Design

• Front-end developers were -- and to a large extent still are -- referenced when discussing web development design work. Not long ago, graphic designers or graphic artists were called to create websites and other user-based software applications. Their roles have expanded beyond just the pictures and graphics to include application development and functionality. The result is the front-end developer, a title that more accurately reflects this expanded role. However, the visual experience and "feel" a user gets when navigating a website is still very much the product of the front-end developer. This includes the graphics, pictures and colors used that give a website its distinct look and feel.
  
  

Functionality

• In addition to the look and feel of a website or software application, the front-end developer is responsible for the layout and ultimate functionality of a site. Today, websites need to not only be easy to look at and provide relevant content and information, but users also must be able to quickly and intuitively navigate to areas of interest. This includes things like menu bars, easily accessible links and shopping carts (which allow for easy purchasing of products online).
  
  

Technical Requirements

• The transition from graphic designer to front-end developer is the result of the expanded responsibilities and requisite skill set of these professionals. Some of the technical application development languages and tools required are cascade style sheets (CSS), XHTML and HTML, Java script, ASP.NET and many others specific to the particular job function at a company. These were not requirements of the graphic designer or artist, but are now expected of a front-end developer. As was the case before the expansion of the technical requirements, a front-end developer is likely expected to know and be able to work with the Adobe graphic design software suite as well.
  
  

User Considerations

• Because the front-end developer is so closely linked to the end-user's experience, there are a host of factors they must consider when designing and developing front-end applications. For example, they must be familiar with multiple web browsers used in the market today, file sizes for quick downloads, the ability to turn off images to improve page loading speeds and the effect of different user screen resolutions. Additional considerations a front-end developer must take into account include a user's slow Internet connection and outdated video cards that may or may not support the website's graphics.