Coding for Care: Unlock the Power of Front-End Development in Healthcare
Technology tools for healthcare infrastructure
Exploring coding on your own can be a daunting task, with countless languages, frameworks, and concepts to navigate. It’s easy to spend months learning abstract concepts without understanding how to apply them practically.
As a healthcare professional looking to get started with coding, it can be overwhelming. That’s why I often suggest starting with front-end development. Not only does it provide a solid foundation for other areas of development, but it also offers a tangible starting point for beginners.
In this post, we’ll explore what front-end development is, how it works, and why it’s essential in healthcare.
What is Front-End Development?
Front-end development is the practice of creating the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of a website or application. It involves designing and coding the elements of a website or application that users see and interact with, such as buttons, menus, forms, and text. Front-end developers use a variety of technologies and programming languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to create visually appealing and functional interfaces that meet the needs of users.
HTML: The Foundation of Front-End Development
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a markup language that is used to create the structure and content of a web page. It provides a way to define the different parts of a page, such as headings, paragraphs, lists, and images, and specify how they should be displayed in a browser. HTML is the foundation of front-end development, as it provides the structure and content that is necessary for other technologies to work correctly.
Lets see this in action below.
The right-hand side of the image shows the output of some basic HTML code that I put together, while the left-hand side contains the code itself. This simple example highlights the power of HTML as the foundation of everything we see on the web.
CSS: Styling Your Front-End
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a styling language that is used to define the appearance of a web page. It provides a way to specify the colours, fonts, layouts, and other visual elements of a page, and separate them from the content of the page. CSS allows front-end developers to create visually appealing and consistent designs across different pages and devices.
Building upon our previous HTML example, let’s add some style to the mix with CSS.
On the right-hand side of the image, you can see some code that directs the web browser to display the page with a green background, white text, and larger font size. CSS is a powerful tool for creating visually stunning and engaging websites, allowing you to bring your creative vision to life on the web.
JavaScript: Adding Functionality to Your Front-End
JavaScript is a programming language that is used to add interactivity and functionality to a web page. It allows front-end developers to create dynamic and responsive interfaces that can respond to user actions, such as clicking a button or filling out a form. JavaScript is essential for creating complex features, such as animations, sliders, and pop-ups, that can enhance the user experience.
Ready to bring our web page to life? Let’s add some Javascript to create dynamic animations that engage your audience. In this example, the charging battery icon comes to life with movement that mimics a real device charging.
As the powerhouse of web application development, Javascript allows you to push the boundaries of creativity and bring your vision to life on the web. While it may be the most challenging of the three languages, the payoff is well worth the effort.
How the Script is Read and Displayed on a Browser
When a user visits a website or application, their browser sends a request to the server for the necessary files, including the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. The server then sends those files back to the browser, which reads and interprets them to display the website or application on the user’s device. The HTML provides the structure and content of the page, while the CSS defines its appearance, and the JavaScript adds functionality and interactivity.
Back-End Technology and Databases
While front-end development focuses on the user interface and user experience, back-end development focuses on the server-side of web development. It involves creating the database and server-side scripts that support the functionality and data of a website or application. The back-end technologies can include programming languages such as PHP, Ruby, and Python, and databases such as MySQL, Oracle, and MongoDB. Back-end developers write the scripts and queries that allow the server to communicate with the database and generate dynamic content for the front-end.
Linking Front-End Development and Back-End Technology
Front-end development and back-end development are closely linked, as they work together to create a cohesive website or application. The front-end relies on the back-end to provide dynamic data and functionality, while the back-end relies on the front-end to provide the user interface and user experience. Communication between the front-end and back-end is essential to ensure that the website or application functions correctly and provides the best possible user experience.
Conclusion
To sum it up, front-end development is a crucial component of healthcare technology, providing organisations with the ability to create visually appealing and functional interfaces that enhance the patient experience. Navigating the many languages, frameworks, and concepts in coding can be intimidating for beginners, but starting with front-end development provides a solid foundation for learning. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the core technologies used by front-end developers to create websites and applications that meet the needs of patients and healthcare professionals. In addition, front-end development and back-end technology work in tandem to create a seamless digital experience for patients. As healthcare organisations continue to invest in technology, front-end development skills will become increasingly important for healthcare professionals looking to advance their careers. By mastering front-end development, healthcare professionals can create innovative solutions that benefit patients and drive the industry forward.
Check out some of the free front end apps I have developed to see what you can achieve with html, css and js. pills2pixels.com
