The frontend development landscape continues to evolve rapidly over time. In order to succeed in this field, you need to be aware of what a FrontEnd
developer should know in 2024. By starting your training now, you're laying a solid foundation for the work of the coming periods.
In this article, you'll learn about the fundamental building blocks of frontend development, including:
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for beginners
- SASS, jQuery, ReactJS, AngularJS and Bootstrap for advanced developers
By mastering these technologies, junior frontend developers can open up a world of possibilities to create stunning, responsive and interactive web applications.
Main FrontEnd Developer Skills for 2024
If you're looking for what a junior FrontEnd developer should know in 2024, you're in the right place. By mastering these skills now, you'll increase your chances of success in the job competition of the future.
Start your training with the basics so you can soon move on to a more serious level of training. So, in this section, you'll learn about the three basic tools you'll need as you work as a junior professional.
HTML
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is a common markup language for building web pages. It allows you to create and structure sections, paragraphs and links using elements such as tags and attributes.
HTML has several applications, namely:
- Web development. HTML code is used to design how a browser displays elements of a web page, such as text, hyperlinks and media files.
- Web navigation. Users can easily navigate and insert links between linked pages and Web sites because HTML is actively used to insert hyperlinks.
- Web documentation. HTML allows documents to be organized and formatted like Microsoft Word.
HTML is not considered a programming language because it cannot create dynamic functions. Currently, it is an official web standard. The World Wide Web Consortium maintains and develops the HTML specification and updates it regularly.
We have prepared some key aspects of what a junior frontend developer should know when learning HTML, namely:
- Basic HTML Structure. Understand the basic structure of an HTML document, including the <!DOCTYPE> declaration, <html>, <head>, and <body> elements.
- HTML tags. Become familiar with headings, paragraphs, links, images and lists.
- Creating Forms. Learn how to use form elements, such as <input> , <select> , <textarea> and form attributes such as action , method and required .
HTML is an easy-to-understand language with an extensive feature set that is most often used to develop static web pages. It works well with CSS for design and JavaScript for functionality.
CSS
CSS is a style sheet language that is used to design web pages developed in HTML or XML. CSS defines how elements appear on a display or in other sources.
If HTML were the engine components of a car, CSS would be the body style and
paint scheme. CSS makes a site's appearance shine and creates a great user experience. Without CSS, sites would be less pleasing to the eye and likely much more difficult to navigate.
Some of the benefits of using CSS:
- Faster page speed.
- Better user experience
- Faster development time
- Easier formatting changes
- Compatibility with various devices
Once you have mastered HTML, the best solution is to learn the basic concepts of CSS. Understand the key aspects of what a junior front-end developer in 2024 should know while learning CSS, namely:
- CSS selectors. Understand how they work and how to select HTML elements for styling.
- Box Model. Become familiar with the CSS box model, which determines how elements appear on the page.
- CSS Box Properties. Dive deeper into CSS box properties such as background, border, carpet pad, and margins.
- Layout and Positioning. Explore the different layout and positioning methods in CSS. Learn about the display property and different layout values such as block, inline, and flex.
- CSS Grid. Learn how this layout module works, which allows you to create layouts based on a grid.
It's important to keep practicing to improve your skills as a frontend developer. Stay up-to-date
on the latest CSS features, techniques, and best practices, thanks to
Merehead. Follow our blog to be among the first to get useful information about programming!
JavaScript
While CSS and HTML are used for making simple websites, JavaScript is used to make your site more interactive. If you are proficient in all three languages, you can strengthen your chances of getting a job as a front-end developer.
JavaScript is an object-oriented language whose syntax is similar to Python, PHP and Ruby. It can be used in all major web browsers, e.g:
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Firefox
It's easy to learn and use, making it an important part of the list of things a junior frontend developer should know in 2024. Also, JavaScript makes it quick and easy to test code without the need for an external compiler.
Use our recommendations to learn JavaScript in the most efficient way possible:
- Start by understanding the basics of JavaScript. Learn variables, data types, operators, control structures, functions, and objects.
- Learn how to manipulate the document object model (DOM) using JavaScript
- Gain an understanding of user event handling. Learn how to track events such as button clicks, form submissions, mouse movements, and keyboard interactions.
- Explore the concepts of asynchronous programming in JavaScript
- Learn how to use JavaScript to make asynchronous HTTP requests to external APIs
Understanding JavaScript opens up new opportunities for you in the world of frontend development. In addition to getting a priority position among job seekers, you'll also be able to provide
JavaScript development services. Learn its features now to improve your skills in 2024.
