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We regularly hear the terms Web Designer, Web Developer, Front-end Developer, Back-end Developer, Full Stack Web Developer, WordPress Developer, UI Designer, UX Designer etc. But some of us don't know the meaning properly. This article will clear your confusions.



1. Web Designer

Normally Web Designer works on look, feel, and user experience of a website.


What they do

  • Design website layout, colors, typography

  • Create wireframes and mockups

  • Plan user experience (UX) and user interface (UI)

  • Ensure the site looks good on mobile and desktop

  • Focus on branding and visual consistency


Skills and Tools

  • Design tools: Figma, Adobe XD, Photoshop

  • UI/UX principles

  • Color theory and typography

  • Focus: Visuals, aesthetics, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI).

  • Role: They design how the website looks and feels.

  • Key Responsibilities:

    • Layout, color schemes, typography, branding

    • Creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes

    • User research, user flows, and usability

    • Designing for visual appeal and intuitive navigation

  • Tools: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Photoshop, Illustrator

  • Output: Design files, style guides, prototypes

  • Analogy: Architect or interior designer — plans the look, feel, and layout.


Think of them as

🎨 The architect and artist of the website



2. Web Developer

Normally Web Designer works on functionality, performance, and logic of a website.


What they do

  • Convert designs into working websites

  • Write code to make features work

  • Handle databases, servers, and APIs

  • Optimize speed, security, and SEO

  • Fix bugs and maintain the site


Skills and Tools

  • Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript

  • Backend: PHP, Python, Node.js

  • Frameworks: WordPress, Laravel, React

  • Databases: MySQL, MongoDB


Think of them as

🛠️ The engineer who builds the website


2.1 Front-end Developers

Many people today are hybrids:

  • Writes code for what users see

  • Designers who know HTML/CSS

  • Developers who care about UI/UX

Often called Front-end Developers


2.2 Back-end Developer

  • PHP, Python, Node.js, Java

  • Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)

  • Server and API logic

  • APIs, authentication, security


2.3 Full-stack Developer

  • Does both front-end + back-end

  • Handles client-side + server-side logic



1+2 = 3. Full-Stack Web Developer

Focus: Everything

  • Web design (basic to advanced)

  • Front-end development

  • Back-end development


If one person handles web design + front-end + back-end, that role is commonly called Full-Stack Web Developer, and this is the most accepted and professional title. They do basically A to Z website creation.


Roles of a Full-Stack Web Developer

  • Start-to-finish workflow: Design mockups ➤ Write HTML/CSS/JavaScript ➤ Implement functionality

  • Create and maintain design systems that are directly translated into code

  • Build interactive prototypes that are close to production-ready

  • Bridge the gap between design and development teams


Advantages of this Hybrid Role

  • Faster iteration: No handoff delays between design and development

  • Better implementation: Designs are created with technical feasibility in mind

  • Cost-effective: For small businesses or startups needing one person to handle both

  • Cohesive vision: Maintains consistency from concept to execution


Where These Hybrids "Full-Stack Web Developer" Thrive

  • Startups and small agencies (limited budgets, need for versatility)

  • Freelancing/consulting (offering full-service solutions)

  • Product teams in tech companies (especially for MVPs)

  • Digital agencies with smaller project teams



WordPress Developer

More than 40% websites use WordPress alone. So, there is a popular term "WordPress Developer". If someone creates a website from zero using WordPress, and also handles cPanel and MySQL, then that person is called WordPress Developer. What that person is actually doing?


WordPress setup (from zero)

  • Buying / connecting domain

  • Creating hosting account

  • Using cPanel

  • Creating MySQL database and user

  • Installing WordPress manually or via installer

➤ This is server and backend work


WordPress development

  • Installing and configuring themes

  • Customizing theme (PHP, HTML, CSS, JS)

  • Installing/configuring plugins

  • Creating custom post types, hooks, filters

  • Fixing errors, performance, security

➤ This is Web Development (Backend + Frontend)


Design and layout

  • Page layout (Gutenberg / Elementor / custom)

  • Typography, colors, spacing

  • UX and responsiveness

➤ This is Web Design


Many people say:

"I am a WordPress Designer"


But technically, if they:

  • Install WordPress

  • Create DB

  • Configure hosting

  • Modify PHP

➤ They are WordPress Developers, even if they don't realize it. So, technically: A WordPress Developer is a specialized Full-Stack Web Developer



UI Designer vs UX Designer

This is a very common confusion ➤
Short answer: UI/UX are NOT the same as Web Developer, and only partially overlap with Web Designer.


Let's place them correctly in the ecosystem.



UI Designer (User Interface Designer)

Focus: How the interface looks


What a UI Designer does

  • Buttons, forms, icons

  • Colors, typography, spacing

  • Visual consistency (design system)

  • High-fidelity mockups


Role positioning

  • UI Designers usually do NOT code

  • They hand off designs to developers



UX Designer (User Experience Designer)

Focus: How the product works for users


What a UX Designer does

  • User research and personas

  • User journey and flow

  • Wireframes (low-fidelity)

  • Usability testing

  • Information architecture


Role positioning

  • UX Designer is separate from coding

  • Can exist without Web Designer or Developer

  • UX can apply to websites, apps, software, even hardware

  • UX = Logic + psychology of user behavior



Web Designer vs UI/UX

Are they the same?

❌ No


Role UI UX Code
Web Designer ✅ ⚠️ (basic) ❌
UI Designer ✅ (deep) ❌ ❌
UX Designer ❌ ✅ (deep) ❌

⚠️ Web Designers often do basic UX, but not deep research.



Web Developer vs UI/UX

Are they the same?

❌ No


Role UI UX Code
Front-end Dev ⚠️ (implements UI) ⚠️ (respects UX) ✅
Back-end Dev ❌ ❌ ✅
Full-stack Dev ⚠️ ⚠️ ✅

➤ Developers implement UI/UX, they don't usually design it.



Where WordPress Developer fits?

Skill Required
UI ⚠️ (theme-based)
UX ⚠️ (layout and flow)
Front-end ✅
Back-end ✅
Server/DB ✅

Most WordPress Developers:

  • Use existing UI/UX (themes, page builders)

  • Customize via code

  • Don't do deep UX research



Real-world team structure (industry truth)


Small team / freelancer:

  • One person wears many hats : Web Designer + UI + Front-end + WordPress Dev


Large company:

  • UX Designer ➤ research and flow

  • UI Designer ➤ visual system

  • Front-end Dev ➤ implements design

  • Back-end Dev ➤ logic and data



Now decide,

  • if you are a freelancer, what should your perfect title be?, and

  • And if you are a client, who are you looking for?