create an intuitive and enjoyable experience. Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with talented web and UI/UX designers, and it’s always fulfilling to bring their designs to life.
Some developers perceive the front end as easier and more straightforward compared to the complex server-side logic or database management in back-end development, but I wholeheartedly disagree with that. Front-end comes with its own unique challenges. For instance, it requires managing cross-browser compatibility, optimizing speed and responsiveness, balancing aesthetics with functionality, and staying up to date with the ever-evolving technology.
In front-end development, my process typically begins by reviewing a mockup design in Figma and analyzing possible interactions with the user. I start by building functionality and ensuring the core features work as intended. Once that is complete, I focus on styling the interface to align with the design. The final steps involve refining the project to make it responsive across various screen sizes and, when appropriate, adding engaging animations to enhance user experience.
Typical Tools:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript: Essentials for building any website.
React, Vue, Angular, and Next.JS: JavaScript frameworks or libraries to structure the code, so we’re not left with spaghetti code.
Tailwind, SASS, LESS: Streamline the process of writing CSS, the tool to style the website.
Back-End: Engine Under the Hood
The back end, on the other hand, focuses entirely on functionality. While it’s not visible to users, it powers the system that stores data, authenticates users, sends notifications, and performs countless other tasks. Think of it as the gears working behind the scenes to ensure that everything on the front end operates seamlessly.
My Adventures in Back-End Development
Working at Lexcode, I was introduced to Python and FastAPI, a web framework for developing APIs. With prior experience in backend programming languages like PHP and Ruby, I found Python’s simpler and more readable syntax intuitive and easy to grasp. However, I recognized the need to build more projects with it to gain more confidence.
What I enjoy about back-end development is the freedom to focus solely on logic and data management without worrying about design aspects. For me, working on algorithms is particularly satisfying. That said, logic isn’t exclusive to backend development. In frontend development, especially with JavaScript and frameworks like React, there’s also significant logical problem-solving involved.
From my experience, many developers gravitate toward front-end development, likely because of its visual and creative appeal. It’s rewarding to see tangible results of your work. However, when I started learning web development, I found back-end development equally compelling. I was intrigued by how data is stored, manipulated, and communicated across different parts of an application.
Lately, my focus in back-end development has been on creating APIs to enable seamless communication between the front-end and back-end. Python is particularly well-suited for automation, so I often create API endpoints to handle automation features. Additionally, my experience with SQL and database management tools allowed me to organize, securely store, and retrieve data efficiently.
Typical Tools:
Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby: These languages help back-end developers write code that talks to the database.
Databases like MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or Firebase: To store information such as usernames, passwords, and data history, everything goes here.
APIs: They help the front end communicate with the back end. They act like the waiter taking your order to the kitchen and bringing back your food.
Why Front-End and Back-End Need Each Other
Imagine visiting a website that looks stunning—the animations are smooth, and it looks professional. However, when you try to log in or register for an account, nothing happens. Or maybe you click the “Add to Cart” button, but it doesn’t respond. You guessed it—the back end is missing! Without it, the site can’t perform any actions or fulfill its purpose.
On the other hand, a fully functional back-end without a front-end wouldn’t make any sense either. Users wouldn’t know where to click, what to do, or how to use the system. It reminds me of that one famous meme in the Dev community.
Both the front-end and back-end must work in harmony to deliver a seamless and authentic user experience.
Can’t You Just Do Both?
Yes, it’s possible to work on both the frontend and backend, a role known as Full Stack Development, which also happens to be my current position at Lexcode. Some developers argue that, given how much front-end and back-end have evolved, it’s better to specialize in one area to truly master it. While this is a valid perspective, I believe there’s value in learning both. Exploring both frontend and backend provides a deeper understanding of web development. It helps you identify where specific problems lie and whether they belong to the front end or back end. If you’re a developer deciding between the two, don’t stress about it! Start by experimenting with the technologies that interest you the most and immerse yourself in them. Over time, you’ll discover which path suits you best—or even find that you enjoy both.
There are a handful of web frameworks you can use to build full-stack web applications. I thought I’d share a few: Ruby on Rails, Laravel, and Django.
Reference:
Fayock, C. (n.d.). What’s the difference between a front-end developer and back-end developer? Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://colbyfayock.com/posts/whats-the-difference-between-a-front-end-developer-and-back-end-developer
GeeksforGeeks. (n.d.). Front-end vs back-end. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/frontend-vs-backend/
Amazon Web Services. (n.d.). The difference between front-end and back-end. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from
https://aws.amazon.com/compare/the-difference-between-frontend-and-backend/#:~:text=Frontend%20and%20backend%20are%20two,that%20make%20your%20application%20work.
