A frontend is defined as everything that a user interacts with on a website or a piece of software, and is a synonym for user interface. In terms of software and site development, the design and programming of the interface drive the interface’s function. But the backend refers to all processing and functionality that occur behind the scenes.
In frontend development, a major objective is building a hassle-free user experience: a program or website’s frontend should be as easy to use as possible. Yes, that may seem simple in concept, but it can be extremely complicated to achieve as not every user or device is identical.
For instance, an application created for a smartphone needs a totally different frontend from a standard desktop app. Websites need to function properly on screens of all sizes and devices of any type to satisfy users. That’s why responsive design is a critical element of web development today.
The following elements are included in frontend development:
- Page or app layout
- Video and audio components
- Graphics
- Text
- User interface components, such as toolbars, links, and buttons
- User flow, specifically how any interface leads on to the next
- Input areas, such as fields on contact forms to dialog boxes
- Customizations and themes for user configuration
When using a website or program, user input is delivered via the frontend, but all processing is completed in the backend. Backend code will read data and write it, then use the frontend to send output back to the user.
While a website or program’s backend and frontend function harmoniously, software jobs typically involve development on the front- and backend. This is known as full-stack development.
Please note: It’s fairly common for frontend to be written as ‘front end’ (noun) or ‘front-end’ (adjective), whereas ‘frontend’ is widely considered appropriate for the noun and adjective forms.