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What does a web developer do?
The roles, skills and daily work of web developers, and how businesses hire them.
Written by Nikhil Narasipura Doddamane, Founder & Head of SEO/GEO · Published 19 Jun 2026 · Updated 12 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
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What does a web developer do?
A web developer builds and maintains websites and web applications. Depending on the role, they write front-end code for layouts and interactions, back-end code for data and logic, or both, and they test, deploy, secure and improve sites over time.
What are the types of web developers?
Each role focuses on a different layer of a website.
| Role | Focus | Common tools |
|---|---|---|
| Front-end | Layout, interaction | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React |
| Back-end | Servers, data, APIs | PHP, Node.js, Python, SQL |
| Full-stack | Both layers | Mixed |
| WordPress | Themes, plugins | PHP, blocks, WooCommerce |
What do the numbers say about modern websites?
Google's Core Web Vitals define a good experience as Largest Contentful Paint within 2.5 seconds, Interaction to Next Paint of 200 milliseconds or less and Cumulative Layout Shift of 0.1 or less, measured at the 75th percentile of page loads (web.dev). WordPress is used by 39.7% of all websites and 58.5% of websites whose content management system is known, according to W3Techs (October 2026). WooCommerce runs on 19.8% of WordPress sites. Toffyjar prices website projects at about $199 per page, so a 10-page site is roughly $1,990 with a fixed quote, and dedicated developers cost $10 an hour or $18 an hour for senior developers. In practice, that means a business website should be fast by measurement, built on a platform teams can edit, and priced so the scope is clear before work starts.
What skills does a web developer need?
Solid HTML, CSS and JavaScript, version control with Git, responsive design, accessibility, performance, security basics and at least one back-end language or CMS. Communication and problem-solving matter just as much as code.
What does a web developer do day to day?
Building features, fixing bugs, reviewing code, testing on devices, deploying updates, improving speed and working with designers, marketers and clients on requirements and priorities. Much of the job is communication: estimating work, explaining trade-offs and documenting decisions.
How do you become a web developer?
Learn the fundamentals, build real projects and publish a portfolio. Read how to learn web development and web development project ideas. Contributing to open source and freelancing on small jobs also builds credibility.
Should you hire a freelancer, agency or dedicated developer?
Freelancers suit small tasks, agencies suit full projects, and dedicated developers suit ongoing work. Our dedicated developers cost $10 an hour ($433 to $1,733 a month) or $18 an hour for senior developers.
Where can you hire a web developer?
See hire a WordPress developer or our website development services. Every engagement starts with a requirement sheet and a free discovery call. Senior developers cost $18 an hour.
What tools does a web developer use?
Most developers rely on a small, stable toolkit and add specialist tools per project. A typical setup looks like this, and the custom WordPress and headless WordPress stacks add their own tools on top.
What does a WordPress developer do differently?
WordPress developers specialize in themes, plugins, blocks and WooCommerce. Their work spans WooCommerce development, migrations, speed optimization and security hardening.
How do you evaluate a web developer before hiring?
Review live work, ask how they would approach your project, check references and run a small paid trial task. For larger builds, compare an agency for enterprise website development or custom website development. Not sure where to start? Request a free website audit or read about WordPress redesign and hiring a WordPress developer.
What does it cost to hire a web developer?
Rates vary by country, skill and engagement model. Toffyjar dedicated developers cost $10 an hour and senior developers $18 an hour, billed monthly. See pricing, maintenance pricing and our teams in India and the USA. Compare options on website development pricing and website maintenance.
Front-end vs back-end vs full-stack developer: how do they compare?
The three main roles split the work between what users see and what runs on the server. Many small projects need one full-stack developer; larger ones split the roles.
| Role | Focus | Core tools | Typical tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front-end | Interface in the browser | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React | Layouts, interactions, accessibility |
| Back-end | Server, data, logic | PHP, Node.js, Python, SQL | APIs, databases, authentication |
| Full-stack | Both layers | Mix of the above | End-to-end features, small sites |
What is the difference between a web developer and a web designer?
