Can I Become A Web Developer By Learning Python?

In recent years, web development has become a highly sought-after skill due to the increasing demand for online presence and e-commerce.

Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, and it is widely used in web development.

Many aspiring developers wonder if they can become web developers by learning Python. (including me back in the day, when I used to work as a QA engineer)

Can I Become A Web Developer By Learning Python?

Yes, you can become a web developer by learning Python. Web development is the process of building and maintaining websites and web applications and Python can be used in web development for backend programming, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Python has several frameworks that make web development easier, such as Flask, Django, Pyramid and FastAPI.

These frameworks provide pre-built modules, libraries, and tools that simplify web development tasks.

I’ve tried most of them and I personally prefer using Django the most!

🚨 In this article, we will explore the question in depth and I’ll share a comprehensive guide on how to become a web developer by learning Python based on my own experience.

Is Python Good For Web Developers?

Yes, Python is a great programming language for web developers.

Python offers a range of web frameworks that enable developers to build scalable and robust web applications quickly. Some of them I already mentioned at the beginning of the post – Django, Flask, and FastAPI.

Django, in particular, is widely used in the industry and is known for its ease of use, high-level abstractions, and strong community support. I’ve already worked for a couple of tech companies and most of them used Django in one form or the other..

Flask, on the other hand, is a lightweight framework that is easy to learn and perfect for building small to medium-sized web applications.

✅ One of the main advantages of using Flask is its flexibility. It allows developers to customize and extend the framework according to their specific requirements.

❌ While the flexibility of Flask is certainly an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage for beginners who are not familiar with how web projects should be structured. With Flask, developers have the freedom to create their own structure and workflow, which can lead to inconsistencies and inefficiencies if not done correctly.

FastAPI is a relatively new web framework for building APIs with Python.

It is built on top of the Starlette framework and is designed to be fast, easy to use, and highly performant.

FastAPI is gaining popularity among developers because of its simplicity, high performance, and built-in support for modern Python features such as async/await syntax.

I wouldn’t recommend FastAPI for beginners, rather start with Django, learn the basics of the web framework, build simple websites first..

Once you get a grasp of a simple web framework, your next step definitely should be FastAPI.

I keep noticing the FastAPI framework as a requirement for backend development positions more and more.

Even at the company I’m currently working at, I’m planning to build a new service and instead of using Django, we’re planning to use FastAPI.

Not that there’s something wrong with Django – there definitely isn’t.

It’s just that FastAPI offers better tools for async programming if compared to Django.

Is Python Alone Enough For Web Development?

While Python is a powerful programming language that can be used for web development, it may not be sufficient on its own for all web development needs.

To build a web application, you need to consider several components such as frontend development, backend development, and database management.

Python is commonly used for backend development, where it can handle server-side scripting and business logic!

Understanding Python for Web Development

Python can be used to build backend systems for web applications as I mentioned before, including building APIs, working with databases, and handling server-side processing.

However, web development also involves creating the frontend of the application, which typically involves HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

You would need to use frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) to create the user interface and client-side functionality of the application.

Limitations of Python for Web Development

While Python can be used in conjunction with JavaScript frameworks like React and Vue.js to build the frontend of web applications, it may NOT be the most efficient choice for frontend development.

Instead, web developers may choose to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript directly or use other specialized frontend frameworks like Angular or React.

While Python has many web frameworks to choose from…

… each with its own strengths and weaknesses

It may not be the best choice for all web development use cases!

🚨 Personally, I would NOT prefer using just Django for the whole website development (even though it’s possible to develop a whole website with just Django)

Different languages and frameworks may be better suited for different types of web development projects… (e.g. Django for backend, React for frontend)

The right combination of frameworks, of course, depends on the factors such as requirements for performance, scalability, and other specific requirements of the project!

✅ I’d rather build backend purely in Python and Django, but then for the frontend use plain JavaScript, HTML and CSS or a proper frontend framework, like React.

Can I Use Python With HTML And CSS?