Version control systems
Any
development company is interested in making sure that while working on a project, all code changes are structured and consistent. Therefore, in order to get a position in FrontEnd development, you need to understand version control systems such as Git or CVS.
A version control system is a software tool that allows the development team to keep track of source code updates. It records all changes made to a file so that a particular version can be retrieved in the future.
The principle of version control system operation.
Source.
Version control systems are one of the top tools a FrontEnd developer should know in 2024. Over 90% of all companies on the market use this solution to provide benefits such as:
- Managing and protecting source code
- Tracking all changes made to the code
- Comparison of early versions of code
- Workflow support
- Automation during project workflow
There are many version control systems on the market, ranging from paid and free, to closed and public.
Variants of version control systems.
Source.
To help you understand which option is best for you, Merehead team has prepared a brief description of the most popular ones:
- Git. A distributed version control system known for its speed and efficiency.
- Helix Core. A centralized version control system used to manage large software development projects.
- Subversion. A simple and easy-to-use version control system managed by CollabNet.
According to
6sense, the most used VCS in 2023 is Git. About 90% of all development companies choose this option. So, if you want to increase your chances of success in your job search, starting to learn Git would be a great decision.
Agile and Scrum
Agile is the project management methodology most often used by IT companies. For those who want to work in a team, understanding its principles is one of the most significant skills.
Agile is an approach to project management that is based on incremental and iterative steps to complete the development process.
The working principle of Agile methodology.
Source.
There is continuous feedback during the Agile process, which allows team members to adapt to issues that arise and stakeholders to communicate consistently.
Here are some of the other benefits of Agile:
- Faster response to competitive threats
- Higher development speed and time to market
- Reduced project risks
Agile is widely used in software development and other industries where project requirements can change rapidly. One of the most popular frameworks used in Agile project management is Scrum.
The principle of how Scrum works.
Source.
Scrum is an iterative and incremental system that helps teams build high-quality products in a timely manner. According to the annual State of Agile report, 87% of companies use Scrum in their project process.
Here are some of the main components of a Scrum system:
- Scrum Master. The person responsible for organizing daily meetings and increasing productivity in the team.
- Backlog. This is a prioritized list of tasks and requirements included in the final product.
- Sprint. This is a set deadline for completing each set of tasks from the backlog. A sprint is usually two weeks long.
Agile and Scrum are foundations that a junior FrontEnd developer in 2024 should know. Understanding these concepts will improve project work as well as interaction with the team and Project Manager.
What should a FrontEnd developer know in 2024?
When the basic skills are behind you, you have a huge learning curve. First and foremost, you need to understand what a FrontEnd developer should know in 2024 in order to succeed in this field.
This section will introduce you to the major preprocessors, libraries and frontend development frameworks. Regardless of your experience, being proficient with these tools will give you a higher priority among employers.
SASS
Short for Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets, SASS is a popular CSS preprocessor. Sass code is processed by the program and compiled into CSS code that can be used to style HTML elements.
There are several reasons that make Sass an important position on the list of things a frontend developer should know in 2024. Among them:
- Orderliness. Sass code is more organized than standard CSS code. You can perform the same operations with fewer steps.
- Easy to learn. It doesn't take long to learn Sass. Anyone who knows CSS can easily learn the preprocessor without much effort.
- Ability to reuse.
Understanding Sass can greatly improve your CSS workflow and increase the scalability of your style sheets. We've prepared mandatory aspects of learning this preprocessor that you can follow to increase your proficiency faster:
- Mixins. Learn how to create mixins and pass arguments to customize their behavior.
- Partitions and importing. Organize your Sass codebase using partitions.
- Operators and calculations. Figure out how to use the arithmetic operators +, -, *, /, and % to calculate properties such as width, indentation, or padding.
Using Sass or other preprocessors will save you the trouble of CSS. However, before you get started, it is recommended that you understand all the basics of CSS to get a firm grasp of the concept.
JQuery
JQuery is a JavaScript library, a set of plugins and extensions
that make JavaScript development faster and easier. With it, you can get more functionality with fewer lines of code.
Instead of coding everything from scratch, jQuery allows the developer to add ready-made elements to projects and then customize them as needed.
You can use jQuery to perform common JavaScript functions, such as:
- adding or removing classes
- creating common web interface elements, such as countdown timers, date switches, or tooltips
As a popular JavaScript library, jQuery has a number of advantages that have contributed to its widespread use among developers. Once you try using jQuery, you'll understand why it's so in demand.
