Front-end vs. Back-end

Summary

This script clarifies the distinction between front-end and back-end development in website creation. Front-end focuses on aesthetics, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to determine how a site looks, including images, content, and structure. Back-end, in contrast, deals with functionality and logic, often employing languages like Ruby, Python, PHP, or Java, and interacts with databases. The speaker uses the example of shopping on Zappos to illustrate the user interface (front-end) and the unseen processes (back-end) that occur during a transaction.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Front-end development focuses on the visual aspects of a website, including how things look, the images, content, and structure.
• 🛠️ The three primary languages for front-end development are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and these are the only ones needed for the front-end.
• 🔍 Back-end development, on the other hand, deals with the logic and data of a website, including user interactions and data-intensive processes.
• 🔑 Common back-end languages include Ruby, Python, PHP, Java, and others, but typically only one back-end language is used for a given website.
• 📚 The distinction between front-end and back-end is crucial for understanding the roles and responsibilities in web development.
• 🤔 The script clarifies a common confusion between Java and JavaScript, emphasizing that they are completely different languages with JavaScript being used for front-end.
• 🛒 The example of shopping on Zappos illustrates the front-end experience, showing how users interact with the visual elements of a website.
• 🛍️ The back-end processes are invisible to the user but are responsible for handling the logic behind user actions, such as adding items to a cart.
• 📝 The back-end is often represented by server-side scripts with file extensions like .PHP, which contain the programming logic for the website.
• 🔄 The back-end interacts with databases, which can be thought of as glorified Excel sheets, organizing data in rows and columns.
• 🔒 Security and data management are key back-end concerns, as they handle user information, credit card details, and other sensitive data.
• 📈 Understanding the difference between front-end and back-end helps in appreciating the complexity of web development and the skills required for each area.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of front-end development?

The primary focus of front-end development is on how things look on a website, including the images, content, and structure of the site.

What are the three essential languages for front-end development?

The three essential languages for front-end development are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

How does the role of back-end development differ from front-end development?

Back-end development focuses on how things work on a website, including logic, data handling, user interactions, and processing tasks like credit card payments.

What are some common back-end programming languages?

Some common back-end programming languages include Ruby, Python, PHP, and Java.

Why is it unusual for a website to use multiple back-end languages simultaneously?

It is unusual because typically, a website will use one back-end language to ensure consistency and efficiency in the site's operation.

What is the confusion between Java and JavaScript, and how are they different?

Java and JavaScript are often confused due to their similar names, but they are completely different languages. JavaScript is a front-end language, while Java is not typically used for front-end development.

How does the script illustrate the difference between front-end and back-end using the example of an online shopping site?

The script uses the example of an online shopping site like Zappos to show that the front-end includes the visual elements and user interactions, while the back-end involves the server-side logic, database checks, and processing that happens behind the scenes.

What is a database in the context of back-end development?

In the context of back-end development, a database is a system that stores and manages data, often compared to a glorified Excel sheet with rows and columns of data organized for easy retrieval and management.

How does the script describe the process when a user adds an item to a shopping cart on a website?

The script describes the process as involving both front-end interactions, such as selecting size and adding to the cart, and back-end processes, such as database checks to confirm user details and directing the user to the appropriate pages like the cart or registration if necessary.

What is the purpose of the wireframe in the script?

The purpose of the wireframe in the script is to visually differentiate between the front-end and back-end components of a website, helping to clarify which parts of the site are visible to the user and which parts operate in the background.

How does the script emphasize the importance of understanding both front-end and back-end development?

The script emphasizes the importance by explaining that while users only see the front-end of a website, understanding the back-end is crucial for a complete grasp of how websites function and process data.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Understanding Front-End and Back-End Development

This paragraph introduces the fundamental difference between front-end and back-end development. The front-end focuses on the visual aspects of a website, including how it looks, the images, content, and structure, and is primarily built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In contrast, the back-end deals with the functionality and logic, including databases and data-intensive processes, and can involve languages like Ruby, Python, PHP, and Java. The speaker emphasizes that while there are only three core languages for front-end, a single back-end language is usually chosen for a website. Additionally, a common confusion between Java and JavaScript is clarified, highlighting that they are distinct languages with JavaScript being used for front-end development.

05:01

🛍️ Real-Life Examples of Front-End and Back-End

The second paragraph provides a practical demonstration of the concepts discussed in the first paragraph using the online shopping website Zappos as an example. It illustrates the user's interaction with the front-end of the site, which includes browsing products, selecting sizes, and adding items to the cart. The speaker then explains that these actions are facilitated by the back-end, which is invisible to the user but crucial for processing requests, checking databases, and handling user data. The back-end, in this case, is described as being written in PHP, which acts as a set of instructions controlling the website's functionality. The paragraph concludes by contrasting the visible front-end elements with the hidden back-end processes, reinforcing the distinction between how a site looks and how it operates.

