A major part of web development involves the creation of websites and the marketing of those sites. Web development includes a variety of technical skills and academic disciplines in the creation and maintenance of online sites. The various disciplines of web development include web graphic design; website developer and designer; information architect; multimedia artist and video game designer; information systems designer and web content developer. Web development Hobart professionals also work on web servers and other technologies such as email servers, calendars, and databases. Web development is a very competitive career and job opportunities for web developers are vast. Web design and development jobs are growing rapidly, therefore web designers and developers need to have both technical and personal qualifications to stand out from the crowd and get their foot in the door.
A web developer should have excellent English language skills, good written and communication skills, excellent typing and computer skills, good research and reading skills, excellent mathematical skills, good computer knowledge, and some creative ideas. In addition, a person with a degree in computers and information technology could become an effective web designer/developer because information technology companies often hire IT graduates to develop their web applications and interfaces. A web designer/developer is often involved in planning the site’s navigation, graphics, functionality, accessibility, shopping carts, privacy policies, marketing strategies, and technical support. A web developer may work directly with the customer or he could work for an outsourcing firm that specializes in web development.
Web developers learn web design and development through on-the-job apprenticeship programs at colleges, universities, and technical schools. Web developers can take a one or two-year diploma course at a community college or vocational-technical high school. At community colleges, students can also learn web development while earning college credits. At vocational-technical high schools, students learn web development through courses and one-on-one experience. Students who wish to study programming can also attend vocational or trade schools.
Web designers and developers perform a wide variety of tasks. Web developers are responsible for adding content to a website, making HTML or XHTML code that produces the website, and testing the site for usability. Web designers, on the other hand, focus more on creative designs. Web designers use graphic software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver to create layouts for websites and make the layout visible to the user. Web developers implement the designs using client-side and server-side technologies.
Web developers and web designers need to understand typography. Websites need to be designed using the appropriate typography so that they are user-friendly. Web development firms usually provide quality web development services but it is important for users to choose a firm that uses appropriate typography. For example, if the user types in “dog” and the website design uses Times New Roman, the user will most likely not be satisfied with the site’s typography.
Web designers are responsible for adding content to a website. They use the relevant programming language to design the pages and make the information accessible. Web development firms often provide web application development services to organizations and businesses to develop applications that integrate with their websites. Web application developers implement the applications and work with the database to create user accounts, customize shopping carts, create website content, and respond to customer needs.