All You Need to Know about Computer Science for Application Development

In computer science, we study everything related to computational systems and computers. In contrast to computer and electrical engineers, the job of a computer scientist is to deal with software systems and software, which also includes design, development, application, and theory, along with web programming. 

The areas of study in computer science include software engineering, artificial intelligence, database systems, computer system, graphics and visions, networks, numerical analysis, security, theory of computing, programming languages, human-computer interaction, and bioinformatics. Many of these form a part of college-level computer science courses. 

Although knowing programming languages is very essential when it comes to pursuing computer science as a subject, it is considered just a single part of the entire field of study. 

Computer scientists also study the performance of software and hardware, as well as they can analyze and create algorithms to solve different programs. The problems encountered by computer scientists range from algorithm difficulties to designing applications and deciding on the problems solved by computers without compromising security measures.

Web programming or web app development is an internet-based project that can perform tasks similar to software or mobile applications. Through web programming and applications, users can prioritize their intercommunicating linkage but only with the help of the internet on top of a networking system.

On the other hand, webpages exist because of web design and development. To create a stunning webpages, you also need to understand web programming and web app development. 

Fundamental Concepts of Computer Science

As an individual subject, computer science is vast and has many branches. Be it cryptography, data science, web development, computer network, or any other branch, having fundamental computer science knowledge is necessary to complete any project or fulfill your goals.

If you are pursuing computer programming, then understanding the computer science fundamentals will help you gain confidence to become a more efficient developer. For example, depending on your area of interest, you may become successful in developing an algorithm but you will still need expertise in computational thinking and other basic topics for:

• Justifying the correctness of the algorithm
• Making use of data structures at their best
• Evaluating the time and space complexity of the algorithm

Let us look at the basic topics of computer science as a whole.

Software and hardware fundamentals

If we begin from the primary level, then we should start with the machine you are using to program and the programs these machines are running. Computer architecture talks about the collection of regulations or science in which hardware and software communicate with each other to run any computer. 

Through computer architecture, we get to know about two fundamental concepts which are software and hardware. Notably, hardware is anything and everything that physically bridges with computers, such as a mouse, monitor, keyboard, components of CPU and GPU, and printer.

On the other hand, software is an amalgamation of procedures and programs which can perform specific tasks on computers. Software is an instructed arrangement of commandments that can alternate the condition of any computer’s hardware.

Data structures and their properties

With the help of data structures, we can organize, store, and manage data efficiently for the ease of access and modification. To solve data structure problems, we utilize algorithms, which will be our next topic of discussion.

Complexity and design of algorithms

In computer science, an algorithm is a sequence of proper commandments that can instruct a machine on what to do to solve any problem. As mentioned earlier, algorithms are usually applied in multiple data structures and they are also a hot topic in coding interviews.

What is web application development?

In web application development, different web development technologies are utilized to build a web page that can be accessed through a browser. Web apps mostly utilize the back- and front-end technologies and in theory, they are very neatly connected with websites. This is the reason why web development and web app development have many similar characteristics.

For example, for front-end development, web app developers make use of programs like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. Back-end developers may use similar server-side languages such as Ruby or Python to build a website. However, the operation of web apps on any device is very different from the traditional website approach.

You can learn more about this through comprehensive web development courses that enable holistic and practical learning of the key skills needed. 

Difference between a website and a web app

The fundamental purpose of a website is to present information whereas web applications are constructed to be reactive. Although the contrast between them is a bit harder to differentiate, once you can understand their basic concepts, you will be easily able to recognize the difference between them. Moreover, learning about mobile development will also help you out in web app development.

On the other hand, in web development, developers only utilize web technologies and web application development emphasizes user interaction, similar to that of mobile applications which is unlike any traditional website.

Web application development also focuses on UX or user experience with which users can do more than just consume information. For example, if you have used Twitter and Facebook from a browser, then you would receive a more captivating experience in comparison to your local restaurant’s website. The reason behind the same is that the previous ones are web apps whereas the local one is a website.

What are Front-end, Middleware, and Backend Development?

To develop web applications and websites, you need to make use of front-end, middleware, and back-end developers. These technologies can successfully help you build a website or a web app you are looking for.

Front-end

For the quarter of this century, web development languages used for frontend have remained the same. These include:

JavaScript

For any type of web development, JavaScript is the fundamental client-side programming language. Most web developers utilize JavaScript to code the client-side behavior of web applications and websites. The reason behind this is that JavaScript enables developers to construct dynamic websites.

Looking around at the simplest and basic functionalities like clickable buttons and scrolling bars, all are due to JavaScript programming. Starting from its origin in the 20th century, the computer language has expanded exponentially by demonstrating its wide use cases and frameworks across the technological world.

