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User Interface vs Front End Development

28
Apr
2023

Have you ever needed clarification when differentiating UI and Front-End developers? Don't worry! You're not alone. That's why we're here today! Today, we'll cover what they do differently and how they can work together. Let's navigate through this journey!

What is Front End Development?

Front-End is the branch of web development process focused on building user interfaces. It creates projects for websites and web applications through HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Also, it involves translating visual elements done by designers into code to render later on a web browser. Front-end focuses on buttons, animations, and more. Thus, it aims to build platforms with the best experience possible.

How Does Front End Development Work?

Front-End development's duties cover different things to get things done while working. They create User Interfaces (UI) to ensure users can interact with any platform. This process needs a mix of design and programming code to animate any design with a solid code base. Front-End enhances User Experience (UX) details and optimization for better speed and scalability. Also, they ensure to build reusable codes for following changes or products for future use.

Who is a Front End Developer?

A Front-End developer is someone who creates projects with specific programming languages. These projects cover applications or websites and allow users to interact with a platform. Front-End devs make most digital products' interactive items.

What is User Interface?

The idea of User Interface encloses all instances when users interact with digital products. Most UI takes place in computers, websites, or applications interactively. Its initial goal is to ensure intuitive and easy-to-use UX.

What Does UI Development Work?

UI developers' duties involve many conditions. They must ensure stunning and functional visuals while analyzing flows, prototypes, and code construction. They often work with UI libraries with reusable components for future projects. 

Who is a UI Developer?

A UI developer brings creative designs to life. They're responsible for producing interface design solutions and channeling the interactions between the presentation layers and the Back-End. While using CSS in their processes, UI Developers rely on libraries and frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.

Front End vs User Interface Development

Once covered the theoretical aspects, it's time to differentiate UI Development and Front-End. The first main difference relates to their respective emphases. While FE dev focuses on the interactions users will experience when using a product, UI Development relies on specific approaches to optimize interactions. 

Likewise, Front-End is in charge of accurately representing all layers involved in the product's presentation. These professionals handle the proper function of all interactions at a development level. At the same time, UI Development determines and anticipates the different behavioral workflows users can potentially have. And, to get FE interactions set up right, UI developers create visual sets that intuitively guide users.

Now that we know the difference between the two types of development, we should get another point of view. This point of view focuses on the developers involved and how they're different. Let's see how they work and do things differently:

UI Developers Front-End Developers
Tools UI developers animate and integrate ideas with tools from Figma to Adobe Creative Suite tools. FE developers rely on basic programming languages and integrated software tools to build a site or page.
Purpose UI developers enhance visual assets on digital products. They focus on creating appealing interfaces to make more enjoyable experiences. Contrariwise, Front-End developers ensure those visual assets work smoothly. They seek to prevent users from software limitations.
Abilities These dev skills lean toward creating stunning assets. For it, UI devs apply color psychology and design skills. Front-End devs have various skills to make projects run perfectly. They rely on databases, architecture knowledge, and engineering methods.

Both roles create the different things that products need to work perfectly. UI developers are responsible for preparing all the assets a platform counts on. These assets include buttons, inputs, or styles. Front-End developers will later use this information to code the final product.

Conclusion

Front End and UI devs are different from what you think. Front-End developers ensure that products work, while UI developers guarantee their usability. Yet, they both need to excel in various skills and abilities. As you might have guessed, both are essential and knowing how they work and what things each is crucial. We hope you count now with an insight to make decisions when needing UI or Front-End Developers!