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7 Best Web Development & Design Course for Beginners (2023 Updated)

March 23, 2021

In this article, I'll show you the best front-end, back-end, and full-stack web development courses for 2021.

You'll be well equipped to find your next level of website development,

whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional. 

Website Design and Development

In 2021, web design & development continue to be one of the most valuable skills a person can learn.

Beyond that, it’s one of the most marketable skills you can have under your belt in today’s economic climate.

The Internet is here to stay, which means web development skills will constantly be in high demand. And if you're interested in getting into the game, you'll need to take the best web development courses out there to help you stay ahead of the pack

web developer job statistics

This, in turn, equates to considerable profits for those who can offer them. 

Just about every business needs a website these days, but people have no idea how to make them.

That's a great opportunity to build a solid, sustainable income.

So then you need to decide which one of two routes you'd like to take: 

(1) take the dive into web development (internet beginners)

or

(2) scuba dive deeper into the depths of HTML5 or JavaScript (moderately experienced web dev professionals.)

Should You Specialize (Front End/Back End) in 2021?

this infographic compares the differences between front end and backend web developers

The Specialization Question:


"Should I specialize in front-end or back-end
or should I broaden my expertise and learn the full-stack of website development?"

Before you dive in head first, you need to decide what you want to specialize in. This will determine which of the best web development courses on Udemy that you'll want to take. 

Here's the difference between front-end and back-end:

This infographic shows basic differences between front end, back end and database developers

Front-end developers are the ones who specialize in the front-end of a website, the part that you actually see.

Here are the 5 basic skills of front-end web development:

this infographic describes the 5 central skills of front end web development

These people have mastered the art of constructing aesthetically pleasing websites.

Then you have your back-end developers, who focus on the part of the website that you can't see.

We’re talking about the raw code, the programming, and the technical “heavy lifting,” so to speak.

Here are the skills you need if you want to be a qualified back-end web developer:

this infographic defines the 5 core knowledge areas that back end web developers need in 2020 and beyond

There's a good reason why there are certificates out there.

To say the least.

While both front-end and back-end web developers will certainly find plenty of work from a variety of sources without too much trouble, there is actually a third type that is in even higher demand.

We're about full-stack web developers.

These are the guys and gals who can handle both the front-end and the back-end of website creation, delivering a complete and finished product.

Think you might want to become a full stack developer? 

Here's how to do so:

this infographic describes the 4 different areas that full-stack web developers must have knowledge in to be truly considered full stack.

(If you've been around the block a little bit, you probably already knew all of this already.)

It’s also important to note why full stack web development is such a useful skill to learn.

Being able to approach a client and offer a complete website building service from scratch always seems more attractive.

Hiring one person to handle all website related issues is much easier than handling an entire team of individuals--or even worse, different teams--and tasking each one handling a different aspect of web-development.

In short, becoming a full stack web developer will make you one of the most in-demand entrepreneurs on the internet. 

So how do you go about learning these valuable skills?

As it happens, there are many excellent resources on the web where you can find great information on web development. 

But I've found that some of the best web development courses are on Udemy.

This website offers courses on all kinds of different topics, and web development is just one option.

But because there's a ton of courses out there, it can often be tricky to find the right one.

Well, we’ve taken the guesswork out of this decision and compiled a list of the best web development courses you can take in 2021.

Top 2 Front-End Web Development Courses

1. Modern Web Development - Zero to Front-End - Abd Alwahab

Want to get your feet wet in front-end web development?

Modern Web Development by Abd Alwahab is designed for anyone who is just getting started. 

Abd got his start on Udemy by writing what is now the highest rated Android App course on the platform. 

In November 2019, Abd published this course on developing the front-end of websites (now one of the highest rated front-end courses on Udemy FYI). 

The core of this course is 3 elements:

  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • Master React

The goal of this course is to prepare you to get your first job as a web developer. 

For many, this change in career can mean a 20% to 40% increase in annual income

(minimally moving from $56k to $69k in the United States)

This can mean the difference between being able to afford a house of your own versus stuck in your parents' basement (the stereotypical millennial behavior.)

So if you're looking to get into the web dev field in 2021, and you want the best front end web development course on Udemy, this course would be an excellent--and affordable--first step. 

This is another highly-rated course, and the instructor himself has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating. 

