frontend
/ˌfrʌnt ˈend/noun
The frontend is the part of a website or application that users see and operate, such as pages, buttons, forms and interactive screens.
The frontend displays current stock levels as soon as the user selects a product.
The frontend is the visible, interactive part of a digital product. On a website, it usually runs in the browser; in a mobile or desktop app, it is the layer the user interacts with directly. The frontend handles input, displays information and provides feedback on actions, such as completing a form or selecting a filter.
What does frontend code do?
Frontend code determines how information appears on screen and how the interface responds. HTML describes a web page's structure, CSS handles its appearance and JavaScript enables interaction. Glossary · In briefframeworkA framework is a coherent foundation for software development, providing reusable code, a defined structure and conventions for building an application.Read more such as React and Vue help developers build screens from reusable Glossary · In briefcomponentA component is a distinct part of software with its own task and a clear way of interacting with other parts.Read more.
A frontend needs to do more than look good. Its code accounts for different screen sizes, keyboard controls, loading times and clear error messages. This keeps the interface usable on a phone, laptop or other device.
How does a frontend work with a backend?
The frontend usually requests data and actions from a Glossary · In briefbackendThe backend is the part of an application that processes data, applies business rules and communicates with other systems on the server. Users usually access it through a frontend or API.Read more, often through an Glossary · In briefAPIAn API is a defined way for software to exchange data or call functions in other software without needing to know how that software works internally.Read more. When a user signs in, the frontend sends the entered details. The backend checks them and returns a result, after which the frontend displays the next screen or an error message.
Frontend and Glossary · In briefuser interfaceA user interface (UI) is the part of a digital system through which a user receives information and operates it. Examples include screens, buttons, forms and voice controls.Read more therefore do not mean exactly the same thing. The user interface is what someone sees and operates. The frontend also includes the code behind that interface, which retrieves data and tracks the screen's state.