Yes, you can use Python in conjunction with HTML and CSS to build web applications. However, it’s important to understand the roles of each technology in the development process.

Python is a backend-focused language that is often used for server-side processing and data manipulation. It can be used to generate dynamic content for web pages, such as database-driven content or data visualizations.

HTML is used to create the structure and content of web pages, while CSS is used to style the content and define its layout.

Once Python code has generated dynamic content, it can then be integrated into HTML pages using templating engines like Jinja2 or Django’s built-in templating engine.

Can Django Use HTML?

One way to use Python with HTML and CSS is by using a web framework like Django.

Django framework provides tools for generating dynamic HTML pages and integrating Python code with HTML and CSS.

Why Use Django REST Framework?

The second way to use Python with HTML and CSS is to build APIs with Django and then create a separate front-end application using a framework like React.

This approach allows for a decoupled architecture, where the frontend and backend are completely separate and communicate through API endpoints.

To implement this approach:

STEP 1: You would first create a backend API using Django. You would define API endpoints that allow the frontend to retrieve and send data to the Django server.

STEP 2: You would create a separate frontend application using a JavaScript framework like React.

STEP 3: Your React App would be responsible for rendering the user interface and handling user interactions and would make API calls to the Django backend to retrieve and send data as needed.

Why Use Decoupled Architecture?

The benefit of this approach is that it allows for a more modular and scalable architecture.

The frontend and backend can be developed and deployed independently, and you can even swap out different frontend or backend technologies without affecting the other.

It’s a common practice nowadays and used in most of the companies I worked for. Unless there’s a specific reason to mix frontend and backend together, decoupled approach is always preferred!

Is It Difficult To Learn Django?

Learning Django may seem daunting at first, especially if you are new to web development or programming.

However, with the help of an experienced Python developer (mentor), it can be a relatively straightforward process.

Django REST framework is a popular tool for building APIs with Django and that’s exactly the tool one of my students Yuliia used to build her own portfolio project!

You can read the whole story of how Yuliia got hired as a software developer in about 6 months here! 👇🏻

If you’re NOT afraid of working hard for your career…

See if there’s a way you can contact me at the end of this post!

🔥 I’m willing to talk to you and see if I can help you the same way I helped Yuliia!

Is Python Or HTML Better For Web Development?

Both Python and HTML have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to web development. But when it comes to creating dynamic and complex web applications, Python is often the better choice.

Python has a wider range of functionalities and frameworks that are designed specifically for web development.

Python frameworks such as Django and Flask offer powerful tools for creating web applications that are fast, secure, and scalable.

However, if you’re looking to create a static website or a simple web page, HTML is the best choice.

HTML is easy to learn and use, and it provides all the tools needed to create simple web pages. HTML is also supported by all web browsers, which means that your web pages will look the same across all platforms.

❌ However, the performance of web pages created using HTML can be affected by factors such as the number of images and videos on the page, the size of the page, and the speed of the internet connection.

In short, the choice between Python and HTML depends on your specific needs and requirements. If you’re looking to create dynamic and complex web applications, Python is the better choice.

However, if you’re looking to create a simple web page or a static website, HTML is the way to go.

✅ In the end, even if you choose to go with Python, you’ll end up learning HTML too, it’s inevitable, HTML is the core part of web development, so in general, I’d suggest you choose Python right away, build dynamic websites and learn HTML along the way..

Can We Use Python Instead Of JavaScript For Web Development?

While Python can be used for frontend web development, it is not as commonly used as JavaScript. Python is often used for server-side web development and data analysis.

Instead, you should consider the possibility of using Python and JavaScript together for web development. Keep in mind, it’s possible to use Python and JavaScript together for web development! 🔥

Python is mostly used for server-side programming, while JavaScript can be used for client-side programming (frontend).

Should I Use Python Or JavaScript For Web Development?

Deciding whether to use Python or JavaScript for web development depends on several factors, such as the project requirements, your personal preferences, and the available resources.