Keywords

💡Front-end

Front-end refers to the client-side of a website or application that users interact with directly. It encompasses how a site looks, including the visual design, images, content, and structure. In the video, front-end development is associated with the languages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are used to create the user interface and experience. The script uses the example of a shopping site's appearance to illustrate front-end elements.

💡Back-end

Back-end pertains to the server-side of a website, which is not directly visible to the user. It involves the logic, data management, and operations that power the website. The script explains that back-end languages like Ruby, Python, PHP, and Java are used to handle tasks such as database interactions, user authentication, and payment processing. The video script contrasts the unseen back-end processes with the visible front-end elements during a shopping experience on a website.

💡HTML

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language used to create the structure of web pages. It defines the content and structure of a site, such as headings, paragraphs, and links. The script mentions HTML as one of the three essential languages for front-end development, highlighting its role in shaping how web pages are organized.

💡CSS

CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a stylesheet language used to describe the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML. It deals with the layout, colors, and fonts of web pages, allowing developers to control the visual appearance of the site. The video script emphasizes CSS as a key language for front-end development, crucial for designing the look of a site.

💡JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted scripting language that is a core technology, alongside HTML and CSS, for building interactive websites. It enables dynamic modifications to webpages, handling events, and manipulating documents. In the script, JavaScript is identified as one of the three main languages for front-end development, essential for creating interactive user experiences.

💡Ruby

Ruby is a server-side scripting language designed for quick and easy object-oriented programming. It is used for back-end web development to create dynamic web applications. The script mentions Ruby as an example of a back-end language that could be used in a website's server-side operations, alongside other languages like Python, PHP, and Java.

💡PHP

PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, is a server-side scripting language used for web development. It is embedded into HTML and is used to create dynamic web pages. The video script uses PHP as an example of a back-end language, illustrating how it can be used to handle user interactions and data processing on a website.

💡Database

A database is an organized collection of data, typically stored and accessed electronically. In the context of web development, databases are used to store and manage information such as user data, product listings, and transaction records. The script describes a database as being part of the back-end, where it interacts with back-end languages to manage data for a website.

💡User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI) refers to the space where interactions between users and a program occur. It includes the design and layout of the elements that the user interacts with, such as buttons, text fields, and images. The video script discusses the UI as part of the front-end, focusing on how it affects the user's experience and appearance of a website.

💡User Experience (UX)

User Experience (UX) is the overall experience a user has when interacting with a system, including the practical, emotional, and meaningful aspects. It involves how easy and enjoyable it is to use a website or application. The script touches on UX when discussing front-end development, as the visual design and interactivity are key components of a positive user experience.

💡Zappos

Zappos is an online retailer known for shoes and clothing. In the script, it serves as a real-world example to illustrate the concepts of front-end and back-end development. The video uses the shopping experience on Zappos to demonstrate how front-end languages create what users see and interact with, while back-end processes handle the underlying logic and data management.

Highlights

Front-end development focuses on the visual aspects of a website, including its appearance, images, content, and structure.

Three primary languages are essential for front-end development: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Back-end development deals with the logic and data of a website, including databases and user interactions.

Back-end languages include Ruby, Python, PHP, Java, and others, but typically only one language is used per website.

Java and JavaScript are distinct languages with no direct relation, despite their similar names.

A website's front-end is always visible to users, while the back-end operates behind the scenes.

The back-end processes involve steps written in a specific language, such as PHP, which controls website functionality.

Databases function similarly to Excel sheets, organized in columns and rows, and are part of the back-end.

The back-end checks user information against the database to facilitate actions like adding items to a cart.

If a user's information is not found in the database, the back-end creates new pages, such as a registration page.

The transcript uses the example of a shopping experience on Zappos to illustrate the difference between front-end and back-end.

Users interact with the front-end by clicking and browsing, which is visually driven.

The back-end handles the logic of user actions, such as checking out and processing payments.

Understanding the distinction between front-end and back-end is crucial for web development.

The speaker simplifies the concept of front-end and back-end languages for easier comprehension.

The transcript emphasizes the importance of knowing only HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for basic front-end development.

The back-end's role in processing user data and managing website logic is highlighted through practical examples.

