Different programming languages have different uses in coding, depending on what you want to do. Those of you considering a career in either front-end development or full-stack development should learn languages specific to your tasks: graphics, text, and format.

While web developers, software engineers, and other types of programmers may use front-end programming languages daily, the same can be said for UX and UI designers, marketers, e-commerce managers, or someone who wants to create visual elements for any customer-facing assets.

So what does it mean for something to be front-end? What are the best front-end programming languages to learn and how should you go about learning them? And how are front-end languages good for people in roles outside of tech? Let’s dive in.

What is Front-End Programming?

The front-end of software is what users interact with, whether it’s on a mobile app or a webpage. Users perform key actions through this interface like clicking, scrolling, or watching. Front-end programming languages help the developer create different functionalities and sections of the website for users. Front-end developers create what’s known as the user interface (UI) of an app or website. Everything from image placement to text alignment is part of the front-end developer’s job.

Back-end programming, on the other hand, uses a different set of languages to fulfill the requests of the user and take them where they want to go. Effectively, the back-end brings the front-end to life.

Front-end developers need to understand the creative side of how websites and apps will look, as these are what the users see and interact with. They also need an awareness of the way pages look on different devices, i.e., a desktop vs. a phone or tablet. Front-end developers aren’t graphic designers, but they need to be mindful of how the different elements of web design and app creation work together.

Together, they create a seamless experience for the user. While full-stack developers tend to have a working knowledge of both front-end and back-end languages, some developers and engineers specialize in one end or the other. For the more creatively minded, front-end development is a great career path.

Learn More: Front-end vs. Back-end Programming: Why You Should Learn Both

The Most Popular Front-End Languages

There are so many programming languages out there. Not all of them are good for front-end development. We’ve listed the top 6 that can get you started as a front-end developer. Or, if you’re coming from a back-end skillset and want to become a full-stack developer, these are the languages that can help you get there.

HTML

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, refers to the language through which pages are created across the web. It’s an uncomplicated language that’s almost universally understood.

Every webpage has some form of HTML, and it’s an essential part of browsers for loading texts and other elements. HTML is the language that tells the code what to do with fonts, sizes, headers, colors, etc. It is, however, less reliable for displaying dynamic content and creating dynamic pages.

Not only is HTML easy to learn and use, but it also makes it easier for users. Of all programming languages, front-end and back-end, HTML is significantly less complex, which is why it’s such a popular language for web developers.

Read More: Learn HTML & CSS

CSS

CSS works often in conjunction with HTML and other languages. It’s used to convert documents to a usable form for audiences in a way that allows them to be delivered visually, such as on screens, printers, or projectors. CSS makes the stuff done in HTML look presentable.

As with HTML, CSS is standardized across most web pages and browsers. As such, it can be written one time and used multiple times over. In plain terms, if HTML is a group of letters that make up words, then CSS is the sentence structure.

Read More: How Long Does it Take to Learn CSS?

JavaScript

JavaScript is one of the most widely used and most popular programming languages for front-end and full-stack developers alike. It’s often called icing on the cake” because it takes those page elements and makes them even more dynamic. JavaScript has incredible functionality that can create rich