Python is a general-purpose programming language that can be used for a variety of purposes, including web development.

It is commonly used for server-side scripting and backend development, where it can handle business logic and data processing. (as we already discussed at the beginning of this post)

JavaScript, on the other hand, is a programming language specifically designed for web development.

It is used for both frontend and backend development, and it is the only language that can be executed natively in web browsers.

Extensive Backend Development

If your project requires extensive backend development or data processing, Python may be the better choice.

Some examples of such projects include:

• E-commerce Websites: E-commerce websites require extensive backend development to handle inventory management, order processing, and payment processing.
• Machine Learning and AI: Python is also an excellent choice for projects that involve machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Data Analysis and Visualization: Python’s libraries make it easy to handle and process large datasets, making it an excellent choice for data analysis and visualization projects.
• Content Management Systems: Python’s web frameworks like Django make it easy to build custom content management systems that can handle large amounts of content and provide a highly customizable user experience.
• Web Scraping: Python is also an excellent choice for web scraping projects that involve collecting data from various websites. Python’s libraries like and Requests make it easy to scrape data from websites and extract useful information.

Highly Interactive And Dynamic User Interface

However, if your project requires a highly interactive and dynamic user interface, JavaScript may be the better option.

Some examples of such projects include:

• Single-Page Applications: JavaScript is ideal for building single-page applications (SPAs) that offer a smooth and seamless user experience. SPAs rely heavily on JavaScript to dynamically update content without requiring page reloads.
• Real-Time Applications: JavaScript is also an excellent choice for building real-time applications like chat applications, collaborative editing tools, and online gaming applications.
• Interactive Data Visualization: JavaScript can be used to create highly interactive and dynamic data visualizations that enable users to explore complex data sets.
• Mobile Applications: JavaScript is also a popular choice for building cross-platform mobile applications using frameworks like React Native and Ionic.
• Web Animations: JavaScript can be used to create highly engaging and interactive web animations that respond to user interactions.

Personal Preferences And Skills

It’s also worth considering your personal preferences and skills.

If you are more comfortable with Python and have experience with the language, it may be easier for you to develop the backend using Python.

Similarly, if you are more comfortable with JavaScript and have experience with the language, it may be easier for you to develop the frontend using JavaScript.

🚨 Personally, I have nothing against JavaScript and to this day I keep using JavaScript (Vanilla Js, jQuery, React, etc.) for frontend parts of my work.

But my main focus is on backend development (REST API, Business Logic) and for that – of course, I mostly use Python, Django, Django REST Framework or FastAPI.

Is Python More In Demand Than JavaScript?

Both Python and JavaScript are popular and in-demand programming languages, and their demand varies depending on the job market and industry.

Python is often in high demand for data science and machine learning roles, while JavaScript is commonly used for web development and front-end engineering positions.

According to various reports and surveys, both Python and JavaScript are among the top programming languages in demand worldwide.

In 2021, the Stack Overflow Developer Survey ranked JavaScript as the most commonly used language, while Python ranked third after Rust.

⚠️ However, Python ranked first in the list of most wanted programming languages, followed by TypeScript and Rust.

Who Earns More Web Developer Or A Python Developer?

The salary for both web developers and Python developers varies depending on various factors such as experience, location, skills, and industry.

Generally, Python developers are in HIGH demand in the data science, machine learning, and AI fields and can command high salaries.

However, web developers who specialize in frontend or full-stack web development using popular frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue can also earn competitive salaries.

According to salary data from Glassdoor, the average salary for a web developer in the United States is around $76,000 per year.

🐍 Meanwhile, the average salary for a Python developer is around $101,920 per year.

However, it’s essential to note that these figures are just averages and can vary significantly based on location, years of experience, and skillset.

Job Title	Average Salary
Python Developer	$101,920 per year
Web Developer	$76,000 per year

Again, you have to understand and note that the figures I’m sharing with you here are just averages and can vary based on various factors such as location, years of experience, and skillset!