Front-end Development vs. Web Development: Differences and Similarities

Everything you see online, from the layout and user experience of the blog you are currently reading to the advanced search capabilities of an online store you bought your sneakers yesterday, was crafted by skilled software developers. But who are these people standing behind the modern web? Who exactly is responsible for creating the web page you’re currently viewing: a front-end developer or a web developer? We can agree that many misconceptions surround these two essential development roles. But in reality, it’s not that complicated.

Although closely related, they still have distinct responsibilities and skill sets involved. In fact, these development roles even shape different aspects of the Internet we are familiar with today. Understanding these two roles is important, no matter whether you’re looking to hire the right talent, collaborate effectively on a project, or simply gain a better grasp of how the Internet works. So, for this purpose, we have written our today’s front-end development vs. web development comparison. In this article, we will try to finally find the answer to the question of what is the difference between a front-end developer and a web developer. So, without any further ado, let’s go!

What is web development?

So, let’s begin by explaining the basics of both concepts, one by one.

Definition and scope

The concept of web development typically refers to the process of designing, developing, and maintaining web pages or web apps. This process consists of several elements, such as designing the site, creating its structure, providing the content managing logic, ensuring its functionality across different OSs and devices, as well as eventually deploying, integrating, testing, and maintaining it. Web developers can work with both front and back ends, but let’s discuss this point in more detail. 

A bit more about the types of web development

In fact, web development can be divided into three sub-categories rather than two: 

Front-end development, which focuses on the interactive and visual aspects of a website, as well as implementing specific elements of user experience;

Back-end development, which handles everything users don’t see, e.g., the server-side logic and database interactions;

Full-stack development, which combines the tasks of both front-end and back-end development.

From the web development perspective, the front end is just a specific part of the development process that is responsible for the website’s visual side and user experience.

Key roles and responsibilities

When it comes to real-life examples, for most projects, you would see more precise option descriptions than just a web developer. As web development involves a wide scope of tasks, you are much more likely to see front-end or back-end development as a job description rather than web development. In case the option involves a position where the developer will be responsible for all nuances of development (in fact, we are talking about the options for the entire cycle of web development), the job description will still be called full-stack development rather than web development.

What is front-end development?

Although we’ve touched on clarified certain aspects of front-end development, let’s take a closer look at it.

Definition and scope

As we said previously, the front end of web development focuses on the user-facing parts of websites. However, speaking generally, front-end development is responsible not only for the web; it’s way broader in its own sense. Beyond basic web development, the concept of front-end development is also used to describe creating user-facing parts for mobile apps, sometimes even desktop apps, as well as other digital platforms. Now, let’s look at what the front-end development vs. web development intersection looks like:

Key roles and responsibilities

Front-end developers create the parts of the software that users see and use. These parts are commonly referred to as the user interface or UI. The key responsibilities of any front-end designer include translating design mockups into code in order to bring these UIs to life. And, at the same time, the responsibilities of front-end developers include ensuring responsiveness across devices and optimizing performance. 

Technologies used

Front-end development services fully rely on three programming languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Also, modern front-end frameworks save front-end developers tons of time, eliminating the need to reinvent the wheel every time the website is built.

Key differences between web development and front-end development

Here is a short comparison of front-end development vs. web development in certain aspects that highlight the difference between these two concepts.

Aspect	Web development	Front-end development
Definition	The process of developing, designing, and maintaining websites and web apps	The process of developing parts of the software users see and interact with
Scope	Includes both front-end and back-end development, as well as design, security, and content management	Scope focuses only on the client-side or user-facing part of interfaces; however, it is used not only in web development
Focus	The entire cycle of development of websites and web apps	Concentrates on creating user interfaces and ensuring they are aesthetically good and intuitive, regardless of the app type
Technologies	A wide range of programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JS for front-end, and Python/ Ruby/ PHP/ Java for back-end development. Also includes some ready-to-use tech stacks for full-stack development	HTML, CSS, JavaScript (as well as JavaScript frameworks)
Design involvement	Involves the overall design but is not limited to it; focuses also on functionalities and back-end operations	Highly involved in design, especially UI/UX design. More focus on aesthetics, layout, and user experience.
Responsiveness	Ensures the site works well across all devices, not just how it looks but also how it functions	Primarily concerned with how the website adapts visually to different screen sizes and devices
Skills required	Broader skill set, including both front-end and back-end technologies	Specialized skills in front-end technologies
Testing	Full-stack testing, including unit testing, integration tests, and end-to-end tests	Unit testing of components (including design elements), UI testing, browser compatibility testing

Similarities between web developers and front-end developers

In contrast, here’s what unites these two concepts:

Involvement in web projects

Both front-end and web development are important for building and maintaining websites. When building a web project, you typically need to consider both.

