By Kudzai Gopfa

If you’ve been around the tech space for a while, you’ve definitely heard about all the different titles in the industry—full stack developer, front end, back end, web designer, software engineer, and many more. The titles go on and on, and it’s all starting to sound like a complicated clutter.

With all my experience in the industry, I can say one thing for sure: Tech has a way of making simple things seem complex. If you’re interested in becoming a tech guru, then this is for you. In this article, I’ll break down the elaborate thoughts you’ve always had about web development.

I get asked several tech-related questions, most from aspiring ‘techies’. How can I become a developer? Do I have to focus on full-stack or backend development? What skill is easier to learn?

If you’re trying to figure out which path to take or you want to understand what these roles entail, then keep reading. I promise this is going to be fun and easy to grasp.
I’ll be focusing on two options: Full stack and backend development.

The first thing you need to know — I’m guessing you don’t already — is that both of these roles work together to create the websites and apps you use every day on the internet. However, there’s a difference in responsibilities. To become a tech guru, you have to understand these differences. Luckily, I’ll be explaining these tech roles with as much simplicity as I can, disclosing the differences and overlaps. Whether your goal is to develop a new skill or change your career path, you need to understand the basics, as this will empower you to decide which is best. First, we’ll be discussing backend development.

I want to use the concept of a restaurant to allow you to visualise my explanation. When you walk into a restaurant, you see the neatly arranged tables and the waiters serving food, but you don’t see the chefs in the kitchen, ensuring that orders are being processed

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Backend developers are like those chefs. They work behind the scenes to guarantee smooth operations.

A backend developer deals with:Servers – Where the website lives and operates.Databases – Where all the information (like usernames, passwords, and orders) is stored. APIs – The bridge that connects the front end to the back end, making everything work together.

When you log into a website and perform any activity, the back end does all the heavy lifting, making the user interface fully functional. They use programming languages like Python, Java, PHP, and Node.js to build this hidden but powerful system.

Now, moving on to the full-stack developers. You can envision these sets of people as restaurant owners without hires. The owner manages the kitchen, arranges the tables, creates the menu, and even takes orders. Just as the name suggests—full stack—they handle both the backend and the frontend operations. (Just for added information, frontend developers are responsible for the looks and the feel of a product).

Full-stack developers know how to build and connect both parts. They don’t have to be experts in everything, but they understand enough to create a complete, working application from scratch.

Here are the major differences between both roles discussed under some criteria: Technologies: Unlike the backend developer, a full stack web developer possesses broader skills since they handle both frontend and backend operations.

Focus: The full stack developer focuses on developing both the client and server side of a web application, while backend development involves only the server side.

Salaries and Job openings: Based on several updates and reviews on popular posting platforms, full-stack developers have more job openings and higher average salaries compared to backend developers.

Though the points discussed above highlight the fundamental differences between both roles, you should also know that their responsibilities can vary depending on several factors, such as the organisation, industry, and project scope.

There are also a few overlaps as both roles work on the server side of websites or applications. I’ll highlight these similarities as we’ve pointed out some initially. Both roles create and use APIs to facilitate communication between software components.
Both full-stack and backend developers implement security measures like data encryption to prevent slip-ups.Both roles collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success.

Full-stack and backend developers need to ensure the backend runs efficiently, maintaining overall application speed. They both work with databases to store and manage data.

With all that I’ve carefully explained, deciding what role to choose depends on your interests and career goals. Backend is ideal if you enjoy working with data and servers, ensuring systems run smoothly. It’s a specialised field that focuses only on the core functions of an application. Fullstack is perfect for those who enjoy variety and want to handle both visuals and back-office operations. This role provides flexibility and a broad understanding of web development.