What's the Difference Between Front End and Full Stack Coding Bootcamps?
Last Updated: June 5th 2024
Are you considering coding bootcamp, but are unsure of the difference between front and and full stack web development?
You’re not alone! Data from Course Report shows that the typical coding bootcamp student has very little prior web development experience before they start their coursework. Community-based coding bootcamps such as Nucamp offer a variety of courses tailored to students who want to learn the basics of web development as well as those who would like to learn front end or full stack web development.
But first off, what is really the difference between these web development tracks? Let’s take a look.
Front End Coding Languages
Front end web development involves the user’s experience on the front end, or public-facing portion of a website rather than the website’s back-end structural components. Front end coders typically develop code that relates to the styling and formatting of web pages. This includes:
HTML and CSS: These languages are the building blocks of most web pages and applications. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard language used to build these products. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the language used in addition to HTML to create the style and formatting of content on web pages or apps.
React and React Native: React enables web developers to leverage these skills even further, building systems that connect consumer data at a higher lever. React Native, a related coding language, allows web developers to create mobile apps from these websites.
Full Stack Coding Languages
In addition to the front end skills listed above, full stack web developers also tend to focus on the back-end functionality of these products, such as administering systems, databases, and user security. As a result, full stack web development involves a wider range of coding languages and tools such as:
NodeJS and MongoDB: NodeJS and MongoDB are commonly used languages and tools that are used heavily in databases, user authentication, and data storage.
Microsoft Visual Studio/Git/GitHub: Microsoft Visual Studio is one of the most widely-used web development environments. Git and GitHub are control systems that allow multiple developers to track changes made to a code base, enabling easier collaboration among developers working on teams.
Front End vs. Full Stack Coursework
Nucamp starts students on the front end web development path since many of the skills learned in this area carry over into helping them understand back end development too. Here’s what our front end course looks like:
12 projects + project portfolio
Meanwhile, our full stack course adds in an additional course to cover back end development as well. It’s a little longer, and has a few more projects, but you get to see the entire web development picture.
17 projects + project portfolio
Front End and Full Stack Web Development Jobs
As you can imagine based on the coding languages and skills listed above, front and and full stack web developer roles can differ greatly.
Due to its focus on the design and user experience on websites, front end web development roles are a popular choice for students who enjoy design - whether that be graphic, or other visual/art-related interests. Front end developers typically:
Build responsive websites with seamless user experience and styling that work across devices and web browsers.
Build the user-facing aspect of mobile apps.
If you enjoy deeper-level problem solving and technical challenges, such as security, full stack web development could be for you. Full stack developers typically:
Administer systems, troubleshoot problems users experience while using these systems.
Administer databases, ensuring that data is secure but also accessible for authorized users when needed.
Certify software quality, such as a Quality Assurance Engineer or Tester, to ensure that websites and apps are working as they should prior to launch.
READY TO SEE IF CODING IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Come check out the nearest community coding bootcamp in your city or town. Click here to get started.
Director of Marketing & Brand
Chevas has spent over 15 years inventing brands, designing interfaces, and driving engagement for companies like Microsoft. He is a practiced writer, a productivity app inventor, board game designer, and has a builder-mentality drives entrepreneurship.