Here are some of its key advantages:
- Simplified DOM manipulation
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Rich feature set
- Easy AJAX integration.
JQuery confidently tops the list of things a frontend developer should know in 2024, it provides a simplified and efficient way to work with JavaScript. Here are the main areas you should focus on:
- jQuery basics. Start by understanding the basics of syntax, selectors and methods.
- DOM manipulation. Learn how to access, modify and navigate through a document object model using jQuery methods and selectors.
- Effects and Animations. Understand how to create smooth transitions, fades, slides, and custom animations.
- jQuery plugins. Explore popular options such as jQuery UI, Slick, Lightbox, or Select2, and learn how to integrate them into your projects.
Understanding jQuery is an important part of your professional skills. Professionals who use it in their work are better at completing tasks. If you want to succeed in frontend development in 2024, take enough time to learn jQuery
ReactJS
ReactJS is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries
for mobile and web application development. Created by Facebook, React contains a collection of reusable pieces of JavaScript code called components. They
are used to build a user interface.
It is important to note that ReactJS is not a JavaScript framework. It is only responsible for rendering the components of the display layer of a web page. React is an alternative to frameworks such as Angular and Vue, which in turn allow you to create complex functions.
React has a few key features that set it apart from other JavaScript libraries, namely:
- JSX, an extension of the JavaScript syntax.
- Virtual DOM. ReactJS stores virtual DOM trees in memory, allowing updates to be applied to specific parts of the data tree.
- Redux and Recoil state management library
Understanding ReactJS is increasingly one of the requirements of what a frontend developer
should know in 2024. To get answers to your resume, you should take care to learn ReactJS now.
Follow our recommendations to make the learning process more effective:
- Learn how to create functional and class components, work with props and state, and display them in the DOM
- Understand when and how to use lifecycle methods such as componentDidMount, componentDidUpdate, and componentWillUnmount
- Learn about the useState hook and the setState method for updating and managing component state
- Learn React Router, a popular routing library for React applications
- Understand React Context
Along with other development tools, ReactJS is essential in shaping your professional stack. By learning it, you'll not only get an impressive resume, but you'll also make it easier to work on subsequent tasks.
AngularJS
Angular is an open-source software framework used
to build web applications. FrontEnd developers also use it to create animated menus for HTML web pages.
The framework is the brainchild of Google engineers Misco Hevery and Adam Ebrons. Google officially released the first version of AngularJS in 2010 and has been actively supporting it ever since.
AngularJS uses the Model-View-Controller architecture, which is used
in web application development.
This type of architecture consists of elements such as:
- Model - a data structure that manages information and receives input from the controller
- View - the representation of the information
- Controller - responds to input and interacts with the model
In the context of AngularJS, the model is the framework, the view is HTML and the controller is JavaScript.
The whole process can be described as follows:
- AngularJS links JavaScript and HTML
- JavaScript takes user input and sends it to AngularJS
- AngularJS uses the input to modify the HTML
Because the framework links JavaScript and HTML, the code is synchronized between the two. This mechanism makes developers' work easier by reducing the amount of code that needs to be written.
AngularJS is a key tool for working with JavaScript, which is why it is no small part of the list of things a frontend developer
should know in 2024.
While getting to know this framework, pay attention to the following details:
- AngularJS architecture.
- Directives. Learn built-in directives such as ngIf, ngFor and ngModel, as well as creating your own.
- Services and dependency injection. Learn how to create and use services to encapsulate business logic, exchange data between multiple components and interact with external APIs or resources.
- HTTP requests and APIs. Figure out how to use the AngularJS $http service or the newer HttpClient module to perform GET, POST, PUT and DELETE operations.
Often frontend developers argue about which is better –
AngularJS or React, but only the most advanced of them understand that a skilled professional should have both skills in their stack.
Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a free, open-source platform that is designed to make it easier to develop mobile-oriented Web sites.
In other words, Bootstrap helps web developers
create websites faster because they don't have to worry about basic commands and features. It consists of HTML, CSS and JS scripts for various functions and components related to
web design.
If you're still unsure about putting Bootstrap on the list of things a frontend developer should know in 2024, explore its advantages over other web development frameworks:
- Simplicity. There are plenty of tutorials and online forums to get you started.
- Flexible Grid. Bootstrap comes with a predefined grid system, which saves you from having to create it from scratch.
- Browser compatibility.
