Web developers are responsible for designing and developing websites, apps and online platforms. Their role spans both aesthetic and technical aspects, ensuring that the end-user experience is smooth.

While a degree is still an important consideration, it’s no longer the only qualification required to find and succeed in this industry. If you want to get started as a web developer without a degree, there are plenty of options available.

HTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard computer language that enables the Internet to function. It is a set of instructions that tells the web browser how to display and interpret text, images, and other elements on a web page.

All websites contain some level of HTML code. You can inspect the source code of a website using tools available in your web browser.

It is best to learn HTML before learning more advanced languages like CSS or JavaScript. This will allow you to create professional, functional websites while building a strong foundation for future front-end skills.

The HTML tags in a web document communicate the instructions to the browser via angle brackets and opening and closing tags. Most tags follow this pattern, but some don’t require an opening tag, such as br> and img> for formatting lines of text and including an image.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, is the language that controls the visual elements of every kind of website. It allows web developers to change the layout and appearance of websites, making them more appealing to visitors.

If you’re interested in becoming a web developer without a degree, learning to master CSS is essential for developing websites that stand out from the crowd. This skill is also a great way to increase your earning potential as a web developer.

The first step to learning CSS is to understand how it works and its syntax. This module will help you get started by introducing you to the basics of this powerful language and show you how it can be used to style your HTML documents.

In addition, you’ll learn about the different CSS units and how to create scalable designs. These will allow users to zoom in on your website without breaking the design.

JavaScript

A web developer without a degree can still learn the basics of building a website. There are many resources available online, and practice is the best way to improve.

Aside from HTML and CSS, JavaScript is another important language to know if you’re looking to become a web developer. This scripting language enables developers to control interactive aspects of a web page.

This includes the ability to add animations, change content, and create forms that are dynamically updated. It also allows developers to build mobile apps and server-side applications.

Although a college degree is not always necessary to become a web developer, it can help you stand out from the crowd when it comes time to apply for jobs. And it may even give you the opportunity to work in a senior role.

jQuery

If you want to build a website, jQuery is an excellent library to use. It helps speed up your development process and allows you to create responsive, feature-rich websites using AJAX technology.

jQuery is an open-source, light-weight JavaScript library that simplifies the client-side scripting of HTML by making things like document traversal and manipulation, animation creation, event handling, and Ajax app development easier to implement.

It also allows you to create plugins that operate on top of jQuery, which simplify the coding process even more. These plugins are collections of jQuery code that chain together the individual functions to create robust features and tools without requiring you to code them from scratch.

Whether you’re learning on your own or using a training course, it is important to keep building new skills and continuously improve your knowledge of programming languages. This will help you stand out when you’re job searching and will give you a leg up on your competition.