The internet has opened up so many opportunities for us. We can find just about anything we want, talk with people around the world, and even make a living without ever leaving our homes. The structure of the "information superhighway" allows us to do these things in new and better ways, but it also means web developers are in high demand.
The "Internet of Things" is the idea that devices such as thermostats, light bulbs, refrigerators, air conditioners and more will be connected to the internet in the near future. These digital appliances will be able to communicate with us to help create a smarter home that's easier to control from our smartphones. This is causing an increase in demand for people who can build apps for these devices - and make sure they're secure enough to keep your private information safe when hackers may try to exploit them. But it's not just about app building. There are plenty of other positions available for web developers as well.
The nature of web development means you can work on either front-end development or back-end development (or both). Front-end development focuses on how your pages look and feels. You'll be responsible for building user interface elements and designing websites that are easy to browse and use.
The majority of web developers I know fall into one of two camps: those who work on the back end (server-side programming) and those who work on the front end (client-side programming). The back-end developer will work closely with the user interface designer and server administrator to code up an application that runs in the cloud. The front-end developer is responsible for coding up the actual user interface. These two positions can overlap—for example, a front-end developer may have a working knowledge of PHP to be able to integrate it into their work—but most developers specialize in one or the other.
Web development is exciting because there are so many different things you can do within it. You can be a graphic designer creating beautiful images for websites, or a film editor trimming clips for your clients' videos. You can be a marketing expert using sophisticated analytics.
With the I.T. industry growing so rapidly, web development is a strong field to go into. Web developers are able to work in many different fields, they're well paid, and they have a lot of flexibility. So if you're thinking about learning how to code and becoming a web developer, it might seem like an easy choice. But as with any career path, there are some downsides and challenges that come with being a web developer.
If you're thinking about pursuing web development as a career, or if you're just looking to increase your skill set, it's worth considering what the job really entails.
