Is Python a Frontend or Backend Language?

If you learn Python, you will be able to apply it to web development. But is Python a frontend or a backend language? Let’s find out.

Python is a general-purpose programming language that has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. Its clean and easy-to-understand syntax makes it the #1 choice for new programmers (as well as experienced programmers).

Once you start learning Python, it does not take long to get productive. It was created to be an easy and intuitive language, with code as understandable as plain English.

This may sound like the only pro of Python is that it’s easy to learn. However, that is not the case. What makes Python such a popular language goes well beyond being beginner-friendly.

Why Learn the Python Programming Language?

Python has a wide range of applications in many different areas, such as data science (where it’s the most popular programming  language). You’ll also see Python in software development, Artificial Intelligence, web development, mobile game development, and other areas. Knowing Python well offers a lot of job opportunities in a variety of domains. It is definitely a satisfactory return on investment; therefore, numerous people start learning Python. Plus, there is a huge and active Python community – whatever question you have, chances are the answer can be found instantly.

If Python sounds like your ideal computer programming language, you can start your journey with our Learn Programming with Python track. It is a great first step because it also explains the fundamentals of programming, so you do not need to have any prior experience with IT. This track consists of 5 fully interactive Python courses specially designed for beginners.

Python for Frontend vs. Backend

Dominating the data science world does not make Python any less competitive in other areas like web development. Python has lots of web development tools and frameworks. But is Python used more in the frontend or backend of web development?

In web development, frontend refers to the items users interact with on a website. Consider a website that you frequently visit. The colors, shapes, images, charts, navigation menu, and web page design are all part of frontend development. Its main focus is on visual elements. Some web design skill is often desirable if you want to do frontend development.

On the other hand, backend development can be considered as what goes on under the hood. It involves building the infrastructure that supports the frontend elements and handles tasks related to the server and database.

So, where does Python fit into this? Remember, Python is a general programming language. It can be used for both frontend and backend development. However, it is more widely used in backend; in fact, Python is listed among the most popular backend languages.

We have mentioned the rich selection of third-party tools for Python. Two of the most popular in the web development community are Django and Flask. Both are mature and highly efficient.

Django is a high-level framework that allows for rapid development with less code. It’s free,  open source, and widely used among developers. As a result, you won’t have any problem finding learning materials or answers to your questions while studying or working with Django.

If you are new to Python, I wouldn’t recommend learning Django before you build up a good foundation of Python skills. Once you have an understanding of programming with Python, you can more easily use Django for web development.

Flask is another popular Python framework. It provides several tools and features that make it easier to build web applications. It is important to mention both Django and Flask have detailed documentation, which is of vital importance when learning a new software tool.

Python can also be used in frontend web development. The key frontend languages are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. At PyCon 2022, Anaconda announced a new Python frontend framework called PyScript. PyScript allows for creating Python applications in the browser using the HTML interface. Some other Python frameworks include Pyjs, skulpt, and Brython.

How to Learn Python

Python is a programming language that does not have a steep learning curve, can be used in many different domains, offers great community support, and numerous job opportunities. All these make Python the best language to learn computer programming.

If you decide to learn Python, make sure you are not lost in the enormous amount of available resources. This might turn an advantage to a disadvantage. You need a well-organized and carefully designed learning process, which is exactly what LearnPython.com offers.

One of the biggest strengths of LearnPython.com is the interactive console. It allows for practicing the concepts and techniques as you learn them. Practice – i.e. writing code – is what you need the most while learning Python or any other programming language. You may understand how a particular task is done by reading a book or watching a tutorial. However, practice makes you actually do the task. Hands-on experience is the best learning method, especially in programming.

If you still hesitate to start your Python journey, read this article that explains why you need to learn Python in 2022. If you’ve already started, here is a great guide on how to learn Python faster.