Which skills to look for in a Front-End Developer?
Business owners often get confused with different aspects and terminologies used in software development. For example, they are not sure if they should hire express js developers or front-end developers. Understanding these terminologies and their importance will give better clarity to the recruiters.
Who is a Front-End Developer?
Every application can be bifurcated into two parts – front end and back end. The backend involves the coding required to bring the changes you see on the front of the application. The application's front end is the face of the application used to interact with the users. For example, the buttons, links, and animations the user views on a website are part of the front end. If the user selects these links or buttons and sends some requests, then this is passed to the backend to send back the requested information. The front-end developer is responsible for defining the user interaction on the web page.
With time, the role of the front-end developer has become crucial. User experience has become imperative for any website to thrive in this competitive environment. The developer has to work precisely on every component, from design to the page loading time to deliver a website with excellent performance and user experience. Front-end development comprises many technologies and languages, which implies that hiring a developer with a particular skill will not solve the purpose. Below are some of the skills that every front-end developer should know. Let us start with the technical skills.
Technical Skills for A Front-End Developer
1. HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is one of the basic technical skills required to develop a web page. Every front-end developer should be fluent in using HTML for web development. Simple elements like buttons and links can be used to display the content in different ways. HTML is the foundation of any web page.
2. CSS
Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) is usually pronounced together with HTML. The front-end developers use CSS to define different parameters for the web page, including the font, style, and colors. CSS is an even more critical skill today as web page representation significantly attracts customers.
3. JavaScript/jQuery
JavaScript is the technical skill required to create an interactive web page. Using JavaScript, different features such as videos, scrolling abilities, and animations can be brought to work on the web page. jQuery, on the other hand, is a library that contains plug-ins and extensions required to implement JavaScript on a web page.
4. Frameworks
Before you hire front-end developers, enquire about their knowledge and experience with the frameworks. Many frameworks can be used to fasten the website development. Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap are some of the common frameworks used for website development. These frameworks are used to develop the catalog of classes for your web page. The front-end developers use these frameworks to create mobile-friendly and attractive designs for web pages.
5. JavaScript frameworks and libraries
The next level of development is about the libraries and frameworks required to develop a complete front end of the application.
Here are a few of the languages:
JQuery JQuery is a very commonly used JavaScript library to make HTML DOM tree universal and handle events and CSS styles.
AJAX AJAX is the technology used to perform asynchronous request-response cycles allowing the web applications to send and receive server responses without disturbing the behavior of other elements on the web page.
JSON JSON uses JavaScript prototype objects to simplify the complex data transfer on a web page. In addition, the front-end developers use several encoder and decoder libraries for different server-based web languages.
These are some of the server libraries. We also have other popular options, including React JS, Angular JS, and Vue JS. You can hire a dedicated front-end developer as per the need. For example, you can hire angular JS developers to work in the Angular JS tech stack. You can also hire Vue JS developers to work on its tech stack. However, anyone of these developers may not turn out to be a front-end developer as they need experience in many languages and technical skills.
6. Version control
Version control plays a very important role in maintaining the development codes. It supports the code changes in different versions to ensure that the right codes go into the final delivery.
7. Testing
Testing is a necessary aspect of every kind of development. Developers working on front-end development must conduct different types of testing, including unit and functional testing, to ensure that every line of code works perfectly. The developers should have good experience in using commonly used tools and software for testing.
Experience with the browser developer tools is the next thing you can look forward to in a front-end developer. These developer tools consist of an inspector and JavaScript console, which allow you to view the runtime HTML view on the web page. In addition, the JS console enables you to identify errors in the JS code execution.
8. Site optimization
This is a part of the technical skills that every front-end developer needs to possess. Any website has to perform very smoothly. In this competitive age, any delay in page loading can give way to the competitors. The front-end developer should know how to analyze the web performance and improve it. They can minify the CSS and JavaScript or optimize the images for the best web performance.
Non-Technical Skills
Technical skills are not the whole and sole of software development. The front-end developer has to coordinate with different team members and work in sync. Communication skill is also essential. Conduct a face-to-face interview with the developer to understand his verbal skills.
Besides being vocal, the developer should have a team player mindset. Business owners have to be more conscious before they hire a remote front-end developer who works independently. They should be made aware of the teamwork culture practiced at the workplace.
Another vital skill is problem-solving. New products and solutions will invite new issues. The front-end developer should have sound logic and a basic understanding of all the technical skills to solve the problems at hand. The progressive attitude is the most important element of the problem-solving skill where the developer is constructively involved in solving the issue without wasting time in raising unnecessary concerns.
Conclusion
Front-end development is not a skill that can be learned in one day. At the same time, developers cannot understand one or two skills to claim themselves as front-end developers. The developers have to work on all these technical skills to start their journey as front-end developers. The recruiters have to keep a keen eye to assess the designing and problem-solving skills of the developer.
In the coming years, new technologies and languages are going to come up for front-end development. The developers may fall short even with these skill sets. There is no limitation, and the front-end developers must continuously upgrade their knowledge repository. Businesses should keep this list in mind before hiring front-end developers to develop the best website to get a competitive edge in the market. You can also hire an IT agency with a team of expert front-end developers for your next project.