FRONT-END DEVELOPMENT: A PATH IN PROGRAMMING
Published: 2021-01-21 18:00:38

As a coding newbie, choosing a path in programming can be arduous if there is little or no prior knowledge about it.
In this article, I broaden your knowledge of **FRONT-END DEVELOPMENT**, it's basics, what it entails, tools employed and the benefits of being one.
##What is Front-End Development?
Front-End Development, also known as **Client-side Development** is the aspect of web development responsible for the user interface design and the integration of the back-end development. It involves the use of HTML, CSS and JavaScript so that users can view and interact with it.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ytyf2n8soibcbvr517nh.jpeg)
##Tools Employed in Front-End Development.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/726h61fjixk3gdq5ovi1.png)
In a website, the images, text, links, beautiful architecture, and usability are all put in place by three core tools in Front-End Development. These tools, HTML, CSS and JavaScript are responsible for what a client sees when visiting a website.
Having a vivid understanding of these three core tools as a Front-End developer marks out the difference between a patch-up website and a well-designed, structured and formatted site every user appreciates.
Further elucidated below are these core tools:
###HTML; Hypertext Markup Language.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/g1m3fa28u9siialkgcig.png)

HTML is a markup language(also declarative) responsible for the layout of pages on the web.
It is the backbone of any website. It's responsible for converting texts into
links, tables, images, videos, etc, which pass out information to the user.
###CSS; Cascading Style Sheet.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/agkfo0lueclxt9erbq6s.png)

CSS is a tool responsible for styling a webpage.
Due to its structure, it beautifies a webpage, making it more appealing and expressive to a user. 
It gives a website its distinction as it formats it in a specific way which distinguishes it from other websites.
###JavaScript
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/wdwucvf2o7fz0yfefdwc.png)

JavaScript is the prominent language of a website. It adds dynamic functionality to a website, giving it more meaning and making it useful to the user.
It is a scripting language employed in the development of websites. It's also an **Event-driven Language**.
It transforms the static HTML pages to a dynamic website capable of responding to the events of a user e.g clicks, inputs, etc. via Document Object Model (DOM). 
Front-End Developers also tend to depend a lot on libraries built on HTML, CSS and JavaScript to ease programming.
It may be design frameworks like **Bootstrap** or **Foundation**, JavaScript libraries like **AngularJS** or **React**.
For CSS, there are **SASS** and many others, which can be a very effective support. 
Besides HTML, CSS and JavaScript, being ground in UI designs, UX and being able to use tools such as **Figma**, **Photoshop**, **Sketch XD**, **Illustrator** can give an edge over ordinary Front-end Developers, as employers do not only search for people who can code but also are creative, imaginative, people who can work collaboratively with visuals and UX designers to solve problems.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/up68wepz350dfa728zuh.jpeg)
###Responsibilities of A Front-End Developer
* Build and integrate websites using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
* Edit and fix bugs in Front-End codes.
* Implement designs for mobile sites.
* Run usability testing.
* Ensure that designs are formatted the right way.

###Benefits of a Front-End Developer
Due to the high demand for Front-End Developers, as the world advance more in technology, Front-End Developers enjoy the following benefits:
* High salary ranging from $59,213 to $87,567 per year (depends on the work location).
* Despite being fully employed in a particular organization, they can choose to do freelance jobs
* They can also work from a remote location as long as they have the resources needed.
* They can improve their skills when they work 8n organisations, as they work mostly in groups.
* With good qualifications and skills, they can be given ambassadorship benefits from Front-End or Front-End related jobs.

##Conclusion
In this article, I've been able to elucidate Front-End Development as a path in programming, the responsibilities of a Front-End Developer, tools employed in it and the benefits of being one.
As one new or already in coding, perusing this article will be of great help.