Transcripts

okay so to get started let's make sure

that we're even in the right place and

doing the right thing what I mean is

there's a difference between the coding

languages for front-end and back-end

okay so let's just make sure that we

have is clear

all right front-end when you hear the

word front-end like front end

development or I'm gonna hire a

front-end developer what they're saying

is they're hiring someone to work on how

things look in the site okay so that's

the important part how things look and

that involves the images the content the

structure of the site okay it's a lot of

words right now I get it just kind of go

through with this and then we'll apply

it to some examples but for now the

takeaway is how things look the images

the content the structure right and

that's important because for those

features or things you want to do

there's only gonna be three languages

alright that actually I'm making it easy

for you there's only three languages

that you're gonna need to know for

front-end

there won't ever be a fourth or a fifth

at its basic most basic it is HTML CSS

and JavaScript those are the three

front-end languages okay so how does

that differ from the backend well

the backend now that is gonna be how

things work and you may think of this as

the logic or the data surrounding a site

essentially any site what a database is

gonna need some back-end

do it right those are just the rules

that's how it works and when we involve

how things work and logic and users and

making credit card payments all this

kind of data intensive you know stuff

the coding languages for that is going

to be Ruby Python PHP Java etc etc etc

right these are the the back-end

languages right this is probably all the

languages you know if you've heard of

another one it's probably on this list

somewhere okay you know the good thing

to take note of is as I said the

front-end is only those three languages

and the

back end you generally only choose one

back end language right so for any

website you're gonna have HTML CSS in

JavaScript and Ruby right or HTML CSS

and JavaScript and PHP but you don't

usually choose Ruby Python PHP and Java

all on one site Chrome and also another

question that I get this quite often

from students or they confuse you know

Java and JavaScript and I just wanna let

you know that they are totally different

totally different languages JavaScript

as you see a front-end language and it's

kind of like you know ham and hamster

right how like we kind of share the same

part of the word but really don't have

anything to do with each other yeah it's

like that

so for our purposes of doing this

front-end class HTML CSS and JavaScript

that's the important thing to understand

and so now I want to show you a way that

we can apply what we just learned to an

actual site okay so have you ever been

in a Zappos before probably it's this

place where you can come and buy some

shoes or apparently dresses or other

thing nice right whatevs

you get the point so you come here and

I'm gonna show you what is the

difference between front-end and

back-end but with real life examples

okay

so humor me here for a second I'm gonna

be just just the customer of the site

and I'm gonna walk through this site as

a user right and I'm gonna start just

like observing all right so I'm alright

I'm here I'm shopping right and I'm

observing I see some shoes see some text

here maybe hello maybe I'll click on

this here all right great

some shoes I could zoom nice boom boom I

can choose my size these are weird sizes

but it works okay sweet

five five this is for children all right

so uh I got my size I got it in the cart

proceed to checkout boom okay okay see

what I just said they're a few steps

things that we do every single day on

the internet right you just click around

you purchase something you buy something

whatever well um the reason I'm doing

this is because I want to show you what

is the difference between the front I'm

in the back end so the front end is

everything and how things look right

everything that we saw

it's the text it's the images right all

of this stuff the colors this is all the

front end and I can go back here all the

front ends all the front end and now

here's the thing you only ever see the

front end of a website you only ever see

the front end of a website you don't see

the back end let me show you what I mean

so what I made here is a little

wireframe and I'm going to go through

and illustrate which is the front end

and which is the back end so like I said

everything we saw is the front end but

what really happened when you were on

that homepage and when I clicked on the

shoe what really happened is it took me

to this back-end page now you didn't see

it right we didn't see anything but it

just happened so quickly the backend

page is made up of one language in this

case it's PHP and just like a file on

your computer like a dot docx or a dot

mp3 this is just a file on your computer

with a dot PHP extension and that says

hey this file has some some programming

in it that is written in PHP just a

bunch of steps really that go up you

know from the top to the bottom and what

these steps might say for example is you

know maybe it's like number one is this

person a user of the site zappos.com

right number two if they are send them

to the cart page simple stuff like that

well here's what happens when it needs

to check number one it says hey number

one is this person a user it goes and

looks in the database the database is in

that back-end part and it's in the

database but in first off a database

isn't really anything to worry about

it's really kind of like a glorified

excel sheet is what I think of it it's

columns and rows some data laid out in

there so this code is saying hey look in

that excel sheet database and you see

Chris's name in there and then it goes

oh yeah I see Chris's name in there and

then the database goes back to the PHP

and says yep everything's good send him

to the car let him ship out you know let

him get his shoes awesome ok let's take

another different scenario do that does

that make sense though right front-end

back-end in another scenario you know

perhaps somebody who comes that's not in

that but you know someone called Judd

comes right my friend John comes and he

comes

he clicks on the homepage and it goes to

the PHP in the backend and then they

don't find his name in that case the PHP

it's like the brain right it's gonna

control and say hey you know what let's

not let him ship out we don't have a

shipping information or his credit card

information but instead we'll make a new

page we'll send him to this register

page and then we create that register

page and then it goes to the car yadda

yadda yadda so those are some tips for

understanding the difference between

front-end and back-end how things look

versus how things work