Top 10 Skills to Become a Full-Stack Developer in 2023

In the modern world, if we talk about professional versatility, there’s no one better than a Full Stack Developer to represent the term “versatile.” Well-versed in both frontend and backend web development, Full Stack Developers are the multi-talented professionals that every company and brand covets. 

Since the dawn of the digital era, more and more companies and organizations are creating their unique online presence through their websites. Naturally, the domain of web development is witnessing a growth like never before, thanks to which the demand for experienced and skilled Full Stack Developers has spiked considerably. If you consider doing full stack web development course to upskill yourself, check out upGrad & IIIT-B’s PG Diploma in Full-stack Software Development which has placement assurance or money back guarantee. 

This course will teach you important aspects such as what is full stack web development and  how to become a full stack developer

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What is full stack web development?

Full stack web development is a process of computer system application which handles two separate web development domains named front end and back end.

Before understanding how to become full stack developer, let’s first recognise what is a full stack developer and what does full stack developer do?

Who is a Full Stack Developer?

To fully comprehend the role of a Full Stack Developer, you must first understand the components of web development. Essentially, web development has two parts – frontend and backend development. Thus, every web or mobile application includes two parts, a frontend, and a backend.

While the frontend comprises the visible part of the application with which users interact (user interface), the backend is where all the actual magic happens. The backend of an application includes business logic (how the system functions and how the data flows via a series of tasks), how the data is stored, and where the solution runs. 

Both the frontend and backend combine to create the Full Stack. A tech stack comprises an operating system, a server, a database, and other vital tools like libraries, frameworks, environments, and so on. When multiple such tech stacks are layered and run together, they create a Full Stack.

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What does fullstack developer do?

Now, a Full Stack Developer is a software expert who’s equally proficient in frontend (client-side) development and backend (server-side) development. Full Stack Developers are familiar with each layer of tech stacks that go into the making of a software product. They know how each layer functions and, most importantly, can manipulate all the backend components.

Full Stack Developers have a broad skill set and extensive knowledge base. Thus, one needs years of experience in software development to earn the title of a Full Stack Developer. They are highly valued by large companies and small startups alike. Doing full stack web development courses significantly increases your chances of getting hired in your dream company as adding certifications from authorized institutions increases the weightage of your resume. 

Related Article: Full Stack Developer Salary in India

Hope you got a brief understanding of what is a full stack developer, now let’s move on to, how to become a full stack developer.

What are the crucial Full Stack Developer skills?

As we mentioned before, a Full Stack Developer boasts of a wide variety of skills. Here are Full Stack Developer skills that are non-negotiable!

1. HTML/CSS

While HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language, CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. HTML is used for adding web content, and CSS is a personalization tool for designing and styling a website. Both HTML and CSS determine the look and feel of a website, which ultimately plays a major role in attracting prospective customers. 

Full Stack Developers have to work with HTML to define the structure of web pages by using markup. They must also be proficient in CSS for effective presentation of the HTML elements. Full Stack Developers must have extensive knowledge in both of these programming languages for creating an interactive, intuitive, and engaging frontend for applications. 

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2. JavaScript

When it comes to web and software development, JavaScript is a mandatory Full Stack Developer skill. The object-oriented scripting language is mostly used for adding behaviors using HTML. It is one of the most widely used languages for writing frontend and backend code for servers. Furthermore, JavaScript is the only programming language that can run natively in the browser and on the server-side (Node.js). 

Full Stack Developers must have in-depth knowledge of JavaScript along with its concepts and features like React and Angular. One of the best things about JavaScript is that it includes numerous useful features, including functions, prototypes, higher-order event delegation, and closure, which help create responsive web pages.

It is also mandatory for Full Stack Developers to upgrade their JavaScript knowledge as and when new frameworks, libraries, and tools are launched. Apart from this, Full Stack Developers must know how to use DOM and JSON.

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Checkout: Full Stack Developer Project Ideas for Beginners

3. Git and GitHub 

Every developer, as well as aspiring developers, has heard of Git. It is an open-source “distributed version control system” that can handle all your development needs. It promises speed and efficiency for both small and large-scale projects. With Git, developers can seamlessly manage all the changes made to applications, codes, websites, documents, and other information associated with software/application development. Professional developers usually have a GitHub profile, which is compulsory if working in a team. 

As for Full Stack Developers, Git allows them to track every minor modification done to the application codebase. They must be aware of all the basic Git commands and examples. Using Git empowers Full Stack Developers to explore unique opportunities for security, productivity, and management. Knowledge of Git allows Full Stack Developers to better collaborate and cooperate with their fellow developers/programmers who are working on the same project. 

Learn more: Git vs Github: Difference Between Git and Github

4. Backend languages

While we’ve covered the two most critical frontend languages, HTML and CSS (along with JavaScript), the other pivotal part of an application or software is the backend. While backend development is a whole different game, there’s plenty of programming languages to choose from. Doing a full stack web development course will help you learn the required languages necessary to become a full stack developer. 

