Web Developer

Also called: Computer Graphic Artist, Computer Graphic Designer, Front End Developer, Front End Web Developer, Interface Designer

jobs advertised

courses available

Varies

estimated salary

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
Perform or direct Web site updates.
Maintain understanding of current Web technologies or programming practices through continuing education, reading, or participation in professional conferences, workshops, or groups.
Analyze user needs to determine technical requirements.
Respond to user email inquiries, or set up automated systems to send responses.
Renew domain name registrations.
Confer with management or development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, develop content criteria, or choose solutions.
Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware or software issues affecting Web sites.
Collaborate with management or users to develop e-commerce strategies and to integrate these strategies with Web sites.
Document test plans, testing procedures, or test results.
Establish appropriate server directory trees.
Recommend and implement performance improvements.
Document technical factors such as server load, bandwidth, database performance, and browser and device types.
Develop or implement procedures for ongoing Web site revision.
Create Web models or prototypes that include physical, interface, logical, or data models.
Provide clear, detailed descriptions of Web site specifications, such as product features, activities, software, communication protocols, programming languages, and operating systems software and hardware.
Evaluate or recommend server hardware or software.
Monitor security system performance logs to identify problems and notify security specialists when problems occur.
Install and configure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) servers and associated operating systems.
Research, document, rate, or select alternatives for Web architecture or technologies.
Develop system interaction or sequence diagrams.
Design and implement Web site security measures, such as firewalls and message encryption.
Incorporate technical considerations into Web site design plans, such as budgets, equipment, performance requirements, and legal issues including accessibility and privacy.

Work Context

Electronic Mail — 92% responded "Every day".
Spend Time Sitting — 80% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 59% responded "Some freedom".
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 80% responded "Every day".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 67% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 46% responded "Very important".
Telephone — 42% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".

Work Activities

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Detailed Work Activities

Design websites or web applications.
Update website content.
Update website content.
Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.
Test software performance.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Communications and Media

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Programming

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need: