A web developer is the person who builds a website or web app in code. A designer decides how a site should look and feel; the developer makes it actually work: pages that load quickly, forms that send, checkouts that charge, logins that keep accounts safe.
Types of web developer
- Frontend developers build what runs in the browser: layouts, interactions, responsiveness and accessibility. See frontend.
- Backend developers build server logic, databases, APIs and integrations. See backend.
- Full stack developers cover both and are the most common hire for small businesses.
- Platform specialists focus on one system such as WordPress, Shopify or Webflow and know its themes and plugins deeply.
What a developer does in a typical week
Much of the job is not writing new features. A developer on a small-business site might fix a form that stopped sending after an email provider change, update dependencies with security patches, speed up a slow page, connect a booking tool through its API, review a pull request, and deploy the result. Reading existing code and debugging usually take more time than writing fresh code.
Developer or designer?
The roles overlap but are not the same. A web designer works on layout, colour, typography and user experience, often in Figma. A developer turns that design into working code. Some people do both well; many are strong at one. If you need a site that converts, check both skills, whether in one person or two.
Example: hiring for a specific job
A physiotherapy clinic wants its existing site connected to its practice management software so patients can book online. That is integration work: a developer comfortable with APIs, not a designer, and not a full rebuild. Describing the job precisely, "connect our site to this booking system's API", gets better quotes than "we need a new website".
Mistakes when working with a web developer
- Not owning your accounts. Domain, hosting and the GitHub repository should be in your business's name, with the developer invited.
- No written scope. List pages, features and what "done" means, including mobile testing and who writes the copy.
- Forgetting maintenance. Sites need updates after launch. Agree on who handles them and how they are billed.
- Judging by portfolio screenshots alone. Open their live sites on your phone and try the forms.
Related terms
- Web development: the work a web developer does.
- Full stack: developers who cover every layer.
- Frontend: the browser-side specialism.
- Backend: the server-side specialism.