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Web / Full-Stack Developer

Build websites and web apps, from browser pages to the server behind them.

htmlcssjavascriptfrontendbackend
Start with: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill StackTake the career survey

Career facts

Preparation
Medium preparation needed · vocational training, an associate degree or an apprenticeship
Ways in
  • Portfolio of projects
  • Industry certification
  • Associate degree
  • Bachelor's degree
Field
Software, data & cyber

About this career

Web developers build pages and web applications: the front end that runs in the browser and the back end that stores data and answers requests, plus the deployment that puts them online. They use HTML, CSS, JavaScript and frameworks such as React and Node.js, databases, Git and hosting platforms. Entry is often a portfolio of deployed projects or a certificate; an associate or bachelor's degree is common but not required.

Learning path

Take these courses in order, from beginner to mid-level.

  1. Step 1: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill Stack

    The shared base every STEM career uses: working with numbers and units, testing ideas fairly, handling data and code, and explaining your work.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 34 other careers

  2. Step 2: Digital Literacy for Tech & STEM Work

    The everyday computer, internet, safety and AI skills every tech and STEM job assumes you already have.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 6h 8mAlso used in 34 other careers

  3. Step 3: HTML & CSS Foundations

    Learn how the web works and build, style and publish your own responsive website with semantic HTML and modern CSS.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 14 lessons · 11h 9mAlso used in 8 other careers

  4. Step 4: JavaScript Essentials

    The programming language of the web: variables, functions, the DOM, arrays and objects, and fetching data from APIs.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 13 lessons · 8h 16mAlso used in 7 other careers

  5. Step 5: Professional Communication & Teamwork

    Write clear emails and documents, present and run meetings, work well on teams, and navigate résumés, interviews and networking.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 24mAlso used in 34 other careers

  6. Step 6: Math for Tech & STEM

    The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 7h 32mAlso used in 34 other careers

  7. Step 7: Git & the Command Line

    Use the terminal with confidence, track your work with Git, and collaborate on GitHub with pull requests.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 5h 57mAlso used in 15 other careers

  8. Step 8: SQL Fundamentals

    Query, summarise, join and change data in a relational database with SQL, practised in your browser.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 5h 44mAlso used in 11 other careers

  9. Step 9: Foundations for Software, Data, Design & Tech Education Careers

    Understand tech roles and career ladders, pick a realistic learning route, build portfolio evidence, and navigate postings, interviews and your first 90 days.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 7h 22mAlso used in 20 other careers

  10. Step 10: React Fundamentals

    Build interactive interfaces with React components, props, state, effects, context, routing and component tests.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 8h 13mAlso used in 3 other careers

  11. Step 11: Accessible & Responsive Interfaces

    Build interfaces that work for everyone on every screen: WCAG 2.2, keyboard and ARIA, fluid layouts, responsive images and real audits.

    Level: Intermediate3 modules · 10 lessons · 6h 21mAlso used in 4 other careers

  12. Step 12: Back-End Web APIs

    Design REST routes, validate JSON, build Node and Express APIs on a SQL database, secure them, test them and ship them.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 11mAlso used in 4 other careers

  13. Step 13: Front-End Engineering

    Go from building components to shipping production front-ends: architecture, TypeScript, state, performance, testing, CI and code review.

    Level: Mid-level4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 1mAlso used in 2 other careers

Skills you'll build

HTML

The markup language that defines the structure of every web page.

CSS

The styling language that controls how web pages look — colors, layout, animations.

JavaScript

The programming language of the web. Runs in browsers and on servers (via Node.js).

TypeScript

JavaScript with types. Catches bugs before you run the code.

React

The most popular library for building interactive user interfaces with components.

Node.js

A JavaScript runtime for building servers, APIs, and tools outside the browser.

SQL

The language for asking questions of relational databases. Used everywhere.

Git

The version-control tool every software team uses to track and merge changes.

Free resources to get started

Hand-picked courses and reading from trusted free providers.

  • MDN Web Docs
    Trustedarticle

    Learn Web Development

    Mozilla's reference-quality guides to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and accessibility.

  • React
    Trustedarticle

    Learn React

    The official React guide: components, props, state, and hooks, with interactive examples.

  • Git SCM
    Trustedbook

    Pro Git

    The free official Git book: first commits, branching, remotes, and how Git works under the hood.

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Back-End Developer

Write the server code, APIs and databases that web and mobile apps call.

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