How to Improve Web Development Skills

You can acquire web development skills in several ways, such as earning a degree or certification, attending a bootcamp, or exploring other potential avenues to help you remain competitive in the ever-evolving technology landscape. From learning new programming languages to gaining proficiency with frameworks, the ways you can grow your web development skills are plentiful. 

The skills you need as a web developer depend on the type of work you perform. When exploring web development, you will come across three roles: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. The skills you will use in each role will vary to some extent, as front-end web developers build the user-facing components of websites. In contrast, back-end web developers create the structural components that allow webpages to function. Full-stack web developers perform both front-end and back-end duties. 

Learn how to improve web development skills for success in web development roles, including the more basic skills to gain for entry-level roles, as well as advanced web development skills as you progress in your career.

What does a web developer do?

Web developers create all aspects of a functioning website, from the visual components that users see and interact with to the technical systems that enable them to work. To get a better understanding of what a web developer does, it’s helpful to take a closer look at the different types of web developers and their contributions:

• Front-end web developer: Front-end web developers create a website’s overall appearance and the components that users engage with, such as menus, links, text, and images. As a front-end developer, your goal is to make websites both visually appealing and easy to use.

• Back-end web developer: Focusing on the technical components that you can’t necessarily see but are imperative to a functional website, back-end developers work with key components such as application programming interfaces (APIs), databases, and user authentication.

• Full-stack web developer: Full-stack developers apply their vast knowledge of web development to perform front-end and back-end tasks. You will spend time developing an aesthetically pleasing user interface in addition to writing the code that enables the back-end components to work together.

What are web development skills?

Regardless of which category of web developer you belong to, you’ll need to understand how to use programming languages, libraries, and frameworks to help you perform your job at an increasingly competitive level. 

Basic web development skills

The primary programming languages for web development include CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. These three languages allow you to build webpages, customize features such as colors and layout, and add functions. Since people access websites on different types of devices, responsive design, which enables webpages to work across different screen sizes, is an important basic web development skill. The code you use in web development changes over time, making version control tools another standard skill for working on web development projects. For example, the popular version control system Git allows you to monitor revision history and even go back to the previous code if necessary.

Intermediate web development skills

Knowledge of libraries and frameworks will help improve your efficiency and output as a web developer, taking your performance to a higher level. Libraries are collections of pre-written code that ensure you don’t have to code from the beginning, while frameworks set an outline, or template, for you to follow to complete your project. Valuable libraries and frameworks in this space include Angular, React, and Vue.js. 

Beyond the three core web development programming languages, intermediate languages you may choose to learn include Python, Golang, and PHP. These languages will allow you to do more on the back-end side. Possessing both front-end and back-end skills is valuable because it will enable you to contribute to projects in their entirety and potentially take on more of a project management role as a result.

Advanced web development skills

It’s important to stay up to date with the latest developments to equip yourself with the most advanced web development techniques. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are changing web development by automating processes and providing a more personalized experience for the end user. For example, AI can assist with tasks such as search engine optimization (SEO) and debugging, and AI chatbots can provide virtual assistance to customers. 

Improvements in cybersecurity, such as HTTPS, also allow you to deepen your skill set in a meaningful way by better protecting user data. Other advanced web development techniques are code splitting, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, and server-side rendering. Code splitting allows you to break down code into smaller sections in order only to use what’s necessary when using a webpage, resulting in better loading speeds. IoT integration can help make the back-end storage and processing components more efficient, improve security by identifying cyberattacks, and consolidate data for faster web speeds. With server-side rendering, you can enable a web page to render content on the server side instead of the client side, resulting in improved loading speeds for users.

Is web development a popular skill?

Modern businesses place a great deal of value on their online presence to reach customers, making web development a skill many employers seek. With more people looking to get into web development to satisfy market demand, it’s important to focus on building a well-rounded, modern skill set to prepare for the future using tools such as AI and new frameworks to become a better web developer.

How to improve web development skills

You can improve your web development skills by choosing from several different paths on your journey to becoming a web developer, with skill-development opportunities in key areas such as front-end and back-end programming languages coming from a range of sources. While many choose to earn a degree, and this is certainly a valuable option, it’s not the only way. Online courses, self-learning, and certifications can all help you reach your goals.

Study for a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.

According to data from Zippia, 71 percent of web developers have a bachelor’s degree, while 14 percent have earned a master’s degree [1]. The most common degree majors for web developers are computer science, information technology, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Take an online course.

Enhance your skills through online courses, which offer the benefit of flexible scheduling to prepare you to become a web developer. For example, you can start out with Introduction to Web Development from UC Davis on Coursera. As you develop your skills, you can move on to more specialized courses such as Building Web Applications in PHP from the University of Michigan.

Work on projects for your portfolio.

Practicing web development is among the effective ways to learn the craft. Take what you learn and create projects, giving yourself opportunities to become comfortable using various tools. You can then use these projects to build a portfolio, which will help demonstrate your capabilities to employers. A good way to build a strong portfolio is to build your own website and feature projects you completed during your coursework or bootcamp.

Earn a certification.

You can find web development certifications in line with your current level of knowledge to keep progressing your skill set. For example, CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ focuses primarily on foundational technical skills, while Red Hat certifications can validate specific skills, such as automation or application development, that utilize Red Hat technology. In addition to helping you become a better web developer, putting in the time and effort to earn a certification also shows employers that you take your profession seriously and have a commitment to learning. The Google Developers Certification and AWS Certified Developer - Associate certification both serve as valuable options to validate web development skills as well.

Stay up to date with technology and trends.

Due to constant developments in the web development space, it’s crucial to dedicate yourself to continuous learning to evolve your skill set alongside growing web development trends such as AI and newer programming languages like Go and Rust. One way to do this is by pursuing certifications. You can also utilize online courses such as those on Coursera, attend conferences, and follow industry news.

Web developer job outlook and salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development jobs have a positive job outlook, with 8 percent growth projected from 2023 to 2033 [2]. This rate is faster than the national average and equates to approximately 16,500 job openings annually [3]. As a web developer, you can earn a competitive salary as well, with an average annual salary of $95,380, as of May 2023 [2].

Learn how to improve web development skills on Coursera

Whether through a college degree, online courses, or personal projects, you have several avenues for enhancing your web development skills. On Coursera, you can find highly rated courses to do just that. Consider earning a Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate, where you have the opportunity to learn how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create interactive webpages.