HTML

HTML is among the fundamental web development languages and stands for HyperText Markup Language (HTML). This technological functionality enables structuring the elements and content on a web page.  Chunks of HTML codes and elements determine how a web page will display the icons, text, images, and so on. 

Further, its latest version – HTML 5 – is also able to dictate the insertion of audio and video files on web pages as well. HTML elements are recognized by “<” and “>” characters.  To view a particular page’s HTML code, you can simply right-click on the web page from a desktop or a laptop and click on “View page source” on the drop-down menu from the browser.

CSS

Extending into web page design and layout, Cascading Style Scripts (CSS) is another language that assists in structuring the presentation of a web page. Similar to JavaScript and HTML, CSS is the foundational technology that made the World Wide Web of today. CSS invokes several characteristics like layouts, fonts, colors, and other integral elements.

Middleware

Middleware is software that helps developers in providing common services and capabilities to all other applications that are outside of what is already offered by the operating system. Application services, authentication, messaging, API management, and data management are all handled by middleware developers. 

The prime application of middleware is to help developers build more effective applications by connecting data, users, and applications. For corporations having containerized and multi-cloud work environments, middleware is the most cost-effective for developers at scale.

Back-end

Back-end developers work on a wide range of technologies having components of databases, web servers, service-side programming, and APIs. Server-side or back-end developers mostly handle the behind-the-scenes functionality of web apps. 

Back-end web development also includes working with databases, managing user connections, and sending and receiving data and security authentications, in addition to empowering web applications to perform all necessary functions. Some of the highly popular backend web development languages are Python, Java, PHP, and Ruby.

Although several companies use one of these, many also prefer using all the above simultaneously to make side-by-side comparisons for determining the simplest utility solutions. This is where the role of a full stack developer becomes key and web development courses can form the pathway for learning these skills and tools in a structured manner. 

How do Computer Science Concepts Apply to Web and Application Development?

Knowing computer science can help you out when dealing with web and web app development. The core concepts of computers which include software, hardware, data structures, and algorithms are interlinked with the development of websites and web apps. 

Not to mention, the programming languages you will study and learn on the computer will also help you out when you will be training for web and web app development. Even if you have not studied computer science at all, eventually you will need to learn it while working on different development projects.

What is Client-side Programming?

This type of program runs directly on the browser or client machine and usually focuses on display, user interface, or any other filtering that can be conducted on client machines such as writing or reading cookies. It includes:

• Sending a request to a server
• Interacting with local storage
• Sending a request for data to the server
• Interacting with temporary storage
• Making interactive web pages
• Working as an interface between server and user

Programming languages for client-side programming are:

• HTML
• JavaScript
• AJAX
• CSS
• VBScript 

What is Server-side Programming?

Server-side programming is the program that runs on the server and deals with the spawning of content on the web pages. It includes:

• Interaction with other servers
• Querying the database
• Process user input.
• Structure web applications
• Access/write a file on the server
• Operations over databases

For example, if any user provides a text in the search box, the website will run an algorithm from the already stored data in the server and it will provide the results.

Programming languages for server-side programming are:

• Python
• C++
• Ruby on Rails
• PHP
• Java and JSP

Skills Needed to Become a Web and App Developer

The primary skills you need to become a successful web and web app developer are:

• Strong communication skills
• Interest in new technologies
• Computer literacy
• A logical way of thinking
• Excellent problem-solving ability
• Proper numeracy skills
• Attention to detail
• Capacity to explain technical matters very clearly
• Robust creative ability

Other than this, self-learning is very important if you want to pursue your career in web and web app development. This will also help you stay updated with the latest tech updates and technological advancements.

If you are willing to pursue a career in web and web app development, then having basic computer science knowledge is a must. Computer science courses along with web development courses can be a great way for you to pick up the necessary skills. 

To make things simpler for you, Hero Vired offers the full stack development program with MERN and cloud computing where you will learn about the full stack methodology and principles of mobile and web application development. 

This web developer certification program will help you learn to work with the right tools for web and mobile app development. It covers the fundamentals of computer science and web programming with the help of JavaScript and Python, and hybrid mobile applications using Flutter and cloud deployments.

Any graduate (or a working professional) is eligible to apply for this course. Most importantly, after completing the course, Hero Vired will also help you land a job through placement assurance and access to job opportunities in relevant organizations. If you are looking forward to bagging your dream job in the web app development industry, then this is the right program for you.

You will earn a web developer certification from edX and Harvard University of successful completion of the required modules. That’s right, you can get certified by one of the most reputed and prestigious universities in the world!