After defining the specifics of your work, it's time to consider the type of web programmer you should work with. In actuality, the word "web developer" refers to a variety of abilities and positions.
Developer vs Designer
Firstly, a developer and a designer are two distinct professions. A designer is someone who develops a website's visual style and produces its assets, such as photos and logos. Photoshop and other graphic design software are their areas of competence. The website is not actually implemented by a pure graphic designer. However, they create a mockup of how it will seem in the end. Based on that, someone else will create the real site.
Among the most widely used graphic design applications is Adobe Photoshop.
Today, an increasing number of designers also handle development. Markup languages like HTML, CSS, and—increasingly—JavaScript are among their specialties. These people are commonly known as web designers.
Code writers are known as developers. In other words, they may access your site and alter files to make modifications or build an entirely new site. Code editors and other tools linked to development are also used by them.
Front-End vs Back-End Developers
Subgroups of developers exist as well. Front-end and back-end development are the most important.
In case you're unaware:
The portion of a website that users view in their browser is called the front-end. Anything behind it is the back-end. It refers to both the location where you administer your site and the means through which it interacts with your server or database.
Web designers and front-end developers frequently work together. They both take care of the appearance and feel of the website and speak the same languages. Front-end developers may also refer to the one who executes the design but did not create it. These areas have a lot of overlap.
Back-end developers are concerned with the functionality of your website. They take care of the functionality as well as the speed of the webpage and other technological problems. Their programming language skill pack contains Java, Ruby on Rails, Python, PHP (particularly when dealing with WordPress), and other languages.
Full-Stack Developer
Developers that work on the front and back ends are experts. They normally excel in their own field, but they lack knowledge in the other person's subject.
To put it another way, implementing your webpage or the adjustments you want may require hiring two or three persons (a visual designer, a front-end developer, and a back-end developer). It inevitably leads to longer workdays and more expenses.
Another choice to hire a web developer is to hire a generalist who can do everything, a so-called full-stack developer. These are jacks of all trades who are able to build complete websites from scratch including design, implementation, and coding. While their knowledge is not always as deep in every field as that of the specialists, they are still able to produce the results you want.
While full-stack developers can be more expensive, they require less coordination. Consequently, it can speed up the process and save you money.
Freelance vs Full-Time
The decision of whether to deal with a freelancer or hire someone full-time arises while looking for a web developer. The specifics of your task will determine this.
Collaborating with a freelancer is usually sufficient if you simply have a one-time project. You decide on the timeline, cost, and method of delivery, they build the website, and then you take control. Additionally, if you require any modifications, you may employ them again.
This is the typical setup for websites that are primarily static or don't require a lot of maintenance. It's also the best option if you intend to manage the daily operations of your website yourself.
Though…
You could be better off employing a full-time web developer if you require someone to maintain your website continually. It thus makes perfect sense, for instance, if you're creating a complicated news website that requires a lot of manual labor, updates frequently, and has a wide variety of material. A permanent can also refer to something that is temporary or "project-based," as it is now officially referred to.
Do you currently have a general concept of the type of web developer you require?
Okay, let's talk about where to look for them.