A Full Stack Developer must know at least a few of these languages for backend development:

• PHP – One of the most popular choices for backend development, PHP is an open-source, cross-platform compatible language that can work seamlessly on Unix, macOS, and Windows. 
• Python – Python’s English-like syntax, smooth learning curve, and a vast assortment of libraries and frameworks is what makes it extremely popular among developers and coders around the world. 
• Ruby – Ruby is a robust programming language. An active community of developers backs it, but it also boasts of excellent documentation and dependencies, making it the ideal choice for backend development.
• Java – Java is a multipurpose programming language. It can be used for web, desktop, and mobile application development. Plus, Java has a wide range of frameworks that further simplify the process of backend development.

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5. Web architecture

Full Stack Developers are the wizards of software development. They are equipped with multiple skills pertaining to both frontend and backend development. 

Full Stack Developers need to know the nitty-gritty of web architecture. Since their primary responsibility is to develop complex software applications from scratch, they must know how to structure the code, categorize the files, structure the data in databases, and perform the necessary computational tasks. Read more on Web development project ideas.

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6. HTTP and REST

Both HTTP and REST serve two unique purposes. HTTP is the protocol used for facilitating communication with the client, whereas REST is an interface between systems using the HTTP protocol to gather data or perform different operations (in various formats) on the data. So, REST acts like a translator between the frontend and the backend. 

Since HTTP and REST are necessary for Full Stack development, Full Stack Developers must master both.

7. Database storage

All web applications need a database where all the data will be stored. This is to ensure that developers can access the data later. Database storage calls for an experienced and skilled Full Stack Developer who knows relational databases and database storage inside-out. Full-stack developers must be adept in database management – they should be able to design, understand, and manipulate database queries. They must also know how to work with XML and JSON. 

Things that a Full Stack Developer must know concerning database storage and management:

• Characteristics of relational/non-relational data.
• Knowledge of NoSQL databases. 
• Knowledge of web storage.

Read: 21 Interesting Web Development Project Ideas For Beginners

8. Basic design skills

As we’ve made it clear that a Full Stack Developer is concerned with frontend and backend, they must possess the fundamental design skills. The knowledge of frontend design is crucial to make a website look attractive and appealing. A website with a neat and user-friendly design always wins the hearts of the users. 

Thus, Full Stack Developers must know the basic design principles, including UI & UX design, prototypes, scalability, etc. 

9. NPM

NPM is the package manager explicitly designed for Node.js. It aids in the installation of different packages. It also offers relevant solutions for various dependencies. NPM allows developers to place modules optimally to help the node to find them and manage the dependency conflicts accordingly. NPM is highly configurable, and thus, it can be used for many applications, including the development, publishing, discovery, and installation of node programs. 

10. Soft skills

When you aspire to become a Full Stack Developer, technical skills solely won’t suffice. You must possess the perfect balance of technical knowledge and soft skills. Every Full Stack Developer must have the following soft skills:

• An analytical bent of mind
• Good time management skills
• Curiosity for learning
• Attention to detail
• Creative vision
• Patience

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What are the vital backend developer skills?

The major backend developer skills include –

• Python:  It is one of the most used development languages and is considered the fastest-growing programming language due to its ease of learning. The langue easily supports multiple programming styles and helps create excellent data visualisation. Hence, learning Python becomes a must.
• HTML: It is the building block of the internet. Hence, it can help backend developers determine the web page structure while working alongside other languages.
• JavaScript: Similar to HTML, this language is primarily used for web pages, but platforms like Adobe Acrobat also use it for smooth functioning. 
• SQL: For backend developers, Structured Query language AKA SQL is an important tool as it majorly helps manipulate relational databases. Apart from that, it also helps delete and insert records swiftly and run tasks like creating new tables, establishing permissions on the table or file queries against databases.
  
• API (REST & SOAP): Knowing how to create REST and SOAP is a highly valued skill for any full-stack developer. Therefore, knowing API is vital if you wish to be a part of great projects. 

Present Market for Full Stack Web Developers

There are more than 10,000 job openings for full stack developers alone in India. Giant companies like Amazon, Mastercard, Walmart, Adobe, Google and IBM are constantly posting for various full stack developer jobs across India. These types of jobs are majorly permanent. However, there are also 150+ jobs that are either part-time, contract-based or internships. Amazon is one of the most active hirers for full stack developers, extending both on-site as well as remote opportunities. 

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Future of full stack web developers 

The future of full stack development seems extraordinary, with a tremendous growth opportunity and lucrative salary packages. A full stack developer can be an asset for a company if they can also perform mean-stack development and DeVos development. As most companies prefer hiring a generalist more than a specialist, a full-stack developer remains on top of their lists. The number of tech-inclusive companies is constantly rising, and even if a company isn’t very tech-savvy, they still require web development to some extent. Hence, there are and will always be ample opportunities for full stack developers. 

Conclusion

To conclude, Full Stack Developers are highly skilled experts who can handle everything related to web development. These Full Stack Developer skills are what distinguishes them from Frontend and Backend Developers. 

Why doing a full stack web development course will help?

• Structured learning
• 1 to 1 mentorship
• Job assistance
• Latest language and tools
• Career support and more.

If you’re interested to learn more about full-stack software development, pursuing a full stack web development course will help you master full-stack web development. Check out upGrad & IIIT-B’s Executive PG Program in Full-stack Software Development which is designed for working professionals and offers 500+ hours of rigorous training, 9+ projects, and assignments, IIIT-B Alumni status, practical hands-on capstone projects & job assistance with top firms.