Snapshot of Modern Web Development - Zero to Front-End - Abd Alwahab

Number of Students:
3,161 Students
Course Material:
32 hours of video + an in-depth article
Requirements: 
  • A computer with Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems

  • Web Browser

  • GIT Command Line
Rating:
4.2/5 - Not a very detailed course. Lacking in content.
Price:
$11.99 (40% off the normal price of $19.99)

PROS:

  • Pretty complete guide to Front End dev
  • Detailed explanations of JavaScript
  • Recently updated (October 2020)
  • Demonstrations, not PowerPoint slides

CONS:

  • Poor online store example
  • Few advanced techniques
  • Basic level
4.2/5


2. The Complete Front-End Web Development Course - Joseph Delgadillo & Nick Germaine

If you are ready to dive into front-end web development,

Joseph and Nick's course is an inexpensive foundation on the basic building blocks:

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • jQuery
  • Bootstrap

These guys don't waste time using long boring lectures, 

rather, 

their videos are short and sweet, 

but still very informative. 

what this course is about screenshot of contents

This complete front-end Udemy course was created by two experts. 

Throughout this article, you'll notice that the best courses are taught by people who are masters of their specialization, but also in the art of communication. 

This course is no exception:

Joseph Delgadillo is a top-rated teacher on Udemy, and since he's super experienced in effective communication, you can expect clear and crisp instruction.

The other instructor, Nick Germaine, is a software engineering genius. 

He knows his space like the back of his hand.

Choosing to zoom in on a specific subcategory of web-development has helped Nick shine as the expert. 

But don't just take it from me, 

Take a look at Udemy's instructor summary:

You might be wondering about the feedback that this course has gotten:

  • So what are students saying about this course?
  • Are the reviews all positive?
  • How could these guys make their course a step or two better than it's current condition?

These two recent reviews are a representative summary of both the positive and negative aspects of their video instruction. 

You'll see that the first one really shows the positives of the course, 

while the second one shares some constructive criticism. 

web developer course ratings screenshot

To wrap up this snapshot of Nick and Joe's course, I've provided a little  summary of the pros and cons of their piece below. 

Number of Students:
396,902
Course Material:
17 hours of video
Prerequisites:
  • No Previous Development Experience required








  • Access to Various Open-Source (Free) Software

Rating:
4.3/5 - Not a very detailed course. Lacking in content.
Price:
$15.99 (87% off usual price of $119.99)

PROS:

  • Accessible for beginners
  • Instructor easy to understand
  • Well-structured
  • Instructors show realistic web building experience

CONS:

  • Incomplete explanations
  • Hard-to-follow teaching style
  • Over-complicated examples given
4.3/5


If you want to become a master at making awesome websites, you really should continue looking through this course guide and find the course that fits your current ambition. 

If you're thinking you just want to make an internet business to make some income that will enable you to quit your 9-5 or enable you to enjoy a lifestyle of freedom and travel...then you might consider that checking out the course that enabled me to begin my entrepreneurial journey in 2014. 

To learn how to start a profitable internet business in 2021, click the "Yes, Show Me How" button below. 


Top 3 Back-End Web Development Courses

1. Modern React with Redux - Stephen Grider

Another brilliant course taught by Stephen Grider is "Modern React With Redux."

React is a great system to learn in 2021, and it’s definitely something that people are going to rely heavily on in the future – especially in the smartphone era that we're living in.

Modern React with Redux is a very user-friendly course because it involves two separate courses of different difficulty levels.

One is aimed towards newbies, and the other is for those who want to take the next step.

You can take the first one to test the waters, and if you find that you like Stephen Grider’s teaching style, then you can upgrade to the next difficulty.

What is Redux?

web developer  explanation of redux

Many of our readers might not even know what Redux is. 

And that’s exactly why this course is so essential.

Redux acts as a state manager within React.

This is very important for scaling React applications which is essential if you decide that your goal is to earn a living using this software.

As you can tell from the title, this course will obviously cover topics on both React and Redux.

But that ain't all she wrote. Course instructor Steven Grider will also go over things like JSX, props, eventing, the state tree, and much more.

Modern React With Redux scores 4.7/5 on Udemy,

and has over 200,000 students enrolled.

Here's some more about the course instructor: Steven Grider

Udemy Reviews:

Here's an average review of Stephen Grider's "Modern React with Redux":

reviews of course by a web developer

Reddit Commentary:

Wondering what those on Reddit have said about this course?

reddit commentary on stephen griders coourse on web development in 2020

How does the instructor interact with students?

While Stephen doesn't communicate directly with his course-takers, he does keep the course updated and implement suggestions from those who leave comments, showing that he is paying attention to the feedback that he's getting. 

Snapshot: Modern React with Redux - Stephen Grider 

Number of Students:
227,493 (as of March 2021)
Length:
47.5 hours of video + 19 articles + 1 downloadable resource
Requirements:
  • A Mac or Windows Computer
Rating: