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This image shows what a full-stack developer job includes – front-end, back-end, and database.

Front-end back-end full-stack developer: Introduction

Front-end, back-end, and full-stack engineers form the core categories of software developers, contributing significantly to the development and maintenance of digital projects essential for modern businesses.

The ever-evolving technological landscape fuels the demand for skilled coders, with an anticipated global count of 28.7 million software developers in the upcoming year, underscoring their indispensable role in the dynamic tech industry.

At Factor Dedicated Team, we provide comprehensive guidance on distinguishing between full-stack, front-end, and back-end developers.

The difference between front-end, back-end, and full-stack web developers

Several parameters show the difference between full-stack vs. back-end, back-end vs. front-end, and front-end vs. full-stack web developers. Now we will dive deeper into them all to get a strong understanding of each role in detail. Whether you are a business owner, seasoned project manager, or team lead, see the table below.

Categories of web developers

Front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers: Primary duties

Quick list of 6 front-end developer duties

The whole idea behind front-end developers is that they bring websites to life. By controlling, designing, and shaping the face of applications, these coders craft engaging user interfaces that keep visitors coming back. But their job is more than just aesthetics. Front-end engineers must also understand the technology behind the visuals to develop intuitive and responsive user experiences.

One must recognize the significance of front-end coders. Let's highlight what they do precisely. Some of the primary duties of front-end developers include:

1. Developing Application Programming Interfaces (AIPs) and implementing User Interface (UI) strategies (crafting the layout, designing web pages, and app functionality).
2. Ensuring responsiveness (utilizing progressive web design techniques to optimize the user experience to different sizes across various platforms).
3. Integrating back-end services (connecting with AIPs, managing data, and handling user authentication).
4. Testing and debugging front-end code (providing smooth operation of digital products).
5. Collaborating with designers, back-end developers, and project managers to ensure seamless integration of front-end and back-end functionalities.
6. Staying up-to-date with new technologies (knowing the ins and outs of the latest frameworks, libraries, and best practices to adjust quickly to changes in the front-end development industry).

Quick list of 6 back-end developer duties

Back-end developers ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. These coders build and maintain the server side of applications, handling the heavy lifting and allowing front-end developers to create visually stunning applications that users love. Without back-end engineers, even the most beautiful websites would not function properly.

Here are the primary duties of a back-end developer:

1. Building and maintaining databases (designing and implementing technology that can handle the vast amounts of data modern applications require).
2. Writing organized back-end code (enabling web apps to perform various operations – requests or responses between the client and the server).
3. Creating, testing, and maintaining APIs (for seamless work with other systems and services).
4. Optimizing application performance to monitor and test the application consistently, identify performance bottlenecks, and write the shortcode lines ( as result, the app runs quickly, smoothly, and without errors).
5. Ensuring security (authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect sensitive data against common security threats).
6. Staying up-to-date with new technologies (progressive frameworks, libraries, and package managers).

Quick list of 6 full-stack developer duties

Full-stack engineers are the jack-of-all-trades of the software development field. These coders create a fully functional web app, and that’s why they must be well-versed in both the front-end and back-end technologies.

You can see what they do in the diagram below.

What should a full-stack developer understand?

The diagram shows what full-stack developer jobs include – front-end and back-end development, databases, DevOps, and mobile app development.

For some projects, hiring one full-stack developer is a great solution to sort all complications out at once, save money, and gain clear business benefits. However, this approach is not for everyone.

Here is a list of the primary duties full-stack developers can take on:

1. Developing and maintaining the front-end of web pages (designing user interfaces, writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, and working with front-end frameworks like React or Angular).
2. Building and maintaining the back-end of web applications (utilizing databases, writing back-end code in Java, Python, or other languages, and using frameworks like Django or Ruby on Rails).
3. Utilizing main software development methodologies – Agile, Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery, and Development Operations.
4. Managing the deployment and hosting of websites (setting up servers, controlling domains, and deploying apps to cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services or Heroku).
5. Collaborating with developers, project managers, and designers to ensure the website development meets all requirements.
6. Staying up-to-date with emerging technologies (learning and keeping up with emerging front-end frameworks, back-end languages, and tools).

Back-end vs. front-end vs. full-stack web development: Technologies

What technologies do backend developers use?

Back-end development is multifaceted – coders can use almost any programming language to implement business logic and bring new features to the table. According to TIOBE and PYPL, in 2023, Python is the most popular. Today's common server-side languages are also Java, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby.

Programming languages for back-end development: Summary

The table includes a summary of programming languages for back-end development.

Unlike front-end developers, back-end engineers can work according to the similar scheme for years, bringing excellent results. Technologies in this field rarely change drastically, making stability a critical feature of back-end development. But job openings often call for expertise in a broad array of progressive frameworks like Spring, Django, Laravel, Flask, Express.js, Ruby on Rails, Next.js, ASP.NET Core, NestJS, Meteor JS, and CakePHP. To estimate the level of popularity of server-side frameworks and libraries in 2023, check out the latest statistics:

Most popular back-end frameworks for 2023

(based on number of GitHub repository results)

The diagram shows statistics of the most popular back-end frameworks for 2023 – Spring, Django, Laravel, Flask, Express.js, Ruby on Rails, Next.js, ASP.NET Core, NestJS, Meteor.js, and CakePHP.

As you can see in the chart above, the top three most demanded technologies for back-end development include:

• Spring: a Java-based framework that enables developers to build applications ranging from small, straightforward projects to large-scale systems.
• Django: a Python-based web framework that stands out for its Object-Relational Mapper for working with database technologies and Model-Template-View Architectural pattern, separating the application logic from the user interface.
• Laravel: a PHP framework that provides back-end web development with elegant syntax and powerful set features – a built-in authentication system, database migrations, and task scheduling capabilities.

What are popular technologies for front-end web development?

Almost all coders use a combination of HTML + CSS + JavaScript for front-end web development. HTML provides the foundation for every webpage, accessible through a unique URL. Front-end developers turn to CSS to bring a designer's vision to life on the page. With a vast array of templates and elements at their disposal, coders can easily create full-functioning web pages. Perhaps the most beloved of all the front-end languages, JavaScript aims to create dynamic, visually compelling websites that are both efficient and cross-browser compatible.

As we alluded to earlier, coders must stay up-to-date with the latest technology. And this requirement applies to no one as much as to front-end developers. In front-end development, progressive frameworks and JavaScript libraries play a decisive role – Angular, Vue.js, Svelte, JQuery, React Native, Ember, BootStrap, and Semantic UI. However, the domineering one is React for 2023. You can be sure of this fact by looking at the diagram below:

Front-end jobs by framework

The diagram shows statistics of the most popular front-end frameworks – React, Angular, and Vue.js.

This is why some of the most popular technologies for front-end development comprise:

• React: a JavaScript library that enables coders to easily create complex applications because of its declarative programming model.
• Vue.js: a progressive JavaScript framework that emphasizes the view layer of an application, enabling developers to build reusable components using an intuitive API.
• Angular: an open-source front-end web application platform offering numerous features, including declarative templates, dependency injection, end-to-end testing, and more.

What technologies do full-stack developers use?

Since full-stack development includes both front-end and back-end, it's no wonder the same technologies play a crucial role – React, Angular, and Ruby on Rails. However, now we will show how they perform for full-stack engineers.

Why is React a top pick for full-stack development? Declarative programming model (DOM) and component-based architecture make this technology ideal for high-traffic web applications. That's why many of the world's most popular websites, including Facebook and Instagram, are built using React.

Full-stack developers often use Angular. With its TypeScript-based syntax, this platform allows for an advanced approach to coding, leading to fewer errors and a smoother full-stack web development process. Angular also alleviates the pain points that come with managing complex codebases.

Ruby on Rails is the in-demand choice in full-stack development because its powerful and elegant code enables swift prototyping. The "convention over configuration" approach streamlines the development process and reduces the need for repetitive tasks. This feature saves time and resources and helps full-stack engineers bring web products to market much more quickly.

Frontend vs. backend vs. full-stack engineers: Learning curve

Compared to back-end development, front-end development has a much lower entry barrier. That's why coders can break into this field much faster. In fact, starting a front-end developer career doesn't always mean years of intense study.

Back-end development requires a much more extended learning period. Engineers must master various skills, including mathematics, databases, algorithms, and server management. It can be a steep learning curve, but the reward is more opportunities for career advancement.

For those looking to become full-stack developers, the road ahead is a marathon, not a sprint. This role requires a sound understanding of all relevant technologies and the ability to integrate them seamlessly. Full-stack developers need a broader range of knowledge and more profound expertise, making the learning curve extra challenging. However, with the demand for full-stack developers on the rise, it's a beneficial skill set in today's job market.

Front-end vs. back-end vs. full-stack web developer salary: who gets paid more?

Now, let's talk about the figures. The age-old question: do front-end or back-end developers make more money?

According to Glassdoor's data, the answer is clear: the average base pay for a front-end developer is $83,892 per year, and back-end developers earn an average of $80,713 per year. Interface developers have higher earning potential than others, particularly in the media, advertising, and marketing industries.

This screenshot shows statistics of average front-end developer salary, according to Glassdoor.

This screenshot shows statistics of average back-end developer salary, according to Glassdoor.

Companies are very willing to pay higher amounts for full-stack developers. It makes more business sense because these engineers have both front-end and back-end skills. The average full-stack coder salary in the USA is $120,732 per year.

This screenshot shows statistics of average full-stack developer salary, according to Indeed.

You can find out the price per hour on resources like Clutch.

The company size impacts salaries a lot. Tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon tend to offer higher earnings and more competitive benefits packages.

But regardless of company size, having a solid set of skills and experience is key to unlocking top-tier salaries in the tech landscape and brilliant job opportunities.

Read about How to hire a top software developer in 2023.