Website development consists of two phases: Front-end development and back-end development. Some of the skills in these two overlap, but they do have very different purposes in the web development process.

Front-end development picks up where the visual design leaves off. In fact, depending on the level skill and expertise of the web designer, much of the front-end development is done in conjunction with the visual design process, building it in code. Confluent web designers typically do the front-end development as they create the visual design. We believe this method is more expedient and efficient since visual designers know the precise appearance and effect they’re looking to achieve.

A visual designer who understands how web pages are built is better equipped to design those pages and experiences. Similarly, a web developer who has a grasp of the basics of design and visual communication can make smart choices as they code up pages and interactions for their project.

Front-end developers will use HTML for the structure of the site, CSS (cascading style sheets) to dictate the visual styles and layout, and perhaps even some Javascript. For some small sites, front-end development may be the only kind of development that is needed for that project. For more complex projects, “back-end” development will come into play.