It’s more important than ever to be able to demonstrate a high level of competency and skill in languages that are in high demand. It’s a highly competitive employment marketplace, and anything you can do to set yourself apart will pay off in the long run.
One of the hottest skills is, of course, web development. There’s a huge call for professionals skilled in the languages needed to help design smooth running and slick websites for both mobile and PC platforms.
HTML/CSS/JavaScript: Front End Languages
Three of the most important “front end” languages are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These all have specific uses, and all three are used to design websites. They help define form, function, and style – and are all necessary skills to become web developer.
What is HTML
This is one of the fundamental building blocks of the web. HTML, or “HyperText Markup Language,” has been around in some form since roughly 1993, when it was created by physicist Tim Berners-Lee. It’s now in its fifth generation, HTML5.
HTML isn’t a programming language, rather it’s a “Markup language.” It uses a syntax of tags to change the way text is displayed, for instance. It can also define where images go on a page.
What’s great is that HTML is relatively simple to learn. It provides a great place to start for people who don’t have experience with programming languages to learn the basics of coding.
What is CSS
CSS or “Cascading Style Sheets” works with HTML to create the format for web pages. It works on top of the foundation of a page that was created with HTML. It also helps adapt pages to different formats optimized for desktops or mobile devices. The latest standard is CSS3, meaning they are in their third generation.
CSS is what gives websites their polished and professional look. It also allows for the addition of interactive elements like background color, headers, shapes, graphics, and more that make websites and web applications much more engaging to the viewer.
What is JavaScript
JavaScript, which is often abbreviated to JS, is another front-end programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior, often incorporating third-party libraries like JQuery. Whereas HTML & CSS are used to control presentation, formatting, and layout, JavaScript is used to control the behavior of different web elements.
It is important to learn HTML and CSS before learning JavaScript, since HTML and CSS are the core technologies for building web pages and applications. HTML defines the structure of your content, CSS determines the style and layout, and JavaScript makes the content interactive; therefore, it makes the most sense to learn them in that order. JavaScript incorporates valuable skills such as object-oriented, functional, and imperative styles of programming. Beginner developers, in turn, can apply these skills to any new language they want to learn, like Python and C#.
Understanding how to program in JavaScript is essential to landing any web development job. JavaScript is more complex than both HTML and CSS. However, that doesn’t mean it’s beyond anyone’s grasp. Both professionals and amateur developers both use JavaScript code to make professional-looking websites.
What kind of jobs can I get with HTML, CSS, & Javascript?
Full Stack Web Developer
A full-stack web developer can develop both client-side functionality and appearance, as well as back-end server software. To do this, you’ll need to master the basic building blocks of HTML and CSS, then program a browser using JavaScript. Once you have experience working with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, you’ll be a great fit for many different entry-level web development positions, and will have the foundation to dive into server and database technologies. Once getting a handle on browser, server and database systems and how they’re interrelated, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a “full stack” web developer. Becoming a full-stack web developer makes you extremely competitive and sought after by many of the top companies in all geographic areas.
Full Stack developers are sought after in all fields, such as life sciences, financial services, defense, academics, and more. There are both entry-level positions and positions of greater responsibility that require a more sophisticated understanding of all these topics.
Front End Developer
All websites, APIs, and web applications use HTML, CSS and JS elements to function. Developers are in high demand, as web-dependent businesses continue to evolve constantly. Since trends in design change, there’s always a need for developers to do the behind-the-scenes work to update the user experience to modern design trends.
Web Designer
As a web designer, you’ll work closely with clients or co-workers to design websites that are functional and visually appealing. You’ll be working not just behind-the-scenes coding in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, but also with the colors, shapes, and fonts that make the website pop for the client.
Common terms in web design you’ll become familiar with are UX and UI design. What is the difference between UX and UI design? UX design refers to the term “user experience design”, while UI stands for “user interface design”. Both elements are crucial to a product and work closely together. But despite their professional relationship, the roles themselves are different, and can refer to very different aspects of the product development process at different stages.
UX Designer
A User Experience Designer focuses on the effectiveness of a product. As the name suggests, a UX designer will build the structural design solutions that streamline the full customer experience from end to end.
UI Designer
A User Interface designer will focus on making the product aesthetically pleasing. This includes all the visual elements that allow users to interact with a product – the layout, typography, color palette, buttons, animations and imagery that create the product or application.
Due to their complementary roles in web development, UI and UX design skills and technologies often overlap one another. When you have working knowledge of both concentrations, this helps to create a more cohesive and transparent design process that leads to a better, more usable final product.
Freelance Web Designer
If you are a full-stack developer, skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it is easy to find freelance opportunities, rather than settling on one employer. This is a big advantage to many freelancers working across industries, who often are able to enjoy the flexibility of working remotely.
The only downside can be unpredictability. If one job ends, you may have lag time before you find another freelance opportunity. The good news is that these days, there are a host of online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and more, with countless employers and small business owners in constant need of skilled web designers.
Be sure to post all your certifications, experience, and portfolio on your various job search platform profiles, to help you find matches more quickly!
How do I learn HTML/CSS/JavaScript?
The good news is that both HTML and CSS are fairly approachable languages. People have been learning HTML on their own for decades, though a deeper, more professional skill level comes with taking courses, either online or at in-person training programs.
For a quick introduction, there are a host of different tutorials available online for learning basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Microsoft, W3Schools, Khan Academy, and more have some great, easy-to-follow study materials to help familiarize yourself with the topic and start creating some sample web pages.
To gain a competitive edge however, it is recommended to pursue a software development degree or related field. As part of your studies, you will learn and be exposed to various languages, including HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Having a degree can be a boost to finding your dream job in data analytics, cybersecurity, and web design.
How do I land a position in Web Development?
The first step to landing a web development position is to get command of all three front-end languages: HTML/CSS/JavaScript. CIAT’s stackable, accelerated software development programs are a great option to get you started.
The Applied Associate to Bachelor’s Degree in Software Development – Web Development Concentration program will get you up and running in the core languages used across the industry, such as:
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- PYTHON
- PHP
- MySql
- Linux
And more!
CIAT’s virtual campus allows anyone, anywhere to attend live classes online with flexible schedules.
Once you develop proficiency in these languages, it’s time to create a coding portfolio. You’ll be working on that during your coursework at CIAT. Your portfolio lets you put your best foot forward and show potential employers what you’re capable of!
