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Web Developer vs Web Designer: Key Differences You Need to Know

Last updated on Jun 10,2024 2.4K Views

A Data Science Enthusiast with in-hand skills in programming languages such as... A Data Science Enthusiast with in-hand skills in programming languages such as Java & Python.
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People often get confused when it comes to using the terms web designer and web developer. They both are involved in the task of Web Development but they’re involved in very different areas. Developers build the core structure of a website using complex coding languages, while designers are more visually creative, focusing on the user. In this Web Developer vs Web Designer article, we will discuss some of the key differences between the two in the following sequence:

 

What is Web Development?

Web development is basically the tasks associated with developing websites for hosting via intranet or internet. The web development process involves web design, web content development, client-side/server-side scripting and network security configuration.

web development - web developer vs web design - edureka

 

A website can either be a simple one-page site, or it could be an incredibly complex web application. When you view your website on the web in a browser, it is because of all the processes involved in web development.

So let’s move on with our Web Developer vs Web Designer article and know more about the two roles.

 

Who is a Web Developer?

A web developer is a programmer who specializes in the development of World Wide Web applications using a client-server model. They are also responsible for designing, coding and modifying websites, from layout to function and according to a client’s specifications.

web developer-web developer vs web designer -edureka

Web developers usually just focus on a few languages. You can either focus on the front end programming of a site using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or on the server-side programmings like PHP, Java, Ruby, and .NET.

There are different job profiles for a web developer such as:

Front-End Developer

Front-end development is known as client-side development. It mostly involves programming all the public-facing visuals and elements as part of a website’s design. Front-end developers often have to collaborate with web designers. They must have strong programming skills such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as they work with elements that are visible to the users.

Back-End Developer

Back-end refers to the hidden layer that the users can’t see when they visit a website. They must have strong programming skills. The back-end layer forms a dynamic connection between the front-end and the database. To get this layer working it’s important to know at least one of the programming languages such as Python, Java, PHP,  SQL, C#, Ruby, etc and knowledge of server-side frameworks such as NodeJS is mandatory.

Full-Stack Developer

A Full Stack Web Developer is someone who has a good understanding of how the web works at each and every level, including setting up and configuring Linux or Windows servers, coding server-side APIs, running the client-side of the application by using JavaScript, operating and querying databases and structuring and designing the web page with CSS, HTML and JavaScript.

Now that you know who is a web developer, let’s move on with our Web Developer vs Web Designer blog and know about the job roles of a web designer.

 

Who is a Web Designer?

Web designers create layouts that are visually pleasing for visitors. The work of a web designer is critical in making sure that visitors spend more time on a website. They analyze the latest trends in web design, respect design principles, and norms, follow what users expect when visiting a website, etc.

web designer - web developer vs web designer - edureka

Web designers also focus on adding branding elements on a website, without making them too abrupt compared to the rest of the design. Since web design covers a lot of responsibilities, web designers can specialize in specific areas of the website.

There are different job profiles for a web designer such as:

UI Designers

User Interface (UI) designers are the ones who deal with user interaction. They make sure that users are able to interact with the elements that are present on the website. The User Interface is everything that a visitor sees when they access a website, and it needs to be designed in a manner so that it fits the user’s expected workflow.

UX Designers

User Experience (UX) designers make sure that your website is able to keep the visitors engaged. They analyze data before finalizing any design on the website. Also, UX designers run complex tests and restructure the websites when needed to keep the user experience optimal.

Visual Designers

When we combine the duties of a UI and UX designer, it creates a separate profile called the visual designer. Visual designing refers to creating interfaces that are both visually pleasing and convenient to use. Also, they must respect the voice of a brand. Visual design skills involve both creativity and programming.

Now let’s find out differences in the roles between a Developer and Designer.

 

Key Roles: Web Developer vs Web Designer

Web DeveloperWeb Designer
  • Build the user interface using HTML, CSS, and JS languages.

  • Front-end developers can use styling preprocessors, JavaScript libraries, and frameworks to fasten development.

  • Front-end developers provide the markup design to back-end developers to implement a dynamic website.

  • Back-end developers create the backbone of the website using languages such as PHP and MySQL.

  • Web developers also use versioning tools to keep a history of the previous builds to quickly and effortlessly move back to a previous version.

  • Use software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Framer, or Sketch to build the final layout design of the website

  • Good skills in graphic design and logo design

  • Have a good feel for user experience, to identify the simplest approach possible to attain the desired function.

  • Web designers MUST keep themselves up to date with the latest design trends.

  • They also need to keep in mind the branding of the website, color palettes to be used, and the typography and readability of the website.

Now that you have seen some of the comparison factors of Web Developer vs Web Designer, let’s move on to the salary trends of both the job roles.

 

The Average Web Developer Salary in India is Rs 308,656.

 

web developer salary US - web developer resume - edureka
Source- Payscale

 

The Average Salary of a Web Developer in US is $59,108.

 

web developer salary US - web developer salary - edureka

 

 

Glassdoor rates the average base pay for web developers at $93,000 per year. That’s much higher than PayScale and Salary.com, which claims a median of $60,000.

The average salary for a Web Designer in India is Rs 281,410, which is slightly less than a Web Developer.

 

The Average Salary of a Web Designer in US is $49,693.

 

With this, we have come to the end of our Web Developer vs Web Designer article. I hope you understood the key differences between the two job profiles and their roles.

Check out this Online Web Developer Certification Course by Edureka. Web Development Certification Training will help you Learn how to create impressive websites using HTML5, CSS3, Twitter Bootstrap 3, jQuery and Google APIs and deploy it to Amazon Simple Storage Service(S3). 

Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section of this blog and we will get back to you.

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Web Developer vs Web Designer: Key Differences You Need to Know

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