codecademy career path, front-end, back-end, full-stack in cursive and bright colors

Codecademy Web Development Career Paths Review [Front-End vs Back-End vs Full-Stack]

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TLDR: Codecademy Web Development Career Paths

๐Ÿ’ฅ Front-End Engineer Career Path: Learn about client side code using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You’ll also use the popular JavaScript library React for building user interfaces.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Back-End Engineer Career Path: Learn about server side programming, database management and how to utilize frameworks.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Full-Stack Engineer Career Path: Learn a blend of concepts from the Front-End Engineer and Back-End Engineer career paths.

Sign up for access to the Codecademy Pro platform
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

What are Codecademy career paths?

Codecademy career paths are hand-picked bundles of modules targeting a specific tech career.

For example, your options with Codecademy web development career paths include front-end, back-end and full-stack.

The modules within the career paths contain interactive lessons, videos, tutorials, projects and more.

Note: Career paths are only for the most serious of students. They are packed with information and can take anywhere from 4 months to a year to complete. โฑ๏ธ

Learn more about Codecademy Pro in our review:

What’s the difference between front-end, back-end and full-stack?

Front-End Engineers develop code using HTML, CSS and JavaScript that runs in a user’s browser. It’s the part of a website that users see and interact with.

Back-End Engineers write the behind-the-scenes server script that front-end devs interact with.

Full-Stack Engineers work with both front-end (client side) and back-end (server side) ends of websites and applications.

Codecademy Back-End Engineer and front-end engineer explanations with drawings
Video explanation illustrating front-end and back-end developers.

โœจ I. Codecademy Front-End Engineer Career Path

โš ๏ธ Level: Beginner
๐Ÿ“– Modules: 28
๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿซ Learning style: Interactive text and video
๐Ÿ“ Portfolio-ready projects: 3
โฒ๏ธ Estimated completion time: 4 months
โŒจ๏ธ Embedded code editor: Yes

If you’re interested in building beautiful websites and web apps, this is the career path for you. Your tools for this path include HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

In Front-End Engineer, you’ll learn how to:

  • build static websites with HTML and CSS
  • make websites interactive with JavaScript
  • apply design theory to webpages
  • use the command line
  • build web apps with React and Redux
  • write functional and cross-browser tests

And much more.

๐ŸŸข Career Path Layout

With 28 modules, you’ll learn about:

โœ… Web development fundamentals

โœ… JavaScript syntax

โœ… Command line, Git, GitHub

โœ… Making a website responsive

Codecademy Front-End Engineer blocks and scope lesson with code editor
JavaScript syntax lesson in the Codecademy web development Front-End Engineer career path.

โœ… Advanced web development

โœ… Data structures and algorithms

โœ… Test Driven Development fundamentals

And more.

๐ŸŸฃ Projects

You’ll work on 3 portfolio-ready projects in the Front-End Engineer career path:

  • Personal Portfolio Website – Build a personal portfolio website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript
  • Reddit Client – Build a Reddit client using React and Redux
  • Final Front-End Project – open-ended project of your choosing
3 projects with thumbnails in Codecademy Front-End Engineer career path
You’ll work on 3 portfolio-ready projects in the Codecademy Front-End Engineer career track.

You’ll also work on dozens of mini projects throughout the career path. For example, you’ll be challenged to apply your HTML & CSS skills with projects like Dasmoto’s Arts and Crafts.

Sign up for the Codecademy Front-End Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

โœจ II. Codecademy Back-End Engineer Career Path

โš ๏ธ Level: Beginner
๐Ÿ“– Modules: 47
๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿซ Learning style: Interactive text and video
๐Ÿ“ Portfolio-ready projects: 5
โฒ๏ธ Estimated completion time: 4 months
โŒจ๏ธ Embedded code editor: Yes

If you enjoy going behind the scenes and under the hood, back-end engineering is for you. You’ll work with backend JavaScript (Node), databases and more.

With the Codecademy Back-end Engineer career path, you’ll learn how to:

  • write client-side and server-side JavaScript code
  • version control your work with Git and GitHub
  • build Node and Express back-ends
  • design and build PostgreSQL databases
  • understand design and development principles like OOP, KISS, YAGNI, and DRY
  • pass a JavaScript whiteboard interview

And beyond.

video still of GitHub page with instructions
Git and GitHub video explanation in the Codecademy web development Back-End Engineer career path.

๐ŸŸข Career Path Layout

Back-End Engineer starts you off with the absolute basics. Then it continues to intermediate to advanced concepts.

Using interactive learning, video, tutorials and an embedded code editor, you’ll learn:

โœ… Basics of Back-End Development

โœ… Designing Relational Databases

โœ… Fundamentals of Operating Systems

โœ… Common Design Patterns

instructions and diagram of NoSQL
Storing data is one of the many topics covered in the Codecademy web development Back-End Engineer career path.

โœ… Connecting your Database to a Server

โœ… Web and Database Security

โœ… SQL for Back-End Development

โœ… Intro to DevOps Strategies

Then you’ll learn how to work with data structures and algorithms.

๐ŸŸฃ Projects

You’ll work on 5 portfolio-ready projects in Back-End Engineer:

  • Mixed Messages – Build a Node.js console app to generate random messages
  • Personal Budgeting, Part 1 – use Node.js and Express to build an API for an application
  • Personal Budgeting, Part 2 – add a PostgreSQL database layer to your app, then implement software architecture principles
  • Photo Caption Contest – build an API with Node, Express, and PostgreSQL that uses best practices for authentication and authorization
  • Final Back-End Project – use all that youโ€™ve learned in the Back-End Engineer career path to build an API of your choice
3 codecademy back-end engineer career path projects with thumbnails
You’ll work on 5 portfolio-ready projects in the Codecademy web development Back-End Engineer career path.

There are also dozens of mini projects throughout the career path. For example, you’ll test your knowledge of JavaScript syntax with the project Mysterious Organism.

Sign up for the Codecademy Back-End Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

โœจ III. Codecademy Full-Stack Engineer Career Path

โš ๏ธ Level: Beginner
๐Ÿ“– Modules: 43
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿซ Learning style: Interactive text and video
๐Ÿ“ Portfolio-ready projects: 6
โฒ๏ธ Estimated completion time: 6 months
โŒจ๏ธ Embedded code editor: Yes

If you love the front-end and the back-end, this career path is for you. Codecademy compiled the cream of the crop to create a fully immersive learning experience.

The Full-Stack Engineer career path is a blend of modules from Codecademy’s Front-End Engineer and Back-End Engineer career paths.

You’ll begin with the front-end modules, then work on the back-end modules.

And then you’ll learn how to connect front-end and back-end concepts.

Learn CSS colors lecture, code and website results
CSS Stylings lesson in the Codecademy web development Full-Stack Engineer career path.

๐ŸŸข Career Path Layout

With the Full-Stack Engineer career path, you’ll learn how to:

  • write client-side and server-side JavaScript
  • create websites with HTML & CSS
  • use React and Redux
  • build Node/Express back-ends
  • design and build PostgreSQL databases
  • version control your work with Git & GitHub
  • connect a front-end to a back-end for a full-stack PERN application
  • implement best security practices
  • pass a JavaScript whiteboard interview

And MUCH more.

๐ŸŸฃ Projects

The Full-Stack Engineer track has 6 portfolio-ready projects:

  1. Mixed Messages – build a Node.js console app to generate random messages and version control your project with Git/GitHub
  2. Personal Portfolio Website – build a project using HTML, CSS, and JS
  3. Reddit Client – build a Reddit client using React and Redux
  4. E-Commerce App (REST API) – build an e-commerce REST API with Node/Express and PostgreSQL
  5. E-Commerce App (Client) – create a PERN (PostgreSQL, Express, React, Node) full-stack e-commerce experience
  6. Final PERN App – build a PERN app and deploy it to Heroku
3 project descriptions with thumbnails
You’ll work on 6 portfolio-ready projects in the Codecademy web development Full-Stack Engineer career path.

Plus you’ll work on dozens of mini projects throughout the career path. For example, you’ll learn how to undo changes to Git projects with the ASCII Portfolio project.

