Programming vs Web Development: What’s the Difference?

Here you will understand the difference between two most widely used terms in technological world i.e., Programming and Web development. Let’s begin.

Programming refers to writing a computer program, a set of instructions that a computer executes to get the required result. Web development is the process of creating any web application or website. Programming and web development describe similar areas of expertise but are not the same. If you want to start a career in these fields, then you should know the differences between these two closely related terms. In this article on programming vs web development, we will understand the meaning of each term and discuss the differences between them.

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Programming

Programming provides computers with instructions (computer programs) that direct them to do a specified task and produce the expected results. A computer program is a code or a sequence of instructions written using a programming language executed on a computer to perform particular tasks. Programming is used for creating applications.

Programmers write computer programs. They use many different programming languages, such as Java, Python, JavaScript, and C++, to instruct computers. Programmers are responsible for converting convert problem solutions into instructions for the computer. They create instructions for computers, run the instructions on the computer, test the program and check if it is working properly, and make changes to the program. In general, programmers follow the below steps to develop a program:

• Define the goal of the application.
• Plan a layout of the different parts of the program
• Write code
• Debug the code
• Test the program
• Releasing the program to beta users
• Write a report on the program

Also Read: Top 5 Web Development Tools That You Must Know

Today, many tech jobs require programming skills. Some popular job titles that use programming skills include computer programmers, web developers, software developers, and software engineers.

Must Read: What is Coding: Difference Between Coding And Programming

Popular Programming Languages

Programming languages are used to communicate with computers and give them instructions. Some of the commonly used programming languages are given below:

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Python	Java	C
JavaScript	C#	C++
PHP	Perl	Ruby
Go	Swift	R

To learn more about Programming, read our post – What is Programming?

Web Development

Web development refers to developing and maintaining websites. It includes different aspects such as web design, web programming, and database management. Web development involves the tasks behind the scenes to make a website look great, work fast, and offer a smooth user experience.

Web Development can be categorized into:

• Frontend Development: Frontend development is also called the ‘client side’ of the application. It is part of a website that the user interacts with directly. Frontend developers convert the available data into a graphical user interface using CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.
• Backend Development: Also called the server-side of the application, the backend development is focused on that part of any web page that users can’t see. Backend developers store and organize data while also ensuring the proper functioning of everything available on the front end.
• Fullstack Development: Fullstack development involves both front-end and back-end development. Full-stack developers take care of developing the web page’s design and managing the database for data organization and storage.

Learn more about web development, read our post – What is Web Development?

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Programming vs Web Development: Key Differences

Programmers and web developers both write code. However, their focuses are different. Below are the key differences between Programming vs Web Development:

Programming	Web Development
Programming is writing a set of instructions for computers that direct them to do a specified task.	Web development involves the tasks associated with developing a website for the Internet.
It is the implementation of logic to facilitate particular computing operations and functionality.	It involves tasks that help in developing websites. Web development includes web content development, client-side scripting, server-side scripting, network security configuration, and more.
A programmer is usually responsible for writing codes for desktop software and applications, improving the current standard of software, or implementing new features and functionalities. A programmer’s job also involves testing and fixing bugs.	Web developers write code for websites.
Programmers can use any number of programming languages, such as Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, and C++ to build an application.	Web developers mainly use HTML to organize text, CSS to define how that text displays, and JavaScript for client-side work. They may also use backend or server-side languages like PHP, ASP.net, Python, and NodeJS or database languages like SQL.
Programmers write their script in a language depending on their choice and goals.	In addition to some programming languages, web developers also use graphics and video software.
A programmer may not necessarily be a web developer.	All web developers know how to program using programming languages. Thus, a web developer is also a programmer who can build web-based applications.

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Conclusion

In this blog, we explored the differences between programming and web development. In a nutshell, programming is a broad term, and web development can be taken as a subset of programming. Programmers and developers are both involved in coding, but their roles are different. Suppose you’re interested in pursuing a career in any of these fields. In that case, you can browse through our collection of popular programming courses and web development courses and enroll in a course to get started.

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