A web designer decides how a site looks and feels: layout, typography, color, imagery and user flows, usually in tools like Figma. A web developer turns those designs into working code and makes the site function, connecting forms, content management, databases and integrations. Some people do both, but the skills are distinct. For a business website you need both perspectives, either from one versatile person or a small team. Learn more in our guide to website designing.
What is the career path for a web developer?
Most developers start as juniors working on small features under review. With two to four years of experience they become mid-level developers who own features end to end. Senior developers design systems, review code and mentor others. From there paths split into technical ership, such as developer or architect, or management. Specializing, for example in WordPress, e-commerce, performance or accessibility, often raises demand. Building real projects is the fastest way up; see our list of web development projects for ideas.
What mistakes should you avoid when hiring a web developer?
Common hiring mistakes are avoidable. Do not choose on hourly rate alone; a cheaper developer who needs twice the time costs more. Avoid vague scopes, which to disputes. Always check real past work and talk to the person who will write the code. Make sure code lives in your own repository and hosting is in your name. Finally, agree how changes, bugs and support are handled after launch before you start.
What should you check before you hire a web developer?
A short checklist prevents most problems. Review two or three live sites they built and ask what they did on each. Ask how they handle version control, staging and code review. Confirm their experience with your platform, such as WordPress, Webflow or Shopify. Ask about speed and accessibility standards. Agree on communication hours, a written scope, payment milestones and post-launch support. Our hire a WordPress developer page shows how we vet developers.
How is AI changing web development?
AI coding assistants now speed up routine work such as boilerplate code, tests and documentation, and help developers explore unfamiliar code faster. They do not replace judgment about architecture, security, accessibility or what the business needs. Good developers use AI to move faster while reviewing every line that ships. For site owners, this means projects can be delivered sooner, but the value of experienced review has gone up, not down. See AI website development for how we use it.
Can a remote web developer work as well as a local one?
Yes, when the working setup is right. Remote developers succeed with clear written tasks, shared tools such as Git, Jira or Trello, a few hours of daily overlap for questions, and regular demos on staging links. Many businesses in the US, UK and Australia work with developers in India for this reason, getting senior skills at lower rates. Ask for a short paid trial task to test communication before committing to a longer engagement.
What are the key takeaways on web developer?
In short: Each role focuses on a different layer of a website. Solid HTML, CSS and JavaScript, version control with Git, responsive design, accessibility, performance, security basics and at least one back-end language or CMS. Building features, fixing bugs, reviewing code, testing on devices, deploying updates, improving speed and working with designers, marketers and clients on requirements and priorities. Learn the fundamentals, build real projects and publish a portfolio. Freelancers suit small tasks, agencies suit full projects, and dedicated developers suit ongoing work. See hire a WordPress developer or our website development services.
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Want this done for you?
We build WordPress and modern websites and make them rank in Google and get cited in AI answers. Fixed quotes, senior review, you own everything. We measured these results on 16 October 2026 using OpenSEO, which draws on DataForSEO ranking and backlink data. For example, in one case study an enterprise digital engineering company whose site Toffyjar built has 65 non-brand page-one rankings, 37 at #1, with 2,717 referring domains. In another, an AI insurance process automation platform has 13 non-brand top-10 rankings including #1 for underwriting software, with 2,578 referring domains. These are current figures, not before-and-after claims, and client names stay private under NDA. Every site was planned from a requirement sheet, built on staging, reviewed by senior people and handed over with the client owning the code, content and logins. Projects are priced at about $199 per page, and SEO and GEO retainers start at $499 a month. Ask for a reference on a discovery call and we will connect you with a client where they agree.
CASE STUDY · ENTERPRISE DIGITAL ENGINEERING COMPANY65 non-brand page-one rankings, 37 at #1 →
Frequently asked questions
Is a web developer a programmer?
Yes, they write code for the web.
Do web developers design sites?
Some do; many work from designs.
What is a full-stack developer?
One who works on front and back end.
Can I hire by the hour?
Yes, from $10 an hour.
Do web developers work remotely?
Many do, full time or as contractors.
What is the difference between a web designer and developer?
Designers plan the look; developers build it.
Do web developers do SEO?
Technical SEO, yes; strategy usually sits with SEO specialists.
Can a web developer maintain my site?
Yes, through a care plan from $89 a month.
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