Web Development Training

There are now over 500 million active websites in the world that are accessed by 4.5 billion internet users. The web is evolving at an exponential pace as businesses across the globe race to build their online presence.

And that means web developers have become the rockstars of the digital world. They’re responsible for this incredible growth, and must keep on-trend with the latest development techniques to build stunning, stand-out websites.

If you’re a creative person and want to be part of this digital revolution, a career in web development awaits. This post will help you get started in the field by discussing what you need to learn. We’ll also cover your training options, including intensive online web development bootcamps. These laser-focused courses are perfect for kickstarting your tech career.

The Importance of Web Development Today

Every organization understands the need for a great website. It has the power to make or break a company. Each year, slow loading websites are responsible for $2.6 billion in lost profits. A customer will form an opinion in the blink of an eye. It’s therefore essential to make a good first impression.

With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, an increasing number of people are spending their time online. E-commerce is booming and half of all e-commerce revenues are now being generated through smartphone users.

Quite naturally mobile development has now become vital for businesses. The demand for web developers continues to soar because of rising e-commerce and mobile usage. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics has predicted a 13% increase in the employment rate of web developers from 2018 to 2028, which is higher than most other occupations.

The average salary of a web developer in 2019 was reported to be $73,760. However, web development as a field has undergone a tremendous change. Web development is not the same as it was a decade ago. Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Ruby on Rails won’t cut it in today’s competitive landscape. Web developers also need to showcase out-of-the-box thinking to build innovative websites and applications. Any web development training you sign up for needs to reflect this.

What is Web Development?

Web development refers to the process of building a website. It could encompass anything from creating a single web page to building a complex social media network.

Web development also includes related development activities such as client-side scripting, server-side scripting, e-commerce site development, content management systems, and network security configuration.

What Does a Web Developer Do?

A web developer is responsible for planning, designing, and coding a website to meet client requirements. Web developers are not only responsible for the look and feel of a website but also its performance. The site needs to load fast and handle a high volume of traffic.

Web development is often confused with web design. Both share some common ground but are fundamentally different roles. Web design is primarily concerned with the appearance and user experience (UX) of a website. Another name for web design is front-end development. Web development involves working on both the front-end and back-end. Some back-end tasks include working with databases, server configurations, and integrating core functionality into the site.

As web developers are required to meet clients and understand their needs, they must also possess soft skills like communication, teamwork, and organization.

For a more in-depth look at what’s involved, we’ve done some of the work for you and collected everything you need to know about a career in web development.

How The Field is Changing

With the rise of e-commerce and mobile technology, the landscape of web development has transformed. Businesses now rely heavily on their websites to interact with their customers. They require well designed, functional websites that not only look slick on desktop, but are also easy to use on any phone.

Web developers encounter a significant number of different technologies including databases, design frameworks, programming languages, server setups, and much more depending on the demands of the customer. It’s imperative that web developers equip themselves with updated skills to keep up with the changes.

Is It Hard to Become a Web Developer?

Web development can be intimidating for someone entirely new to the industry. There are so many resources online that it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. What’s more daunting is the amount of jargon and abbreviations used in languages and platforms like VanillaJs, Webpack, Python, jQuery, Ember, Node, Stylus, Bootstrap, and NPM.

But rest assured, you don’t need to be a genius to learn web development. Just keep studying and stay motivated and you’ll start to see results. Learning web development takes practice, just like any other field.

These are some of the basic hard skills which are required to become a web developer:

• HTML and CSS: A web developer needs to master these two fundamental skills before they can start building websites. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It’s the most common markup language used to create web pages. CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets and is used to apply consistent styles and formatting across a website.
• JavaScript: This high-level programming language allows you to add interactive elements to your webpage. It’s needed to make your web pages functional and dynamic.
• SQL: Structured Query Language is a database technology used to communicate with and manage databases. Web developers must possess SQL knowledge to work on the back-end.
• Responsive Design: A responsive design means that a website must be capable of adjusting according to the screen size. Not only desktops but several devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones are being used to access websites. So it becomes imperative that the website looks good irrespective of the device.
• SEO: Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving website ranking within a search engine such as Google. When a website ranks higher it’ll receive more visitors and ultimately have more sales. Web developers don’t need to be SEO gurus, but having an understanding of the basic principles can go a long way.

Apart from hard skills, web developers should also have soft skills such as:

• Analytical Skills: Creating a successful website requires sharp analytical skills. You need to analyze customer requirements to ensure websites meet their expectations.
• Interpersonal Skills: Good communication skills, attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and the ability to collaborate are some of the interpersonal skills needed by web developers to excel.

How Can I Learn Web Development?

A bright future in web development requires you to learn a range of different skills and development techniques. You also need to gain experience solving problems and working in teams. There are several different paths you can take:

• Teach Yourself: This is the most affordable way to begin your journey. You can grab a stack of books on web development, read web development blogs, or check out free resources like YouTube and Stack Overflow.

Bear in mind self-learning can be a challenge as free material often lacks structure. You also need to make sure you’re actually learning up-to-date concepts that are used in the industry. If you’re entirely new to web development check out our post on web development for beginners to get started.

• Get a Degree: Students wanting a career in web development may choose to do a bachelor’s program in computer science. It’s a great way to learn and build a solid base. Compared to self-learning, degrees offer a more structured and seamless approach.

However, degrees take 4 years to complete and cost around $30,000 per year. Considering a career in web development doesn’t actually require a degree, it’s a big investment in both time and money.

• Enroll in a Bootcamp: These online learning programs are more affordable, more intensive, and more focused than degree courses. Bootcamps provide aspiring developers with the career-ready skills they need to get hired at a top tech firm, fast.

Sign up to our web development bootcamp today to benefit from one-on-one mentoring from leading industry experts. We’ll support you every step of the way to help you achieve your goals. As part of your training, you’ll work in teams to craft stunning websites using the latest tools available. You’ll build a professional portfolio of work to wow prospective employers and launch your tech career.

Your Future in Web Development

The web development landscape is transforming as e-commerce and mobile platforms are growing fast. Enterprises rely heavily on their websites to market and sell their products, and they value programmers who can work fast and code in multiple languages. These factors have created an unprecedented demand for web developers.

Employers are desperately seeking skilled web developers and are offering excellent compensation packages to attract top talent. If you’re interested in a development career, there’s never been a better time to get started.