Sign up for the Codecademy Full-Stack Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

๐Ÿ“ Codecademy Web Development Quizzes

There are dozens of multiple choice quizzes in each of the Codecademy Front-End, Back-End and Full-Stack Engineer career paths.

Codecademy multiple choice quiz
Example of multiple choice quizzes in the Codecademy web development career paths as seen in Front-End Engineer.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿซ Codecademy Web Development Interview Skills

All career paths contain a module on software engineer interview preparation.

It covers:

  • soft skills
  • real-world interview problems
  • JavaScript algorithms
  • whiteboard interviews

And more.

Video explanation of whiteboarding interviews with man in front of whiteboard
The Codecademy web development career paths Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer and Full-Stack Engineer all have a module on software engineer interview skills and preparation.

๐ŸŽ–๏ธ Certificate of Completion

There’s a Certificate of Completion for all courses, skill paths and career paths with a paid subscription to Codecademy Pro.

Codecademy Certificate of Completion with SAMPLE in red

๐Ÿค Codecademy Web Development Community

Codecademy Pro‘s community lets you:

  • share projects
  • chat with other students
  • get answers to frequently asked questions

And more.

Codecademy community forum topics broken into help, community, projects, faq

๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost

You need to have a monthly or yearly subscription to Codecademy to access any of the career paths.

But because career paths take a long time to complete, it’s worth investing in the yearly subscription.

Basic $0/monthMonthly: $40 per month๐Ÿคฉ Yearly: $20 per month
Access to CoursesLimitedโœ…โœ…
Real-world ProjectsโŒโœ…โœ…
Skill PathsโŒโœ…โœ…
Career PathsโŒโœ…โœ…
Peer Support & Communityโœ…โœ…โœ…

๐Ÿ’ฅ Sign up for the Codecademy Front-End Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

๐Ÿ’ฅ Sign up for the Codecademy Back-End Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

๐Ÿ’ฅ Sign up for the Codecademy Full-Stack Engineer career path
๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

Codecademy Web Developer Career Paths: Conclusion

So should you take the Front-End, Back-End or Full-Stack Engineer career path?

Well, that all depends on what career you want.

โœ… With the Front-End Engineer career path, you’ll learn about client side code using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You’ll also learn React, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

โœ… With the Back-End Engineer career path, you’ll learn about server side programming, database management and how to utilize frameworks.

โœ… And with the Full-Stack Engineer career path, you’ll learn a blend of concepts from the Front-End Engineer and Back-End Engineer career paths.

Sign up for the Codecademy Pro platform ๐Ÿ‘‰ here. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ

Want to learn web development but not sure if Codecademy is right for you?

Check out our other reviews. For example, you can learn web development on the Zero to Mastery platform with the course The Complete Web Developer. Read our full review here.

  1. Is there a Codecademy web development career path?

    Yes, there are actually 3 web development career paths on Codecademy Pro. There’s the Front-End Engineer career path, Back-End Engineer career path, and the Full-Stack Engineer career path. So depending on where your focus is, there’s a career path for each type of web development. For example, if you want to work with user interfaces, you’ll want to take the Front-End Engineer career path. If you want to work with databases, Back-End Engineer is for you. And if you want to learn it all, the Full-Stack Engineer career path is where it’s at.

  2. Should I learn front-end or back-end web development?

    That all depends. Depending on where you live, front-end or back-end job positions may be more in demand than the other. Front-end engineers develop code using HTML, CSS and JavaScript that runs in a user’s browser. It’s the part of a website that users see and interact with. Back-end engineers write the behind-the-scenes server code. And if you want to learn both, full-stack engineers work with with front-end (client side) and back-end (server side) ends of websites and applications. Codecademy has career paths for front-end, back-end and full-stack engineer careers.

  3. Where can I learn JavaScript step by step?

    There are literally thousands of places to learn JavaScript. But if you want to become a front-end, back-end or full-stack engineer, you may want to work on a career path at Codecademy. There are 3 career paths that focus heavily on JavaScript syntax and application: Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer, and Full-Stack Engineer.