Technology plays a huge role in our daily lives, from the simplest of apps to the most groundbreaking inventions. Every website or piece of software that we encounter has been built by a developer—but what exactly is web development, and what do they do? All of this will be answered in this guide to how to become a web developer.
To the outside eye, it can seem like a complicated, confusing, and somewhat inaccessible field. So, to shed some light on this fascinating industry, we’ve put together the ultimate introduction to web development and what it takes to become a fully-fledged web developer.
In this guide, we’ll go through the basics of web development in detail, and then show you the essential skills and tools you’ll need to break into the industry. If you decide web development is for you, the next step is to start learning those essential skills, which you can do in this free coding short course designed for beginners.
First, though, we’ll take a look at the web development industry as it stands in 2022, and consider whether web development is a smart career move—with a particular focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
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1. Is now a good time to become a web developer? (2022 update)
Before you jump into a new career, it’s important to consider the path ahead. Can your new industry offer you ample opportunities and stability? How likely are you to get hired after you’ve graduated from your chosen program or bootcamp?
In the wake of the past two years these questions are more important than ever. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the economy and on the job market. Initially in 2020 the pandemic caused hiring to slow down, as global lockdowns took effect. However the vaccine rollout and economic bounce-back led to an increase in 2021, with hiring only slowing towards the end of year, according to a report by Glassdoor. However, the report also points out that 69% of the employment shortfall comes from the leisure and hospitality, education and healthcare industries, which are particularly Covid-sensitive.
This is yet another indication that workers are gravitating towards industries and roles which are more “Covid-proof”, such as tech. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the state of the web development industry in 2022.
Are web developers in demand right now?
You’ll have noticed that, no matter what’s going on in the world around us, technology is omnipresent in our lives. Whether it’s scrolling through our favorite social media apps, checking the news, paying for something online, or connecting with colleagues using collaboration software and tools—most of what we do relies on some form of technology. Behind this technology is a team of web developers who have not only built it, but constantly maintain it to ensure it works flawlessly.
Those who can build and maintain websites, apps, and software have a crucial role to play in today’s technology-driven world—and this is reflected in the web development job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of web developers is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030—much faster than the average.
But does this still stand after the unpredictable twists and turns of the past two years? In a word, yes: web developers seem to have weathered the storm relatively well. The full-stack developer came in second on indeed’s list of the best jobs, and we can see this continuing through 2022 and beyond. Just search the web for the most in-demand tech skills in 2022 and you’ll find things like web development, software engineering, cloud computing, DevOps, and problem-solving.
Full-stack development in particular will continue to be highly attractive to employers. Writing for TechCrunch, Sergio Granada notes how full-stack developers have been integral to business during the Covid-19 crisis: