5 Key Terms Every Web Developer Should Know
Web Developers Should Know These Key Terms
Whether you’re doing front-end content management or back-end Drupal coding, the world of web development is myriad with specializations, ever-evolving trends, specific terminologies, and endlessly varying skill sets.
No matter your specialization, there are some key terms that all web developers should know – because like all disciplines, no area of web development is separate from another. Here are five key terms every web developer should know.
Usability
Usability refers to the ease of use of a website, program, or application. Knowledge of usability is vital to any web developer, no matter their specialization. The more usable a site or program is to use, the more successful it’s likely to be. If your product isn’t usable, there’s a good chance that users won’t come back no matter how good its contents are.
Usability resources are consistently expanding and evolving along with UI and UX trends and data, so continuing to learn about usability is highly recommended for all web development professionals.
UX/UI
UX/UI refers to user experience and user interface. These terms are often used together, because a well-built user interface is inseparable from user experience. UX/UI is a highly specialized area of web development, incorporating principles of design and art, accessibility, and various programming languages. UX/UI is an area of expertise that often involves front end and back end building and programming.
While some web developers may focus on one area or another, most UX or UI professionals will have training in both.
Front End
Front end programming refers to programming everything that the user sees. This type of programming involves conversion of code-embedded data to the user interface, utilizing such languages as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and Javascript or JQuery.
Front end web development is often done in a platform specialized to the purpose, such as WordPress, Magento, or Dreamweaver. Training on a variety of these platforms is an excellent idea for front end web developers, and helps to increase employability.
Back End
Back end programming provides the core system of any program, server, or website. Using compiling and high-level languages such as C, C#, and Java, back end programmers ensure that functionality and data requests are delivered to the user. Back end programmers are responsible for application logic processes, database building and maintenance, and API. They also debug processes that interfere with site or program functionality.
Back end programmers, front end programmers, and UX/UI professionals often work closely together to ensure a high degree of functionality and usability in a site or program.
Wireframe
A wireframe is a sketched outlay of a website or program’s interface. It tells the UI designer how the site’s contents should be arranged, what functionalities should be included, and how those functionalities should be prioritized. Wireframes are utilized by almost every web development specialist to maximize usability and functionality, and subsequently represent an important tool that all web developers should be intimately acquainted with.
Conclusion
These five key web development terms represent important areas of expertise in web development. No matter what your specialization is, familiarization with each of these terms and the skill sets they represent will make your role easier – and can help make you much more effective at your work.
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