Full Stack Developer: What is a Full Stack Developer?

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What is Full Stack Development?

Any web application you use has three critical components:

  • The front-end: It is the user interface that a user interacts with. Also known as the client-side.
  • The back-end: It is the behind-the-scenes functionality that is not visible to the user but is responsible for the smooth functioning of the website.
  • The database: It stores a large amount of information in an efficient and structured way.

Let’s take an example of “Google”. When you visit Google’s website, you are presented with the following screen:

google sign in

This is part of the front end. You will add your email and password here, and the front end will send it to the backend for validation using the database.

Full stack development refers to the combined end-to-end process of developing a website, including both the front-end and the back-end.

The stack metaphor helps describe the levels involved in software development. Because a stack is, by definition, a huge number of something, in software development, a “stack” contains all of the components of a completed software project.

Who is a Full-stack Developer?

who is full stack developer

A full-stack developer is a technical person who’s involved in both the front-end development and the back-end development.

As a Full Stack Developer, you become the jack of all techs. You will be required to understand skills required in front-end, back-end, and knowledge of database. Let’s go over those skills in the next section.

Skills You Need as a Full Stack Web Developer

full stack developer skills

Full-stack developers should know front-end programming languages and the web frameworks that support them. Naturally, these are additional to HTML and CSS, which are common front-end development languages.

A back-end database manager should be able to work with a full-stack developer. They must be skilled in query and programming languages to achieve that goal. Full-stack developers must also be knowledgeable about servers, application programming interfaces (APIs), and version control systems (VCS).

Security, testing algorithms, and data structures are areas where more experienced full-stack engineers excel.

To summarise, a full stack developer should have the following skills:

  • Skills Needed in Front-end development
    • HTML - To create the structure of a web page.
    • CSS - To style the web pages.
    • JavaScript - To make the pages interactive and communicate with the backend.
    • Front-end frameworks - To make large-scale web applications with ease.
    • Communication and design thinking - To help them collaborate with the design team.
  • Skills Needed in back-end development.
    • Programming Languages - They should be comfortable with one or two back-end languages and should be able to adapt and learn new languages quickly.
    • Database Management - Knowing how to create and maintain structured databases is a must for any full-stack developer.
    • Problem Solving - Back-end developers should be able to create optimized algorithms to create a seamless experience at the front end.

Personality Traits of a Great Full Stack Developer

Having technical skills is not enough, a great Full Stack Developer must also have the right outlook on life. Fortunately, if you have the perseverance and enthusiasm to pursue this as your ideal profession, you may develop these personality qualities in yourself.

The following traits of a full stack developer include:

  • Master of Time Management: Full Stack Developers are the best multitaskers among web developers. They continuously flit between the back and front end to ensure that the job is completed, and they frequently have many responsibilities on their plate simultaneously. Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize are necessary to ensure that everything is finished on time.
  • A Curious Intellect: Web development is intriguing to the right mind. You may create an intricate, gorgeous online application by keying a series of characters onto the computer screen. Fantastic full-stack developers are curious and always seeking to understand the business and how users engage with online apps.
  • Detail-Orientedness: A superb Full Stack Developer is diligent. They double- or triple-check their work before sending it on. Full Stack Developers are meticulous, and their well-written code and polished work are proof of this.
  • Imaginative: Full Stack Developers must be prepared to explore outside the box and devise novel ways to make their web apps stand out from the crowd. This is not a task for someone who simply wants to duplicate what has previously been done.
  • An Effective Communicator: Full Stack Developers frequently associate with back-end and front-end developers. To keep things together, they must be effective communicators in both written and vocal communication.

Job Responsibilities of a Full Stack Developer

Full Stack Developers must understand various coding specialties, including databases, visual design, and UI/UX management, to do their tasks effectively. They serve as a type of swing, there to assist when needed.

