What are the differences between front-end, back-end, and full-stack development?

 When it comes to software development, there’s no shortage of titles, surnames, and appropriations in the many job roles associated with the field.

Before we get into the details of full-stack development, it’s best to take a look at the big picture and understand a little bit about each primary role in software development.

Front end developers, for example, focus on the actual presentation of your website, and how the information is laid out in browsers and on mobile devices.

Visual Appeal and Feel: Front End Development

Essentially, front-end developers wish to ensure the best “look and feel” of your website. In the digital battlefield, front-end workers are equipped with an arsenal in the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (the “scripting language”). With these languages, the developer can very efficiently manipulate content on a website to make it appealing and effective to the right audience(s).

Everything you see on a website, such as a layout, positioning of text and images, colors, fonts, buttons, and so on—are all factors that the front-end developer working in web applications must consider in their roles. The “user experience,” for example, is largely dictated by the works of the front-end developer.

The main goal of a front-end developer is to provide the platform for visitors to interact with, a platform that provides and receives information. This means some developers will be well-versed in web design and using software such as Photoshop and Illustrator to create graphics and themed layouts.

Data-Centric Roles: Back End Development

While front end developers concern themselves with all things visual, back end developers concentrate on the creation, flow, and management of data. Some of the processes most often associated with back end development involve creating, editing/updating, and recollecting data.

Common scripting languages include PHP, Ruby, and Python. With these languages, a back-end developer can create algorithms and business logic to manipulate the data that was received in front-end development.

This means that a back-end developer must have the ability to write code, required to receive the information input from the user – and saving it somewhere – like in a database. SQL is the language used for database management, which helps the developer interact with the database.

The Best of Both Worlds: Full Stack Development

Full-stack web developers – good ones, anyway – seek to integrate the best of both worlds in front and back end development.

The phrase “full-stack” quite literally means the full-stack of technology that makes up a website – so the full stack developer is proficient in both front-end and back-end programming languages and frameworks, as well as in server, network, and hosting environments.

Usually, most full-stack developers will have spent many years working in a variety of different roles to get to this breadth and depth of knowledge.

They also tend to be well-versed in both business logic and user experience, meaning they are well-equipped to get hands-on – but can also guide and consult on strategy, too.

Summary

Given this dynamic ability to use the full spectrum of development skills, it’s no wonder full stack developers are in such high demand. 

A full-stack developer has all the keys to the house – there is no door that you cannot open.

It provides unparalleled freedom to simultaneously work on front-end and back-end development and evaluate the capabilities and potential of your website in real-time without having to wait for another developer to review if what you’re desiring is possible or not.

Why Is There Such a Demand for Full-Stack Developers?

Whereas many people are either strictly front or back end app developers, a full-stack developer is a combination of both. These resources can work with different programming languages, are typically good at project management, can create an overarching web design, and understand the user experience well. For most full-stack developers, they know the full workings of the back and front end and tend to specialize in a select few areas within them.

How People Become Full-Stack Developers

Becoming a full-stack developer is not a quick process – it often takes developers many years of experience working in different positions (switching between the front and the back end). As they work through these positions, they naturally pick up all the ins and outs and store them in their minds. Eventually, they’ve become a full-stack developer when they know everything that goes in into the front and back end, as well as how to manage themselves and interact with customers to ensure a cohesive design. They can easily communicate and create a website design while taking into account the technical aspects that will alter the project duration, limitations, and resources.

Where does the Demand for Full-Stack Developers Stem From

At one point a few years ago, full-stack developers weren’t able to completely use their skills because apps were starting to become extremely complex. They required more than one person to work on them at a time to be completed. However, with the help of app frameworks and third-party components, full-stack developers now have the time to manage the entire process instead of creating everything from scratch.

The Current Need for Full-Stack Developers

As more and more businesses turn to mobile applications to reach their customers and get better ROI, the need for full-stack developers has skyrocketed. While having a front end or back end developer is nice to have, a full-stack developer is better able to see the big picture in terms of app creation. They can find and fix errors along the way without needing to consult with multiple people along the app development chain.

Think of it this way: You have the option to hire a chef to cook for you and your family every day. Would you rather pick the chef that only knows how to cook appetizers, or would you rather hire the chef that has years of experience in all areas (full meals, desserts, breakfast, etc.)? In the same way, hiring someone with across the board knowledge of app development is more applicable and efficient.

Using Charter Global As Your Full-Stack Development Team

Here at Charter Global, we don’t just focus on one aspect of app development – we are your go-to source for all things mobile! Whether you need an e-commerce site, new interactive, or informational app for your customers, get in touch with us today to see how we can be your full-stack developers for life.