Essential skills every web developer should have

It is the responsibility of the web developer to create secure, highly functional, and visually appealing websites. To accomplish that, you need the perfect blend of skills. Although the demand for skills may vary depending on the company’s goals and users’ expectations, it is important to nurture some essential skills to become an expert web developer.

If you are thinking about becoming a web developer or elevating your career as a web developer then this article discusses the must-have web developers skills that you should have a look at.

Must-have Web Developer Skills in 2024

1. Front-end programming

Front-end languages deal with the client side of your digital product. There are three most basic front-end programming languages.

HTML is your go-to language for creating web pages meanwhile CSS can help you out with formatting the style, fonts, colors, and layout of the web page. CSS is also useful in making your website functional and looks good on various screen sizes and devices. In short, if you wish to master the fundamentals of web development, then learning these programming languages is a must.

And then you have JavaScript which allows you to engage your visitors by adding interactive features to your website. This language offers various features like drag-and-drop features, dropdown menus, and more.

2. Git

For monitoring and revising the code changes, developers have to use a version control system. Git is a code versioning technology that enables you to keep track of code changes as well as review them before making any more revisions.

The ability to handle this technology is considered a must-have skill when full-stack developers have to work with tight deadlines. A Git repository hosting service called GitHub is based on the cloud. Developers can leverage it to track and share their Git version control projects out of their local servers or computers.

3. Back-end Web Programming

Back-end languages help developers connect their website to the database or server. This allows them to run the web apps and track the user connections. Backend development concerns with the website operations like controlling its functionalities. The backend work is never visible to the users because it’s happening in the background, on the server side.

Some popular programming languages for backend web development include:

• PHP — It is easy to use as it comes with a large ecosystem of development frameworks, libraries, and automation tools.
• Java — This object-oriented language is leveraged to develop big data, desktop, scientific, and enterprise-scale applications.
• Ruby — Popular among beginners for its flexibility. The benefits of using this language include a simple syntax and time efficiency
• C# — Built upon C, C# can run smoothly on multiple platforms like Linux, iOS, and Android. Developers use it to create games and mobile apps.
• Python — Its syntax is similar to the english language. So, it is easy to use. Python’s use cases encompass developing networks, games, embedded systems, web frameworks, machine learning, and data science.

4. SEO

Clients just don’t want websites that work and look well, they want a website that also ranks well in Google and other search engines. So, it falls on the shoulders of the web developer to optimize their websites for SEO. A simple SEO checklist would look something like this:

• Utilizing redirects for updated web pages
• Developing mobile-friendly websites
• Creating responsive designs
• Reader-friendly URLs
• Making it easy for search engines to crawl your site and analyze and index every web page
• Building web pages that load quickly

5. UX and UI Design

Web developers need UX and UI design skills as they play a crucial role in planning and developing any digital product. To state it in simple terms, UX is all about the architecture of the product and UI is all about the interior design.

UX designers handle tasks such as creating and evaluating user journeys based on insights extracted from the datasets. They also create designs that illustrate user experience. It includes working on prototypes, wireframes, user flows, and storyboards.

Meanwhile, the site’s visual and interactive elements are for UI designers to handle. In collaboration with the UX designers, they gather necessary data and understand the user requirements which helps them design graphic user interface components like search fields, navigation buttons, and more.

6. Program Frameworks

Programming is at the core of any digital product development project. They have to write hundreds if not thousands of lines of code which is not an easy task. Some of these lines are often repeated which can be overwhelming. In such times, allowing frameworks to perform these mundane and repetitive tasks can save a lot of time.

A variety of frameworks are available in the market that come with pre-built feature-rich libraries. The frameworks are categorized based on the segment they serve. Frameworks such as React and Angular are helpful in web development whereas Xamarin, Flutter, and React Native help developers with mobile app development.

7. Testing and Debugging

After spending hours on coding, not many developers are thrilled about spending some more hours on testing and debugging their digital product. But to ensure that your product is of top quality, you have to put in the necessary efforts. Developers don’t just have to write code, they also have to test it to check whether it delivers expected outcomes or not.

Just as writers have to get their content edited and proofread, developers have to test and debug their codebase. It helps find issues or irregularities in the code that can adversely affect the functionality or security of the product. The sooner you find the problem, the better. And that’s why many web developers adopt a test-driven development approach for their projects.

8. Problem Solving

Identifying the problem, brainstorming possible solutions, and adapting appropriate approaches can help you solve the problem.

The overall act of product development is intended to solve specific user problems. In addition to that, while you are working on the product, you may encounter new problems every day.

You have to remain calm, face the challenges, and utilize suitable methodologies to counter or overcome the problems effectively. Solving your client’s problems is the biggest responsibility of your job.

9. Creativity

Creativity is important in almost every line of work. It is creativity that sparks problem-solving and guides people through change. Being creative means to think outside the box. You have to think above the realm of programming, developing, testing, and all to come up with a unique solution to fulfill your client’s specific requirements.

Being creative doesn’t mean having exceptional coding or debugging skills, it means having the ability to throw out the conventional or textbook methodologies and go out of your way to adopt an approach that is beneficial to both your clients and your company.

Everyone on the product development team has different responsibilities to tend to but one thing they all must have in common is creativity. Being creative can help you not only come up with unique product ideas to solve your customer’s problems but also help you design innovative functionalities for existing products.

Creativity can come in handy in regards to web development especially when it is a custom project.

10. Strong Communication Skills

Communication skills are the desired trait for everyone and as a web developer, it becomes an undistinguished part of your job description.

You might have to discuss the problems with your team members and project manager, or requirements and product ideas with the customers, and explain the features and functionalities of the application to the stakeholders.

It might be possible that not all of them have technical background. So, it would be tough to get your message through them if you are not adept at communication. You might have to communicate with them through different channels such as in-person, phone, or email.

Conclusion

Web developers need a wide range of technical, and non-technical skills to fulfill their responsibilities. The top 10 web developer skills we discussed in this blog can help you prepare for the opportunities and challenges that arise in this ever-changing technology sector.

If you think you are a creative person, good at problem-solving, and have a love for technology to learn all the complicated programming languages and use them expertly to solve problems then web development is the right career path for you.