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The software development world is divisible into multiple subcategories. Web development is one of the most popular, and it requires a particular set of skills to do effectively, including extensive knowledge of front-end and back-end development. Which skills do you need, and should you think about acquiring a degree in web development in order to land a job?

Web development includes building and maintaining code for the front end (i.e., the browser and anything else the end-user sees) as well as the back end (i.e., the servers that power the web experience). The browser includes an entire software development platform within which software can run; such software is written in JavaScript and requires full programming skills.

The back end is typically a server running its own software that communicates with the front-end infrastructure. With a bank website, for instance, the browser will let you perform a search of your transactions; the browser will send the search request to the back-end server. That server, in turn, will likely look up matching data in a database thats running on yet another machine, and send that information back to the browser.

The web developer creates the software that runs in the browser, the back end, and possibly even the database.

Although a web application might feel like a single program, in reality it features multiple programs all working together.

Developing in the front end requires skills such as:

Although a full stack approach to software development puts a lot of focus on the front end and back end, theres a third tier: the database. Most web developers handle this part, as well. As such, a web developer must be proficient in various database technologies including:

The above skills relate specifically to the front end, back end, and database. But there are other skills youll need to learn, including:

Finally, vital to web development, and nearly every career on the planet, are soft skills. These are non-technical skills. There are many, but communication and teamwork are probably the most important.

The most common program for web development is computer science; from there you can get a bachelors, masters, and even a Ph.D. Most likely you would want to start with a bachelors and wait until you have experience before getting a masters. Masters degrees tend to be highly specific, and there are relatively limited cases where it will give you an edge in terms of securing a job.

A computer science degree will teach you the foundations of software development, regardless of specialization. Youll learn topics like the basics of programming, algorithms, data structures, database design, computer architecture, and higher-level aspects of software engineering. Additionally, most computer science programs also include web development, with both back-end and front-end components. Youll also learn several programming languages.

For the most part, a typical bachelors degree in computer science is a well-rounded program that will get your foot in the door for any specialization, including web development.

The short answer is no. Given the demand for tech professionals (and the historically low tech unemployment rate), more organizations than ever are willing to overlook the lack of a degree if you can prove you have the technical chops to do the job. Just make sure your resume, application materials, and potential job interview answers all put your skills in the best possible light.

If you dont want to get a degree, there are other options for getting your foot in the door with web development. Many companies want to see that you know the skills, regardless of whether you have a degree. Here are some options:

Self-taught. Many people have been successful with this approach: Google, read blogs and articles, watch YouTube videos, and read official documentation for the topic youre learning. The catch is youll need to make sure you cover all the above skills, or find a coach who can guide you. Its incredibly easy to become isolated and not even know youre skipping important topics. So be vigilant on discovering what topics are important.

Bootcamps: Bootcamps have become popular over the past decade. These are programs that are typically three to six months and teach you specifically the skills you need, without the extracurricular courses a university requires, such as world history and such. With the rising cost of higher education, often resulting in massive student loans, bootcamps have become a good option for people who want to minimize their debt. The catch is bootcamps are intense. They move quickly and you need to keep up. But many people like this because they finish the program in a fraction of the time of a bachelors program.

Self-directed university courses: Some universities let you take the regular degree courses without working towards a degree. Many have strict entry requirements; for example, some require that you live in the same state as the university, and even then its often up to the whims of the professors on whether to allow you into the course. Nevertheless, this is an option, and it can even go along with the self-taught approachCoursera has a selection of university-powered courses you can take in a number of tech disciplines including web development, often on your own time.

Regardless of your approach to learning the material, perhaps the most important pro tip is to practice, practice, practice. Work on your web development every day. Try to learn something new every day. As each day passes, you will improve as you master the skills needed to enter this exciting career.

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Web Development Degree: Do You Need One? - Dice Insights