Front-End Development course
Key takeaways.
Strong front-end work starts with structure: folders, naming, and predictable organisation.
DevTools are a daily tool for validating DOM, CSS, layout, and responsiveness before shipping.
Safe change habits (small commits, checkpoints, rollback plans) reduce risk and rework.
Semantic HTML improves accessibility, scanning, SEO clarity, and long-term maintainability.
CSS works best as a system: cascade discipline, consistent spacing, and reusable components.
Flexbox and Grid solve most layout problems without brittle positioning hacks.
Responsive design is about constraints: touch, content density, media weight, and real device testing.
JavaScript should be predictable: minimal handlers, stable selectors, explicit state, and reversible UI.
API work needs UX discipline: loading/error states, rate limits, caching, privacy, and fallbacks.
Accessibility and UX are not extras; they are part of quality, trust, and successful launches.
In-depth breakdown.
Front-End (Client-Side) Development [WC - C5] focuses on building reliable, maintainable interfaces that work across devices and real-world constraints. It starts with the foundations that prevent chaos later: clear project structure, confident use of browser DevTools, and a “safe change” mindset through lightweight versioning, meaningful commits, and rollback planning. From there, HTML is treated as structure and meaning, semantic elements, heading hierarchy, landmarks, links, lists, forms, and error messaging that support accessibility and scanning. CSS then becomes a system: cascade and specificity, spacing scales, typography and colour for readability, and layout techniques using Flexbox and Grid without fragile hacks.
Responsive design ensures layouts translate cleanly across breakpoints, touch contexts, and media-heavy pages. JavaScript fundamentals cover predictable behaviour: events, DOM updates, state markers, form handling, and component patterns that avoid duplicate listeners and half-states. Data and APIs introduce fetch workflows, loading/error states, caching, rate limits, privacy, and rendering trade-offs. Applied modules reinforce UI/UX, accessibility habits aligned to WCAG principles, and an optional jQuery track for maintaining legacy projects. The capstone ties everything together by planning, building, testing, and launching a Squarespace site with a disciplined QA checklist.
Course itinerary.
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Editor and project structure
Browser Dev Tools
Versioning
Safe change strategy
Rollback mindset
Tools for Front-End development
Performance optimisation
Common Front-End challenges
Collaboration and version control
Deployment strategies
Documentation and best practices
Key takeaways and next steps
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Semantic HTML
Headings and hierarchy
Sections and landmarks
Lists and tables
Links and navigation
Accessible link text
Navigation patterns
Inputs, labels, help text
Validation concepts
Error messaging basics
Dynamic Table of Contents
Best practices for HTML
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Core CSS
Box model and spacing
Typography and colour
Flexbox concepts
Grid concepts
Positioning and stacking contexts
Buttons and states
Forms and inputs
Reusable patterns
Advanced layout techniques
Performance and optimisation
Conclusion and next steps
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Media query fundamentals
Responsive media
Mobile-first thinking
Breakpoints and fluid sizing
Orientation and touch considerations
Images and sizing
Video embeds
Performance basics for media
Conclusion & next steps
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Core concepts
Events and handlers
DOM selection and manipulation
State and behaviour
Form behaviour basics
Simple component patterns
Practical application of JavaScript
JavaScript frameworks overview
Best practices and common pitfalls
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Fetching data
Loading and error states
Basic rendering patterns
Practical integration mindset
Reliability expectations
Privacy considerations
Client-side Web APIs
State management in modern Web development
Client-side vs server-side rendering
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What jQuery is
Why it existed
Where you still see it
When not to use it
Common tasks
Selectors and event handling
DOM updates
Basic effects
Conclusion & next steps
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Understanding users
Mental models
Trust cues
Information architecture
Scanning patterns
Content hierarchy
Usability checks
Feedback and errors
Mobile interaction
Best practices for navigation
Error messaging strategies
Creating an effective usability testing plan
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Core accessibility
WCAG overview
Platform considerations
Semantic structure
Keyboard and focus
Contrast and text sizing
Common failures
Quick testing checklist
Remediation habits
Tooling discussion
Best practices
Conclusion and next steps
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Requirements and scope
Sitemap and priorities
Constraints and timeline
Wireframe concept
Navigation logic
Component list
Theme/Style System Setup
Populate content and test
Pre-launch QA checklist
Launching your website
Ongoing maintenance
Leveraging tools and resources
Course requirements.
The requirements necessary for this course include:
Technology
You need a computer/smart device with a decent internet.
Account
No account is required as the lectures are free to view.
Viewing
This course is taught via a blog article format.
Commitment
You will need to dedicate time and effort, at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I need prior coding experience?
Basic familiarity helps, but the course is structured to build from workflow and structure into deeper implementation.
Is this course framework-specific (React/Vue/Angular)?
No. It focuses on fundamentals that transfer to any framework, plus guidance on when frameworks help.
Will it help with real client projects?
Yes, tooling, safe change habits, QA checklists, accessibility, and maintainable patterns are central.
What’s the main difference between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in the course?
HTML = structure/meaning, CSS = layout/presentation system, JavaScript = behaviour/state and interactions.
Does it include a practical build?
Yes, the capstone walks through planning and building a Squarespace site from scratch to launch.
How do you avoid “override chaos” in CSS?
Use a spacing/type scale, prefer class-based styling, keep selectors shallow, and document patterns and variants.
How should loading and error states be handled with APIs?
Always show feedback, distinguish “no data” vs “failed,” use retries with backoff, and avoid refetch loops.
How do you prevent duplicate JavaScript event listeners?
Initialise once per component instance, use delegation where appropriate, and clean up listeners for removed DOM.
When is jQuery still worth using?
When maintaining legacy sites/plugins that already depend on it and rewriting introduces more risk than value.
How do you decide between client-side and server-side rendering?
Based on performance, SEO requirements, data sensitivity, and user-perceived speed, often a hybrid approach wins.
