• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Rapid Blog

  • Enterprise
  • API Hub
  • Add Your API
  • About
  • Docs
    • API Glossary
  • Blog
    • What is an API?
    • REST API Tutorials
    • Most Popular APIs
  • Sign Up
    • Log In
Blog » Guest Post » What’s the Difference Between a Front End, Back End, and Full Stack Developer?

What’s the Difference Between a Front End, Back End, and Full Stack Developer?

By Team RapidAPI // September 14, 2020

In the coming year, business owners will spend nearly $4 trillion on various technology expenses. Most business owners realize that in order to stay ahead of their competition, they have to embrace a variety of different technologies. Having things like custom software, apps and websites created is no easy task.

The best way for a business owner to achieve the results they are after with the development of these tech tools is by hiring professionals. If you are thinking of becoming a developer, you need to realize there are a number of jobs you can have in this industry.

Read below to find out more about the difference between front end, back end, and full-stack developer.

Getting Familiar with the Role of a Front End Developer

When you use a web-based or mobile app, you will interact with a number of pages and tools. Anything you interact with as the user of an app is the responsibility of the front-end developer. These professionals will handle a wide range of responsibilities the user interface and the look of the app or website they are working on. While this may sound like a relatively easy job, it is anything but.

In order to be a successful front end developer, you will need to be familiar with programming languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Generally, HTML is the basis for any page structure created by a front end developer. Once the bare bones of the page are constructed using HTML, the front end developer will use CSS to give the page the appeal the customer wants. This programming language is used to manage page elements.

The last piece of the front end development puzzle is JavaScript. All of the animations and interactions you see on a web-based app or website is created using this programming language. When used correctly, JavaScript can make an app or website unique and fun to use.

Back End Developers Work Behind the Scenes

As any developer knows, a functional and reliable back end is important for mobile app development trends and how they are implemented. Without a great back end, the app or website a business puts in place will fail to meet consumer demand. This is why the job of a back end developer is so important. If the servers a back end developer optimizes do not send and receive information, the programs will not work correctly.

Becoming a great back end developer will require a lot of unique skills. Learning server-side programming languages like Java, Ruby, and Python is just the tip of the iceberg. You will also need to become familiar with tools like SQL Server and Oracle. These programs allow back end developers to delete, save and change the data on the servers with ease.

Being able to take the needs of the client and write code to meet these needs in a very unique and specialized skill. Most successful back end developers spend years honing their skills. Taking on a variety of different back end development projects is the best way to become a versatile back end professional.


Source-Pixabay

Full Stack Developers Need To Be Versatile and Flexible

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career? If so, then becoming a full stack developer is a great option. These developers can handle jobs in both front end and back end development. Not only do full-stack developers have great coding and time management skills, but they are also masters of communicating with customers.

Often times, a full stack developer will be the point person for a business owner in need of a mobile or web-based app. Taking the needs of a client and putting this information to use during the development process is a lot harder than it may seem. Success as a full stack developer will be hard-earned, but well worth the time and effort you invest. One of the best ways to avoid common full-stack development mistakes is by working with an experienced mentor.

Avoid Rushing Into a Development Role

Before you choose what type of developer you want to be, take the time to consider your strengths and weaknesses. With this information, you should have no problem finding a role that fits.

RapidAPI Careers

Related Resources

  • API Glossary
  • Free APIs
  • RapidAPI School

The author’s views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RapidAPI.

5/5 - (2 votes)
« How to use the SendGrid API with Ruby
Top Stock Market Apps for Android (2023) »

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: backend, developer, frontend, fullstack

Team RapidAPI

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. avantika says

    April 3, 2020 at 5:04 am

    Informative post. It outlines the difference between front end, back end, and full-stack development in a clear manner. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • RapidAPI Staff says

      April 8, 2020 at 11:07 am

      Happy to help!

      Reply
  2. avantika says

    April 7, 2020 at 6:41 am

    This blog shows how there is a clear cut difference between front end ,back end and full stack development.

    Reply
    • RapidAPI Staff says

      April 8, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Thanks!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Build anything with APIs, faster.

Discover, evaluate, and integrate with any API. RapidAPI is the world’s largest API Hub with over 4 Million developers and 35,000 APIs.

Browse APIs »

APIs mentioned in this article

RapidAPI Careers
RapidAPI Careers

Footer

  • API Guides
  • API Courses
  • API Glossary
  • API Testing
  • API Management
  • Most Popular APIs
  • Free APIs List
  • How to use an API
  • Learn REST API
  • Build API’s
  • About
  • Build APIs
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • API Directory
  • Press Room
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2025 RapidAPI. All rights reserved.

Building an Enterprise API Program
Learn More

×