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Introduction to Front-End development

The magic of web creation at your fingertips​

Imagine a magician in full performance. Everyone sees the dazzling tricks he performs, the sparks he makes appear and the objects he levitates. But what the public doesn't see is all the behind-the-scenes work that makes these magic tricks happen. Web development works in a similar way. The front end is what you see - the sparkles, animations and design. The back end is all the work behind the scenes that makes it all possible.

What is front-end development?​

Front-end development, often referred to as "client-side", encompasses everything that the user experiences directly: texts, images, buttons, and animations. This is the part of the site that you touch, feel and interact with. If the web were a theater, front-end development would be the stage, the actors and the decor.

However with new frameworks like React, Angular or Vue can make the front-end more complex and closer to the back-end.

How does this work?​

The theater analogy helps us understand. Think of the following languages ​​as elements of a theater production:

  • HTML (HyperText Markup Language): This is the script of the play. It gives the structure and content of the page: titles, paragraphs, images.

  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): These are the costumes and the decor. CSS decides how elements appear - colors, sizes, positions. If HTML is the skeleton, CSS is the skin and clothes.

  • JavaScript: These are the actors themselves. It animates the page, bringing interactivity and dynamism. It allows users to interact with the page and do things like fill out forms, play games, and view animations.

Why is this important?​

In a constantly evolving digital world, a user's first impression of a website or application is decisive.

A well-designed front-end can hold the user's attention, while a poorly executed design or complicated user interface can push them away.

Hence the importance of this information regarding UI/UX.

Learning Tip: Think of a website like building a house. You don't start with paints and decorations. Start with the foundation (HTML), then build the walls and choose colors (CSS), and finally, add the gadgets and appliances that make the house come alive (JavaScript).

Initially, if you want to do the web AND it becomes your job, specialize in either front-end or back-end. This will allow you to focus on one area, have several practical experiences and then explore.

If you want to build your own tools, site, app, you will need to learn both and other related areas such as design, UX, SEO, marketing, etc.