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A website developer designs and creates websites. Additionally, they may create or manage their client’s web content to meet business goals. Ensuring websites are optimized for search engines is also important so they would be knowledgable of page load speed, content delivery networks, and conduct quality tests to ensure peak performance. Watch a video to learn what a website developer does.
How to Become a Website Developer
Though not necessary, an associate’s degree in web design or degree in a similar field is helpful to gain employment. However, gaining a bachelor’s degree may increase your chances of landing a job as many website developers hold a bachelor’s degree. When researching degree programs, look for programs that teach you how to code as well as design graphics. Though some website developers may be tasked to only code, it is more desirable to employers if a developer can do both. Most community colleges and even trade schools have programs and certifications for web designers.
Job Description of a Website Developer
A website developer designs visually appealing websites. Their goal is to get a client’s website rapidly seen or promoted online. A developer is also skilled in writing custom scripts for their clients using various scripting languages. They would have an understanding of HTML, CSS, and programming languages such as Javascript, PHP, or SQL. Knowing the foundations of coding is essential as employers may require specific programming language knowledge for their projects.
A website developer would likely create the entire website. Therefore, they would design the functional components, to include all the pages and the site layout. A skilled developer designs their client’s website with consideration to a specific market and creates innovative ways to showcase their customer’s services or products. The web developer assists their clients by suggesting ideas that may provide advantages over competitors websites. Because they help their clients grow their business or brand, they must also have the ability to build relationships with their clients.
A web developer designs websites to be easily assessable as well and should check their design and code to ensure it is accessible to all. Intuitive design is just as important as having quality code. Website developers usually work full time. However, their schedule could be flexible. These professionals may work as contractors on many projects, own their own small business developing sites for their own clients, or work for a design and development firm with a team of people.
Free Resources for Teachers and Students
The World Wide Web Consortium (also known as the W3C) offers a free course on EdX.org called HTML5 and CSS Fundamentals to get you started in web design. This course is also part of the W3C’s Front-End Web Developer professional certificate. The W3C also offers another free course on EdX.org called Introduction to Web Accessibility. This course will help you learn how to make your websites accessible to all.
Web Developer Career Video Transcript
Web developers have the unusual ability to think creatively while working with very structured information. If you enjoy exploring websites and want to work with both design and technical skills, web development may be the career for you. Web developers design the look and function of a website. They may develop content and work with customers or company leaders to define a website’s purpose, audience, and the needs it should meet. They often work in teams to determine how to organize and layout the website.
Developers use programming languages to build the website and integrate graphics, audio, and video. Some developers handle all aspects of a website’s construction, while others specialize in a certain aspect of it. Specialized web developers include web architects, who create the basic framework of the site and ensure that it provides users with the intended experience; web designers, who create the site’s layout and integrate graphics, applications; and webmasters, who ensure that websites function correctly and keep them updated.
Most web developers enter the field with an associate’s degree in web design or a related field, but skills in programming languages may be more important to employers than education credentials. Throughout their career, web developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages. A significant percentage of web developers are self-employed.
Article Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Web Developers.
National Center for O*NET Development. 15-1134.00. O*NET OnLine.