The following are some of the duties of a Full Stack Developer:

  • Contributing to the creation and development of software
  • Software optimization through testing and bug-fixing
  • Creating a software's front and back ends using clean code
  • Creating user interfaces for web applications itself
  • Building the software's back-end servers and databases
  • Aim for cross-platform compatibility and optimization
  • Application responsiveness testing and maintenance
  • Collaborating with graphic artists to create additional features
  • Constructing RESTful services and APIs
  • Adapting to technical developments to improve their software
  • During development, take into account factors like scalability, maintenance, and more

Salary of a Full Stack Developer

Where you live in the world will affect the wage range for full-stack positions. Here are some illustrations of American incomes. The national average may be seen in this data, which ZipRecruiter gave.

Junior Full Stack Developer Salary

Those with two years or less of work experience are considered junior developers.

Junior full stack developer salary

Mid-Level Full Stack Developer Salary

These programmers have been employed for around 2-4 years.

Mid level full stack developer salary

Senior Full Stack Developer Salary

These developers have a few years of experience in the field and frequently act as mentors for junior and mid-level engineers.

Senior level full stack developer salary

Front End vs. Back End vs. Full Stack Web Developers — What’s the Difference?

front end vs back end developer

The area in the picture where front-end and back-end developers' duties are combined is the role of a Full Stack Web Developer. In reality, there is a lot of crossover between front-end and back-end developer responsibilities. Knowing the responsibilities of front-end and back-end developers is crucial so you can anticipate when a full-stack developer might be required to step in and help out.

Front End Developers: -The most aesthetically-forward role in web development, dealing with an interface and user-facing systems, developing navigation, interface, and aesthetics, and putting a strong emphasis on the user experience.

Back End Developers: - Manage the application's server and database - Develop the supporting framework so that front-end development is possible - Use Python, Ruby, and PHP - Add user information to the database.

Full Stack Developers: - skills across fields in front- and back-end web development. Utilise MySQL, machine learning, multiple coding languages from the first two, and other technologies to handle the overlap between the front and back end. - Be accountable for the whole process to make sure everything runs well.

How Can You Get a Job as a Full Stack Developer?

Start developing the skill set required as a full-stack developer and focus on building projects to support your skills. Having an online presence and sharing your projects with other developers in online communities can also help increase your chances of getting a job. Let’s go over a few pointers in detail.

To become a full-stack developer, you will require the following:

  • Acquire Knowledge. To better grasp web application architecture and refine your coding skills, begin working on projects that require full-stack development expertise. Your attempts to take on new projects and assignments, especially those in fields outside of your specialty, would be appreciated by employers.

  • Competitive Portfolio. Among all of your job-hunting resources, your portfolio is the most important one. Later, we shall discuss portfolios in greater depth. Just keep in mind that to be recruited, you must have a portfolio that highlights your talents.

  • A list of skills. Full-stack developers vary greatly from one another. Always include a list of your talents, such as knowledge of programming languages, database technology, etc., for your company to determine whether you're a suitable fit.

  • Choosing the Right Full-Stack Developer Job. Full-stack development encompasses many job titles. Therefore, you should research the area extensively before applying for various roles. It would help if you made an effort to focus on what you want from a firm, your job, and your career. Then make a list of your assets and skills and compare it to the requirements of the appropriate job profile.

  • Referrals. Having professional references attest to your professionalism is always a smart idea. If you've only recently begun your new employment, your boot camp mentor might be a terrific reference.

  • Getting Ready for the Full-Stack Developer Interview. The interviewer wants to evaluate your knowledge, talents, and interpersonal abilities in addition to those during the interview. Emphasize your enthusiasm for full-stack development and ensure you've prepared so you can respond to the inquiries with assurance.

things for full stack developer

Conclusion

With full-stack development, you may work with cutting-edge organizations to explore cutting-edge solutions with cutting-edge technology. Additionally, the sector is expanding quickly, providing tech-savvy programmers who wish to establish a name for themselves in the programming area with enormous career potential and stability.

Full-stack developers have become more well-known in the development industry than ever before as businesses depend on their adaptable combination of specialization and generalization more and more. Today's aspiring programmers have a fantastic opportunity to establish fulfilling professions in the developing sector.

Check out the Full Stack Development Specialization course Scaler Academy offers if you're interested in learning more about the front- and back-end technologies that are most in-demand today, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL, MongoDB, and React.

Extra Resources

  1. Software Engineer vs Software Developer