The internet is now in reach to almost 3.2 billion people around the world. It hosts close to 1.5 billion websites, although this number continues to fluctuate every second. Website developers are the individuals who make this immense operation possible. Currently, there are 23 million web developers around the world and the numbers are expected to grow substantially over the next few years.
The prospects of web development
Website development is one of the highest-paying and in-demand jobs at the moment. Internet access is growing rapidly and with digital demands from almost every segment of society, web developers are needed around the globe. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US, the growth in web development job openings is higher than that of any other occupation in the country.
Web developers have a variety of options when it comes to making money. They can choose to work freelance or join a company that requires their services. The cash they take home depends on their respective positions. In the case of freelancing it varies from project to project. This is why it is hard to accurately determine how much a web developer can make but they make handsome amounts annually and these are predicted to grow as time progresses.
Where to start
The answer to this question can vary based on who is asking. The common beginning point for anyone looking to begin a career in web development is to decide which field they are most interested in. This can require a significant amount of research but it matters because it can help set the person on the right path. There are many interesting disciplines of web development to choose from.
Front-end, back-end, full-stack, mobile application development, etc. are just a few avenues that can be explored. For young graduates who have the time to acquire full-length specializations, there are several institutes that facilitate the process. On the other hand, professionals looking to switch careers or explore web development can opt for web developer boot camps which are an effective learning medium.
Elements of a successful career
A web developer must be well-versed in a few things. So, a person who is wondering about their possibilities in this field should be up to date with the latest tools and techniques which are prevalent. Here are a few:
Coding languages
There are several programming languages in use at the moment right now. JavaScript, due to quite a few reasons is one of the most popular and even considered a de-facto language when designing websites and applications. Many platforms and designs require knowledge of JavaScript as a foundation. Other languages which are industry standard include TypeScript and Python.
Frameworks
Frameworks are classified by the part of the website which they are being used to design. Prominent front-end frameworks include React, Vue.js, and Angular among several others. Each framework has its own pros and cons, so has the process of learning them. Talking about back-end frameworks, the most frequently used are MeteorJS, ExpressJS, Laravel, and Symfony etc.
Utilities
These tools are designed to help developers control the chaos which ensues during a website development project. These package managers handle all the libraries and other dependencies being used by a developer at any time. Some principal package managers are NPM, Yarn and Turbo or Composer, Pip and Gem, etc. These utilities or package managers vary from one language to another like the first set is associated with JavaScript while the latter is for PHP.
Conclusion
Web developers are amongst the hottest commodities on the market these days. The low unemployment rates, job growth, and healthy salaries are just some of the features attracting more and more people to join the fold. Unfortunately, sometimes, these individuals are not provided the proper counseling and they end up making bad choices that adversely impact their careers.