Front-end developers play a central role in building websites. They handle the user-facing side of a site, so nearly everything a visitor sees or interacts with was built by a front-end developer in code.
Front-end developers work mainly in three languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. HTML gives a page its structure, CSS controls how it looks, and JavaScript makes it interactive and responsive.
It's also in the scope of a front-end developer to make sure that a website works just as well on a mobile device like a phone or tablet as it does on a desktop PC.
A front-end developer makes sure a website not only looks right but works well and responds to what users do. Part of that job is connecting the front end that people interact with to the back end they never see, such as the databases and server logic. Done well, this work is invisible: a visitor clicks a button or submits a form and gets the result they expect, without ever touching the machinery underneath.
Another core responsibility is turning the work of web designers and UX designers into code, building the interactive elements and making sure the page's structure and styling match the intended design.
Front-end developers need many skills to do the tasks discussed above. Some of the most important are the coding languages they have to know well: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
HTML also known as HyperText Markup Language is a skill that a front-end developer will need. This is because HTML is used to create vital website content such as headings, lists, buttons and links.
Cascading Style Sheets or CSS is a type of computer code that all front-end developers should know well. This is because CSS is used to craft the style element of a webpage including animations, colors, and layouts.
The last computer programming language that front-end developers need to know is JavaScript. This is because it's JavaScript that enables users to do things like click on a button to perform a certain action. Without knowing JavaScript front-end developers will not be able to make sure that the websites they are working on are interactive.
Now that you have a clearer picture of what front-end developers do, their value to a website project is easier to see. Here are some of the main benefits of hiring one.
Good user experience matters because without it people leave your site instead of staying or converting. A positive user experience also signals that your business is professional and knows what it's doing, which builds trust and helps customers choose you over competitors.
Sites and apps need regular maintenance to keep working properly and give users a good experience. That maintenance gets much harder if the wrong choices are baked in while the site is built. A front-end developer can make an informed decision about which libraries and frameworks fit the kind of site you're running, so that when you do need to update it, the groundwork is already in place to make the work easier rather than harder.
How a site is built has a direct effect on how fast it loads and how consistently it behaves from one browser to the next. A front-end developer who works with current CSS and JavaScript can use features that browsers support natively, which cuts down on heavy third-party libraries and helps pages load faster. Building on current standards also means your site behaves the same way across browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, and it stays easier to extend as your needs grow.
Finding the right front-end developer for your project can seem complex and overwhelming. This is because you need to consider a range of different elements before making that decision. Below is a breakdown of the most important things to consider when hiring a front-end developer.
The first thing to consider when hiring a front-end developer is the scope of your project. What type of software are you working on? Is it an app, a SaaS product or a website? Be sure that you understand the motivation behind your project and the ways that it fulfils a specific need for your business, as well as the details of the design you want the developer to execute. Remember like any creative career, the relationship will be one of communication and compromise so you need to have the scope of your project laid out before you begin your search. Otherwise, you run the risk of not only hiring the wrong developer but of wasting precious resources like time as well.
The next thing to consider when hiring a front-end developer is what skills they have. Your front-end developer must have all the skills necessary to complete their part of the project. This includes being able to use CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.
Additionally, front-end developers will need to know how to use React, Bootstrap, and Vue, and they should have the necessary skills to test, debug, and fix any problems with the front end that occur.
Lastly, because the creation of software is nearly always a collaboration, a good front-end developer will need to be adept at communicating and demonstrate basic soft skills such as time management, and problem-solving.
There are a range of different levels of front-end developers including juniors, mid-level and seniors. This is important to remember when it comes to the complexity of your project because not every level of developer may be able to handle what you need them to do.
Indeed, while a junior front-end developer may cost less, they are meant to work in more junior roles and have senior developers supervising and mentoring them. What this means is that unless you have a full team or a particularly simple project hiring a junior developer may not be the best idea. Yes, more experienced developers will charge higher rates, but that investment is well worth it in terms of the problems you can avoid.
Lastly, one of the most vital aspects of hiring the right front-end developer is to take a good look at their portfolio. Their portfolio should be a document that demonstrates exactly what they can do in a practical sense. It shows that they can do the job. Don't be afraid to ask questions about work you see in a developer's portfolio either, as this can provide you with valuable insight into how they will go about approaching your project.
User experience is central to whether software succeeds, and front-end work is tied directly to it. A good front-end developer can improve the experience your software delivers in several concrete ways, covered below.
Boring, unappealing or overly crowded websites push users to leave instead of staying on the page. That is why dynamic visuals such as animations and graphics are such an important part of good user experience. A front-end developer can help here, building visuals that are clear and engaging.
Ever tried accessing a website or application that was designed for desktop only on a mobile device? Then you'll know just how frustrating that experience is, and how quickly people will look for another option. Happily, a front-end developer will be able to provide a design that is responsive to the type of device used to access your project, meaning your site will always look its best whether it's viewed on a laptop, desktop, mobile or tablet, and that your users will stay happy.
Three main factors can impact the cost of front-end development services, including project complexity, technology choices and team expertise.
Different organisations need different types of software developed for a range of needs. Some of these are much more simple than others and this can greatly impact the cost of a front-end development project. For example, a basic website for a small local gardening business will be a great deal simpler for a front-end developer to complete than a website for a large multinational company like Nike or Gucci. Indeed, the latter type of client is much more likely to need additional aspects such as more detailed interaction, and pages that redirect depending on the location they are accessed. This means such projects will incur a higher cost.
Similarly, just as the complexity of a project will influence its cost, so will the technology choices used. This is because some are far more expensive than others, and the ability to work with some is more in demand so you can expect to pay more.
Last of all, the expertise of the team you are working with will impact the costs involved. This is because those with more experience will demand higher fees, and while working with more junior-level devs may seem to combat this, it's not always a good idea. After all, experience is expensive because it means the development process is more efficient and effective, and this can save you significant resources including money in the long run.
Need an experienced front-end developer for your software project? Want to avoid the lengthy recruitment and interview process, and get them working on your software within 48 hours? Then you need Match.dev where we do the vetting, and offer as few or as many hours as you need for either full-time or part-time roles. The benefits of using Match.dev include the following.
It's not just our front-end developers who are real-life humans, but our support staff too. That means a real person will listen to your project needs, and handpick a dev that matches them. There's no AI algorithm matching here, just real people who want to help you get your best project fit.
Fancy taking a risk on a dev whose work you are unfamiliar with and you have no idea whether they can do the job you need them for? No, we didn't think so that is why we thoroughly vet all our devs before we assign them to client projects with a paid 10-hour real-project assessment. Don't worry the devs are paid for this time, we just want to be sure that they will be the most effective and best fit for your needs.
We can help you add to your team either full-time, or part-time, or find you the perfect front-end dev you need for a much shorter space of time. Our only limit on time is that the smallest amount of time you can buy with a dev is 10 hours.
Yes, that's right, unlike when you work with an untested freelancer, or employ someone through your recruitment process, when you work with Match.dev our devs are under warranty. What this means is that if you're not delighted with the developer we match you with, we'll sort you a fast replacement, ensuring only minimal disruption to your project. Although, it is worth noting that our vetting process is so good and thorough that we rarely have to do this.
Visit Match.dev to get matched with a high-quality, vetted front-end developer today.
Looking for a front-end developer with a specific framework expertise? Browse our specialized hiring pages:
Also read: How to Hire React Devs | Upwork vs Toptal Comparison
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