Front-end Developer vs Back-end Developers vs Full-stack Developer

With the growing need to build state-of-the-art websites, accompanied by the increasing scope of technology and tools, it can be a bit daunting to know which kind of developer you need for your project. A developer is an indispensable resource to build a website. 

Front-end Developer vs Back-end Developers vs Full-stack Developer – A Comparison

A front-end developer makes the website come alive by building everything that a user sees, clicks, scrolls and interacts with.

A back-end developer supports the front-end by managing the compatibility, server, database, coding for the website to function seamlessly.

A full-stack is skilled at managing both front-end and back-end together from start to end of a development.

Let’s deep-dive into each to ease your hiring process.

1. Front-end Developer

The front-end of a website is distinctly human, it’s something that the user sees, interacts with, and experiences. A front-end developer creates user-friendly web pages, visuals, and functionality to solve user-centric problems.

Responsibilities

• Build visually striking, user-driven websites
• Employ modern technologies and methodologies 
• Expert in user experiences and interactive graphic design, apart from appearance and usability
• Team up with various teams to deliver outstanding projects, on time and according to specification
• Effectively communicate technical issues with internal as well as external teams
• Evaluate requirements, wireframes, and competencies of related systems to propose appropriate solutions
• Design fully responsive websites that achieve business goals
• Manage multiple projects without sacrificing quality whilst working quickly
• Take the website from a layout to a fully functioning and responsive live site
• Install tracking codes and actively involved in delivering ever-improving online outcomes (registrations, conversions, etc.)
• Sustain beautiful and well-documented code
• Take charge to perform cross-browser testing and optimizations
• Tightly communicate with various teams about the process and progress of the project
• Stay up-to-date on the latest front-end technologies to keep sites fast and clean

Top Skills

• Experience in 3 primary coding languages: HTML, CSS, Javascript
• Strong oral and written communication skills 
• Good team player 
• High attention to detail, follows good software development practices
• Delivering stunning online experiences that conform to brand guidelines
• A passion to learn and advance via self-education; takes initiative for self-improvement
• Strong sense of responsibility and initiative
• Strives for excellence at every level
• Possess qualities of integrity, credibility, and accountability

Salary

The compensation value of hiring a front-end developer is determined by 3 factors: years of expertise, skillset, and location.

According to Payscale, the average base pay for a front-end developer in The United States is USD 72,235 per year excluding bonus, commission, and profit-sharing. The average base hourly rate is USD 28.65.

2. Back-end Developer

The back-end of a website works behind the scenes enabling the front-end experience. A back-end developer builds and maintains the server architecture, security, backup, and database administration to ensure front-end operations are smooth. A back-end developer translates the needs of the business and customers into functional and appealing interactive sites.

Responsibilities

• Interpret the business goals with respect to the website and build efficient development solutions
• Proactively build and manage the website, content management system, and its ancillary infrastructure technologies
• Ensuring the website is an accurate, up to date and engaging source and channel of communication
• Collaborate with front-end developers and different team members to formulate objectives, functional design, and cohesive codes to enrich the user experience
• Store data securely and ensure it is presented in the front-end when requested
• Build architecture of a system and Data science analyses
• Uphold the back-end functionality of the website
• Solve system related problems and implement algorithms
• Adhere to and master best techniques in website development, coding standards, and deployment processes
• Actively improve code release system, employ added automation and test the process
• Actively impart knowledge with the team and maintain documentation of tasks undertaken
• Passionate about expanding knowledge and learning through interactions and self-teach
• Ensure that updates, developments, and changes are delivered successfully within agreed timelines
• Self-manage workload through effective time management and prioritize tasks by using tools

Top Skills

• Proficient knowledge of Java, PHP, Python, .Net, SQL, and Ruby 
• Effective team player and decision-maker.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Excellent time and task management.
• Able to negotiate and influence.
• A pioneering approach to problem-solving, creative, and lateral thinking.
• Adept at listening to others in the form of concepts, feedback, and analyzing information.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate technical ideas to non-technical contemporaries.
• Capability to present ideas precisely and persuasively.

Salary 

The remuneration for a back-end developer is determined by factors such as knowledge, skills, level of experience, and location.

According to Payscale, the average base pay for a front-end developer in The United States is USD 71,680 per year excluding bonus, commission, and profit-sharing. The average base hourly rate is USD 22.50.

Also Read: Essential Skills to look for when you Hire Front-end Developers

3. Full-stack Developers

A full-stack developer is adept at both back-end and front-end to manipulate how the site looks at the user’s end. They understand the business needs and at the same time are aware of the engineering capabilities. A full-stack developer combines the art of programming with the art of design. 

Responsibilities

• Engage in requirements analysis, design, development, and testing.
• Be hands-on and own large technical deliverables and execute in an exemplary way.
• Coach and lead team members entirely from systematic problem solving to development of best processes.
• Participate in the development of project assessments, planning, and deliverables.
• Take advantage of a wide variety of front-end and back-end frameworks and technologies to build and iterate quickly
• Design creative prototypes according to specifications
• Be highly collaborative and write high-quality code 
• Work closely with development teams to design, develop and test new features 
• Work together jointly with the quality analyst team to establish testing prerequisites to ensure full coverage and the best quality of the product.
• Build test cases to be performed during development
• Design and maintenance of software, CMS, and database
• Generate technical documents and handbooks to represent design and code accurately
• Stay abreast on leading development best practices, emerging technologies, and design patterns.
• Be up-to-date with developments in web applications and programming languages

Top Skills

• Appetite for creating robust but simple to use solutions with real impact on consumers
• Proficient understanding of client-side and server-side programming languages
• Thorough knowledge of working with system infrastructure, web architecture, and communication protocols
• Comprehensive know-how of programming for diverse deployment strategies and principles
• Aptness at working independently as well as being a team player with excellent communication skills
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving capability
• Exceptional observation to details and time-management skills
• Curious and zealous about learning new things
• See the big picture, the vision of the business, and understands requirements.

Salary

The remuneration for a full-stack developer is determined by their skill sets, work experience, and location.

According to Payscale, the average base pay for a front-end developer in The United States is USD 75,057 per year excluding bonus, commission, and profit-sharing. The average base hourly rate is USD 36.20.

The Next Step

So should you hire a front-end developer or back-end developer or a full-stack developer? 

Full-stack developers add a lot of value for start-ups and small enterprises. Mid-sized and large companies have more value to extract from specialized front end and back end developers. 

The answer to this question is dependent on your business and project needs. It is crucial to recognize your business goals and project’s requirements to pick the right developer.