What are the most important skills for a Web Developer?
Some of the most important skills for a web developer are:
HTML & CSS:
HTML defines the structure of a web page whereas CSS is used to modify and enhance that structure by adding styling. You must have a good grip on these two languages to design a good front-end.
Web Protocols:
A good developer must have a solid grasp of the web protocols HTTP and HTTPS and how they work, as well as of of how clients and servers communicate. Working knowledge of Secure Shell Protocol (SSL), used to encrypt the data between servers and clients, is also very helpful.
JavaScript:
JavaScript can be used as both a client and server side technology. It can be used to do things like add interactivity to web pages, enhance browser security, manage web content dynamically, etc. It also supports numerous libraries and frameworks that make the life of a web developer easier.
Web Technologies & Frameworks:
A good developer will often want to use a framework to make web development faster and easier. Some popular frameworks include: React.js, Angular.js, and Vue.js for frontend and Ruby on Rails, Express, and Django for back-end.
To write the server side of your website, you need to have a sound grip of some back-end technology. The most popular ones are Java, .NET, Python, Ruby, and Nodejs.
Command Line:
Web devs will often need the command line to install packages and build web applications.
APIs:
Many web technologies are based on APIs and it is important for developers to know the underlying protocols in order to use those technologies efficiently.
Version Control / Git:
Understanding of version control applications like Git will make your life a lot easier as it helps you compare files, identify the differences and then merge the changes.
Database:
Every web application has a database connected to it at the back-end, from which data is retrieved and displayed on the front-end. A good web developer should have some exposure to a DBMS (Database Management System) to allow them to manage data effectively.
Security:
A good web dev should be familiar with some basic security conventions and security risks. For example, SQL Injection, Session Hijacking, Cross Site Scripting (XSS), etc.
Web Services:
The web services provided by platforms such as Azure and AWS are widely used for services related to hosting and cloud computing. It helps for a web developer to be able to navigate these platforms.
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