Shared tech stack

Both front-end and web development partially share a tech stack. Three main backbone languages for developing any web application, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, are an important part of the tech stack in both cases.

Collaboration with designers

Both web and front-end developers often work closely with designers. The main goal of both is translating design mockups into functional websites. In some sense, both types of developers ensure the design vision is accurately implemented.

User experience focus

Both disciplines prioritize creating a positive user experience. In terms of design, goals are quite easy in both development types: developers ensure the website is intuitive, aesthetical, and responsive.

Web developer vs. front-end developer: Which one should you choose?

If you face a situation where you need to decide who to choose for your next project: a web developer vs. a front-end developer, consider these factors:

• Project scope: Web developers offer broader skills, while front-end web developers provide deeper expertise in building user-facing elements of websites;
• Project size: While smaller projects may be built by one software engineer with a range of full-stack skills required for the entire circle of web development, large projects typically require more specification and emphasize hiring front-end and back-end developers separately;
• Team structure: For instance, if you already have back-end developers in your team, front-end specialists complement them better than wide full-stack developers;
• Budget: Full-stack developers for the web might command higher rates due to their broader skill set.

The general rule is that it’s a good idea to hire a web developer if:

1. You need a full-stack solution that includes both client-side and server-side development (typical for small projects);
2. Your project needs complex database management and custom server configuration;
3. You’re building a complex web application with extensive back-end functionality;
4. You need someone who can handle all aspects of developing a web project, from the very early concept to the deployment and maintenance.

In turn, hire front-end developers if:

1. You focus primarily on user interface and user experience in your current project;
2. You already have back-end systems in place and need someone to create the client-side interface;
3. You’re looking to directly improve the design, interactivity, or performance of an existing website;
4. You aim to create a truly modern and responsive web experience using the latest front-end technologies.

get a custom solution for your project

contact our expert

The future of web development

Web development evolves rapidly, embracing new digital technologies and development methodologies. The future promises more integrated, powerful, and versatile web ecosystems for development. Here are some other future trends in web development:

• Serverless architectures: Web developers will probably focus more on cloud-based and serverless solutions, moving beyond traditional server management. Although serverless architecture didn’t come out yesterday, we would expect to see even more cloud-based solutions in the future.
• Full-stack JavaScript development: Full-stack JavaScript development blurs the lines between front-end and back-end development, so we expect to see web development even more reliant on this powerful programming language.
• AI and ML integration: Besides the integration of AI into the development process itself, we would probably see more AI-driven features in web applications (e.g., more personalization and customization).
• More PWAs: Web developers will create more app-like experiences that work across all devices and platforms seamlessly

The future of front-end development

At the same time, front-end development is becoming more specialized. Nowadays, the primary focus of front-end development is on creating an exceptional user experience. Also, the future will probably see a deeper emphasis on improved interactivity and enhanced performance. Here are some of the front-end development trends:

• New front-end architecture approaches: Lately, new front-end architectures, such as web components or micro front-ends, have become more and more popular among front-end developers;
• Component-based design systems: Unlike full-stack integration, front-end developers also will use more and more reusable UI components and design systems.
• Advanced CSS techniques: Front-end developers master complex layouts and animations using CSS Grid and new CSS features.
• Accessibility-first development: There will be a stronger emphasis on creating inclusive interfaces, going beyond basic web standards.

Final thoughts

Web and front-end development, while closely related, serve distinct roles in building the Internet that surrounds us today. Comparing front-end development vs. web development, we can easily see that each of these concepts is broader in some way than another. While intersecting, these two types of development have different targets: web development tackles the full spectrum of website creation, while front-end development focuses on crafting user interfaces and user experiences. 

The choice of web developer vs. front-end developer eventually depends on your project’s scope, specific needs, and the team involved. Ultimately, we hope that understanding the strengths and specificities of each role helps ensure that you choose the right expertise to bring your project to life. However, if you have any further questions regarding the difference between these two concepts, need more specific advice regarding the developers you want to hire, or just looking for a development team capable of bringing your website idea to life, don’t hesitate to contact ELITEX. With a trusted front-end developer, such as ELITEX, even the boldest ideas turn into web experiences beyond your initial expectations.

FAQs

Our services

JavaScript Development

React.js Developers

Custom Software Development

Dedicated Development Teams

Let’s talk about your project

Drop us a line! We would love to hear from you.

• Richard Zaslavsky Client Partner
• Book a Call