About
Web Development
Integrate your critical thinking and problem solving skills by enrolling in Canada’s best web development courses. Learn how to build, create, and design professional websites, web apps, mobile apps, and digital products while crafting interfaces that enhance user experience.
Web development is the practice of writing code that communicates to web applications and websites how to operate. It requires a combination of creativity and technical proficiency, a balancing act between functional execution and design aesthetics. Web developers usually specialize in “front-end” (client-side), or “back-end” (server-side) development, however there are some in-demand professionals that can do both called “full-stack developers.”
On a daily basis, web developers translate layouts and visual designs while incorporating content and graphics into web pages. Besides optimizing website performance, web developers also troubleshoot any performance issues that may come up. Testing is a key part of their duties, encompassing unit testing, user acceptance testing, and integration testing. It’s a collaborative role that requires regular communication with teammates, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure that technical and creative requirements are aligned with the final product.
From 2022 to 2031, Job Bank data reveals that the balance between job seekers and web development roles posted are relatively balanced in Canada, with 10,400 new jobs available for web developers and designers and 12,700 job seekers to fill them. In the US however, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for digital designers and web developers are expected to increase 16 per cent from 2022 to 2032, with an average of 19,000 new job openings every year.
Web development programs range from degree to diploma programs, certificate courses, and intensive 12-week-long bootcamps. There are many focus areas available, allowing students to customize their studies based on their preferred career path.
For example, in a full-stack web development diploma program, students might learn: foundational skills in programming, database technologies, and mathematics; how to build the client side of the web; how to interface with the server, fundamental design skills, as well as project and team management skills.
Programs usually have interdisciplinary projects for students to apply what they’ve learned. Besides web development programs, taking short courses or bootcamps in graphic design and UX design can be a welcome addition to the web developer’s toolkit.
According to Indeed, the average salary for a web developer in Canada is $75,766, and top companies across the country are paying within the range of $56,936 to $139,644 depending on experience level. On average, Talent.com reports that full-stack developers in Canada earn $136,490, with entry-level positions starting at $109,626 and more experienced professionals earning up to $155,140. Front-end developers make an average of $102,735, while back-end developers make $146,071.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Which skills are essential for a career in web development?
To become a successful web developer requires a multifaceted skill set. Foundational skills include proficiency in HTML and CSS, as these languages define the styling and structure of web content. JavaScript is also a must-have programming language in a web developer’s toolkit, which is often paired with training in frameworks such as Angular and React.
Web developers should also be well-versed in responsive design skills, have command line mastery, and in-depth knowledge in web performance optimization. Specifically, back-end developers should be proficient in Python and Node.js, combined with skills in database management (MySQL or MongoDB).
Finally, testing and debugging expertise, combined with knowledge of web accessibility standards are also integral to a web developer’s success.
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Do you have to go to school to become a web developer?
While it is possible to work in web development without a degree, many web developers hold either an associate or bachelor’s degree in digital design, web design, or graphic arts.
For those keen on taking a conventional approach to learning how to code, a bachelor’s degree in computer science offers versatile opportunities across many career paths. Besides working in web development, graduates from computer science programs can also find work as a software engineer, data scientist, machine learning engineer, systems analyst, and more.
Many universities, colleges, and coding bootcamps offer certificate programs and intensive courses, which provides the foundational and practical training aspiring web developers need to get their career off the ground.
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How do I build a strong portfolio for web development?
Including a diverse range of projects in your portfolio for clients across industries will show your versatility as a developer, so don’t simply add projects from a single niche.
According to web design expert Jay Eckert, you should only showcase samples in your portfolio that align with the type of work you want to attract. Writing for BrainStation, Eckert suggests 8-10 projects is a sweet spot for potential employers.
It’s also imperative that you can tell a compelling story about the samples you’ve shared. Questions to ask yourself include: What am I inspired by? What were some of the challenges that I faced on the project? How did I use programming languages to translate my vision into reality?
To get your portfolio to stand out, consider creating custom pages instead of just using a template (employers have already seen most of what your college instructor assigned to you–many times over.) With a thoughtful approach, you’ll get to showcase both your personality and design and development skills.
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What are common career paths for web developers?
Career paths in the web development field vary depending on your skills, experience and interests. But here are some typical career paths for web developers:
Front-end developers work on user experience and interfaces, while using languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Back-end developers, on the other hand, manage databases, ensure apps operate smoothly, and work with languages such as Python, PHP, Ruby, and Node.js. As a combination of both front-end and back-end development expertise, full-stack developers have greater versatility and the ability to manage entire projects.
Web developers that are passionate about user experience and design can consider transitioning into the UI/UX field, which focuses primarily on crafting optimal digital experiences for users.
Startups or smaller teams might also hire web developers to tackle DevOps engineering duties, which specialize in streamlining the deployment and development process. Web developers interested in improving and automating the software building, testing, and deployment processes could consider the DevOps engineering pathway.
Web developers interested in building apps for mobile devices can look into the mobile app developer pathway, which leverages technologies such as Flutter, React Native, as well as adding native development skills for iOS and Android to their arsenal.
There’s also the option to move up into leadership roles within web development team lead or manager career pathways. In this case, developers would oversee a team of developers, handle project management and decision making–while ensuring seamless team collaboration.
Finally, specialized roles for web developers are also a possibility, where professionals can build on a particular area of experience. For example, web developers can specialize in cloud computing as a cloud developer, cyber security as a web security analyst, or a particular framework and programming language such as a React developer.
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Should I specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development?
Deciding to specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development depends on your career goals and interests. However, it’s worth noting that in many cases, web developers will start their career specializing in one area and eventually grow their skill set to full-stack development.
Here’s an overview of each career path, along with benefits to choosing each one.
Front-end development focuses on the user experience and user interface of an application or website. Skills needed for front-end development includes: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, and Vue.js. Those interested in design aesthetics and leveraging their creativity may be interested in front-end development, as their work will have instant visual impact on users.
As for back-end development, the focus is on the server-side, dealing with business logic and database management. Skills needed for this career path include: Node.js, Ruby, Python, and Java, as well as databases MySQL and MongoDB. Those excited about the functionality and core logic of applications might choose to specialize in back-end development.
Finally, full-stack developers offer their employers end-to-end expertise by covering both front-end and back-end development. Those excited by the prospect of understanding the complete development process, and being able to work on projects in their entirety should consider becoming a full-stack developer.