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Software and web

Web developer

Build and look after websites: the pages people see in the browser, and the code and databases behind them.

This could suit you if

  • You like building things and seeing them work on screen
  • You enjoy solving puzzles and fixing problems step by step
  • You are happy to keep learning, because web tools change often
See the learning pathRelated courses
Two students writing code together on a laptop and a desktop computer

On this page

5
kinds of workplace
3
stages to 6 months
8
free ebooks

The work

What the work is

A web developer builds websites and web applications. Front-end developers make the part you see in the browser with HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Back-end developers write the code on the server that saves data, handles logins and talks to databases. Many people learn a little of both.

Shops, schools, clinics and companies all need websites, and someone has to build and maintain them. You can start with an ordinary computer and free software, and prove your skill through what you build.

Where people do this work

  • Software and IT companiesTeams that build websites and web apps for clients.
  • Digital and web agenciesBusiness websites, landing pages and online shops.
  • Businesses with their own sitesIn-house teams that keep a company’s website and online store running.
  • FreelancingWebsites for local shops, clinics, schools and small brands.
  • Remote teamsMany web teams work partly from home once people have experience.

A day at work

What a working day looks like

Every workplace is different, but a typical day goes something like this.

  1. Morning

    A short team meeting: what you finished yesterday, what you will do today, and anything blocking you.

  2. Late morning

    Build a new page or feature in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and check it on a phone and a laptop.

  3. Afternoon

    Fix a bug a customer reported, test the fix, save the change in Git and ask a senior to review it.

  4. End of the day

    Update the task list, note what is left, and read about one thing you did not understand today.

Skills and tools

What you need to learn

The skills come first; the tools are how you use them. You do not need everything on day one.

Skills

  1. HTML for structure and CSS for layout and design
  2. Responsive design, so pages work on phones
  3. JavaScript for interactive pages
  4. Git and GitHub to save and share code
  5. A back-end language such as PHP, Python or JavaScript (Node.js), and SQL databases
  6. Web security basics: HTTPS, strong passwords and never trusting form input
  7. Accessibility: pages everyone can use, including with a keyboard or screen reader
  8. Reading documentation and searching for answers

Software

  • A code editor such as Visual Studio Code (free)
  • The developer tools in Chrome or Firefox
  • Git and a GitHub account
  • MySQL or another database
  • A local server for testing back-end code

Hardware

  • Any recent computer or laptop is enough to start
  • A phone to test pages on a small screen
  • A reliable internet connection

Learning path

Your first six months, step by step

A realistic plan if you practise most days, at a course or at home. Go at your own pace: the order matters more than the speed.

  1. Step 1 · First month

    Your first pages

    • HTML: headings, paragraphs, links, images, lists, tables and forms
    • CSS: colours, fonts, spacing and flexbox
    • A one-page profile about yourself
    • Publish it for free with GitHub Pages
  2. Step 2 · By 3 months

    Layouts and interaction

    • CSS grid and responsive design for phones
    • JavaScript: variables, functions, events and changing the page
    • Three small projects: a calculator, a to-do list and a quiz
    • Use Git every day
  3. Step 3 · By 6 months

    Complete websites

    • A back-end language and SQL: save form data in a database
    • A small website with a contact form and an admin page
    • Security and accessibility basics
    • Polish your portfolio and write a short note about each project

Practice plan

Practise and build a portfolio

Employers and customers want to see what you can do. Build these as you learn, and keep them neat: they speak for you in an interview.

  1. 1

    Your own portfolio site

    A simple, fast site that introduces you and links to your projects. It is the first thing an employer opens.

  2. 2

    A business website

    A five-page site for a made-up shop or tuition centre (home, about, services, gallery, contact) that works well on phones.

  3. 3

    A JavaScript app

    A quiz, an expense tracker or a timer that shows you can make a page interactive.

  4. 4

    A database project

    A small app with a login, a form and a list that saves to a database, such as a library or attendance register.

  5. 5

    Tidy code on GitHub

    Each project in its own repository with a short README saying what it does and how to run it.

Getting started

Finding a first job, or starting on your own

Most people start with a junior job or helper role and learn on the job; some build their own small business step by step.

Finding your first job

  1. Put your GitHub and portfolio links at the top of your resume: employers want to see working projects
  2. Apply for internships and trainee or junior posts at IT companies and agencies
  3. Build a website for a school, NGO or relative’s shop to get a real reference
  4. Join local tech meetups and online communities to learn and hear about openings
  5. Register on the National Career Service portal and well-known job websites

Starting on your own, safely

  • Start with small websites for local businesses, and agree the pages, price, timeline and who pays for the domain and hosting in writing
  • Register domains in the client’s name, hand over every password at the end, and keep backups
  • Never use pirated themes or plugins: they often contain malware

Stay safe

Never pay for a job

Fake job offers target people looking for their first job. A real employer never asks you for money.

Watch out for these in web developer work

  • "Internships" that charge a fee for training or a certificate before you start
  • Offers to earn by "testing apps" or "rating websites" that later ask you to deposit money

  • Never pay for a job

    A real employer does not ask for a registration fee, a security deposit, or money for a training kit, ID card or uniform before you join. If someone asks you to pay to get a job, it is a scam.

  • Be wary of easy-money messages

    Offers on WhatsApp or Telegram to earn by liking videos, writing reviews or doing "simple online tasks" are a common fraud. They pay a little at first, then ask you to deposit money for bigger tasks.

  • Check the employer is real

    Look for an office you can visit, an official email address and website, and people who have actually worked there. Search the company name with the word "fraud" before you go.

  • Guard your OTPs and documents

    Never share an OTP, bank PIN or password. Do not send scans of Aadhaar or PAN, or install a screen-sharing app, for anyone you have not checked.

  • Go to interviews safely

    Interviews should be in an office or a public place, in the daytime. Tell a family member where you are going, and leave if anything feels wrong.

  • If you are cheated, act fast

    Call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 straight away, report it at cybercrime.gov.in and tell your bank. The sooner you report, the better the chance of stopping the money.

1930

National cyber crime helplineCheated by a fake job or payment? Call 1930 straight away and report it at cybercrime.gov.in.

Interview tips

How to do well in the interview

  1. 1Expect to explain your own projects line by line, including why you did things a certain way
  2. 2Practise small tasks: reverse a string, filter a list, build a responsive card in CSS
  3. 3Know the basics well: the box model, flexbox, how a form sends data, what a 404 error means
  4. 4Say "I don’t know, but this is how I would find out" rather than guessing
  5. 5Bring your laptop if you can, with your projects ready to show

Learn at the institute

Related courses at Gurukul Technicals Institute

These courses teach skills on this page. For the duration, fees and batch timings, ask the head office or your nearest member centre.

All Programming & Web Development coursesAsk which course suits you

Free ebooks

Free books to learn from

Free PDF ebooks for this line of work, to read on your phone or print.

All free ebooks

Questions about becoming a web developer

Still have a question?

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Do I need a computer science degree to become a web developer?

Not always. Many small companies and clients hire on skills they can see in your portfolio, while larger companies often ask for a degree. Either way, working projects count for a lot, so start building early.

Which language should I learn first?

Start with HTML and CSS, then JavaScript: every website is made of them. Pick one back-end language later, once you can build pages comfortably.

Can I learn on a phone?

You can read and try small exercises on a phone, but building websites needs a computer for writing code and testing. An older computer is fine for learning.

How long does it take before I can apply for jobs?

It depends on how much you practise and what is available near you. Six months of steady daily learning and building gives you a portfolio to start applying for internships and junior roles.

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