What Does a Web Developer Do? (And How to Become One)

A web developer is a tech professional who designs, builds, and maintains websites and web applications. They can specialize in one part of a website (as a front-end or back-end developer) or be responsible for both (as a full-stack developer.) As a web developer, it's your job to ensure a website is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and functions well. You can learn more about the programming languages, skills, and salaries of web developers in the following article.

If you're ready to start preparing for an entry-level web developer role, gain the foundational skills you need by enrolling in the University of Michigan's Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding Specialization. In as little as two months, you'll familiarize yourself with JavaScript, CSS3, HTML5, and create a series of wireframes for your own website or portfolio.

What does a web developer do?

Web developers create and manage websites for a variety of organizations. As a web developer, you could also choose to be a freelancer, taking on projects for individual clients and working for yourself. Web development extends beyond the actual creation of the site. Your tasks will vary depending on your work situation, but day-to-day responsibilities might generally include:

• Meeting with clients to discuss the needs, design, and functionality of a website

• Designing user interfaces with interactive elements such as navigation menus and graphics

• Writing and reviewing code for sites, typically HTML, XML, or JavaScript

• Creating prototypes and mockups

• Determining layout with other designers, integrating multimedia content onto a site

• Testing and debugging web applications

• Monitoring website traffic and troubleshooting problems with performance or user experience

• Collaborating with designers, developers, and stakeholders

What is web development?

Web development blends technical skills with creative problem-solving. It's the process of creating and maintaining websites and web applications. The primary goal is to build functionality to ensure users can interact with digital content in a smooth and efficient way. Web development includes everything from business tools to social media platforms.

How to become a web developer

A formal education isn’t always necessary to become an entry-level web developer. If you’re already in school (or considering earning a degree), some majors might be a better fit for your career goals than others. If you’re more interested in back-end web development, consider a degree program in computer science. If you feel more drawn to front-end development, you might opt for a degree in web design or user experience (UX).

Quick tip from an expert

Dez Udezue, a software engineering manager at Meta and a 16-year industry veteran, suggests early-career developers direct their attention to their immediate job tasks. "Hyper focus on the direct manager over the technology stack. They influence growth a lot, especially in the early part of their career," he says. Several engineers also emphasize that you'll continue to expand your knowledge of frameworks and coding languages naturally over time as you complete new projects, participate in bootcamps, or continue your education.

Consider earning a web development degree

A web development degree or degree in a related field can come in handy when applying for jobs. According to Zippia, 71 percent of web developers have a bachelor's degree, 14 percent have a master's, and 11 percent have an associate degree. The most common major is computer science (43 percent), followed by information technology (8 percent), computer engineering (8 percent), and computer information systems (8 percent) [1].

Coursework can typically include coding, graphic design, and mathematics. Some employers may prefer a degree while others may instead look more closely at your experience and skills in this field.

How to become a web developer without a degree

If earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in website design or computer science isn't in your plans, you may consider filling the gaps in your resume with online courses, web development certificate programs, certifications, and projects for your portfolio. While earning a degree can make you a more competitive candidate, a strong portfolio can go a long way toward validating your skills to potential employers.

Build critical skills for web developers

As a web developer, you'll work closely with other roles, such as user interface/user experience (UI/UX) designers and QA testers. You may also need to communicate with clients and marketing teams to ensure functionality and design are aligned with business goals. Employers and clients usually expect web developers to have certain skills that demonstrate their ability to collaborate effectively and deliver on website requirements. If you’re interested in a career as a web developer, these are some skills you can focus on to build a foundation for success:

• Coding: Common programming languages include HTML, PHP, cascading style sheets, and JavaScript for front-end design. Consider learning Python, Java, or Ruby if you want to do back-end development. Being fluent in the most popular programming languages is helpful, but knowing how to work with less commonly used languages may also help you land a more specialized job. Here are additional programming languages to consider include TypeScript, C#, Bash/Shell, C++, and C.

• Responsive web design: People use a variety of devices to view websites. Developers should be able to create sites with responsive designs that look as good on smartphones and tablets as they do on computer screens.

• Technical SEO: Many factors of website design can affect the site’s search engine ranking. Understanding how search engines rank sites is useful in a developer’s work.

• Version control: This lets you track and control changes to the source code throughout the development process without starting over from the beginning each time you run into a problem.

• Visual design: Understanding basic design principles, such as how to use white space, choose fonts, and incorporate images, could boost your marketability.

• Communication skills: Web developers must communicate effectively with their co-workers and clients, including asking questions and explaining ideas. Although web developers spend a considerable amount of time working alone, they need to communicate with the people whose vision they are implementing.

• Creativity: Websites should look good and be easy for users to navigate.

• Customer service: Web developers should respond politely to questions and requests from their supervisors and clients, since they are creating websites for others.

• Detail-oriented: Web developers need the ability to focus for long periods and write code precisely. A single symbol in the wrong space can affect a website’s layout and function.

• Problem-solving: When a website does not work correctly, developers must locate errors in the code and correct them. They should have the patience and ability to identify problems in the design or coding and solve them in a methodical way.

• Organization: Keeping track of deadlines, project tasks, workflow, and budgets is helpful if you want to complete a website design on time.

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Gain the required experience

A strong portfolio is a critical component of validating your skills to potential employers. This is a collection of projects that shows potential employers what you’re capable of creating and which tools you have experience with. Make sure to focus on projects that represent the type of work you’d like to do in your role. If you’re including code, be sure to annotate it to show your thought process.

Is cloud computing knowledge necessary for web development?

While cloud computing is not a strict prerequisite for web development roles, its prevalence and importance is increasing over time. Familiarity with cloud computing technologies and deployment methods can help you gain a competitive edge in the job market. You can especially benefit from cloud computing knowledge if you plan to become a back-end or full-stack web developer.

Interested in learning how to develop and deploy applications in the cloud? Check out IBM's Full Stack Developer Professional Certificate program.

Select a career path or focus

Selecting a focus area or career path as a web developer is important because web development is a broad field with many specializations, each requiring different skill sets, tools, and knowledge. By narrowing your focus, you can develop deeper expertise, stand out to employers, and align your skills with the kind of work you enjoy most. It allows you to pursue certifications, build a relevant portfolio, and apply for roles that match your strengths and interests more directly.

For example, front-end developers specialize in creating user interfaces and need strong skills in design, usability, and languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Back-end developers, on the other hand, focus on server-side logic, databases, and application performance, often using languages like Python, PHP, or Java. Full-stack developers cover both, but even they often lean toward one side depending on the project or team.

Read more: Front-End vs. Back-End Developer: Understanding the Differences

How much do web developers make?

The median annual salary for web developers in the US is $95,380, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1]. You can learn more about potential salary range and the factors that can influence your pay with the Web Developer Salary: 2025 Guide.

Web development courses

You don’t necessarily need formal training to work as a web developer. For example, you can take a self-paced online course to learn programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, or CSS, and then put what you learn into practice on your own website to boost your portfolio.

For example, in Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding from the University of Michigan, you can build programming and design skills while also completing development projects for your portfolio.

Get a feel for the course by watching this video on interactivity with JavaScript or check out more web development courses here:

Web development certifications

Earning a certification can validate your skill set to potential employers. Keep in mind that while certificate programs often include instruction, certifications may only represent the exam. You may take a certificate program or online course to prepare for a certification exam. When browsing web development certifications, you’ll find a range of general and vendor-specific options, including:

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)

• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSD)

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Developer

• Zend Certified PHP Engineer

Read more: Your Guide to AWS Certification

Web development certificate programs

You might consider a credential a professional certificate in lieu of or in addition to a degree. You can learn in-demand skills through certificate programs and gain hands-on experience with tech industry leaders such as Google and IBM. In an online certificate program, you take courses similar to those in a degree program, such as creating content with HTML and elements of design.

Read more: What Are Certificate Programs?

Start building your web development skills today

For a beginner-friendly introduction to web development, consider enrolling in the Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding from the University of Michigan.

If you already know which web development specialization you'd like to pursue, do so with an industry leader by enrolling to earn Meta's Front-End Developer Professional Certificate or Back-End Developer Professional Certificate.

If you're interested in earning a degree to prepare for a role in web development, learn more about how a degree in computer science can help create new opportunities.