When comparing a minimum viable product versus a minimum lovable product, a common analogy is that an MVP is like instant coffee while an MLP is like a well-brewed cup of espresso.

MVPs, like instant coffee, get the job done in the simplest, most affordable, and quickest way possible. That being said, both MVPs and instant coffee are stripped-down versions of something that has the potential to be much more enjoyable.

MLPs and espresso, on the other hand, are a bit more time-consuming, more expensive, and complicated, but they are still minimal products. At the same time, most people would argue that a nice cup of espresso is quite a bit more enjoyable than a mixture of instant coffee and hot water.

With this illustration, it is easy to see that both MVPs and MLPs have their place. MVPs are a suitable option when time is of the essence and the budget is tight, while MLPs can help test an idea that requires delighting the user right from the start.

 (or an MVP for short) is a bare-bones version of a product that only has the most basic features. This simplified product is just enough to test an idea without having all of the bells and whistles that will be included in the final iteration.

MVPs are popular in app and software development because they allow you to collect user feedback before you have invested in creating the final product. This means that you can ensure that the product meets the customers' needs before adding features and functions that aren't central to the app's purpose.

A Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), on the other hand, takes a step further past the question of how to solve the problems of customers. Recognizing the importance of user enjoyment in terms of app success, the MLP also asks just how much the audience 

There are a lot of different elements that can contribute to whether users fall in love with an app versus simply feeling like it is adequate. Everything from the onboarding experience and aesthetic to its integration with other tools can impact how customers 

MVP Vs. MLP: Understanding the Difference

Both MVPs and MLPs are small samples of what an app will be in its final form. However, what they offer the user in this initial sneak-peak differs.

That being said, there can be a tremendous difference in how audiences respond to a successful MVP versus a successful MLP. This is because the latter takes into account the importance of receiving a positive emotional response from early users right from the get-go.

When you build an MVP, you are only focusing on the most basic functions of the product. You are testing out the app's main features without much in the way of design concern or consideration for the more visceral responses of users.

When you create an MLP, you recognize just how vital it is for users to be pleased and delighted with the product beyond simply being satisfied and content.

For this reason, MLPs don't just focus on the most important features of their functionality but also on their enjoyability.

In short, MVPs are usually only needed in the early stages of app development. If you are building an app that is fairly similar to others already on the market, an MVP might not even be necessary. This is usually needed when developers propose a unique idea that doesn't yet exist.

When similar apps exist, you don't have to go through the effort of validating the concept. Instead, you can use market research and surveys to determine whether your idea is viable.

Minimum Lovable Products aren't nearly as quick to develop as MVPs, and they typically cost more money as well. However, when done right, MLPs can give early adopters the opportunity to connect emotionally with your product in a way that can be very meaningful to the overall success of your app.

When you allow users to fall in love with your product early on, it means that you've created loyal customers and potentially even brand ambassadors that will spread the word about your new product before it's even on the market.

Building a Minimum Viable Product rather than a Minimum Lovable Product can be very tempting because it is both faster and cheaper to build an MVP. It is also a great way to test the general concept behind a product before investing a tremendous amount of time and money into creating a final product. MVPs can let you answer questions you have about the creation of the app in a time and cost-efficient manner.

Minimum Lovable Products, on the other hand, are slower to create and not as cheap. For this reason, many companies choose to stick with an MVP to validate their idea and test the basic concept behind their product with an audience.

Even though MLPs are more expensive and time-consuming, one important difference is worth not overlooking: they can make users fall in love with the product.

Considering the fact that emotion and other less rational factors can play a huge role in whether or not someone decides to incorporate a new app into their daily lives, the ability of an MLP to create fans early on in development is something that could have a huge impact on the long-term success of a product.

All that being said, the fact that MLPs help you gain the loyalty of your target audience right away doesn't necessarily mean you should invest all of your cash in building one. Both MVPs and MLPs have their place, and it depends on a number of factors which is likely the better choice for your product.

There are a number of circumstances where it is appropriate to use an MVP rather than an MLP.

For one, this is a good option when you are on a tight budget. You can create an MVP to test an idea and get initial feedback from an audience without breaking the bank.

Secondly, MVPs are also likely the right choice when time is limited. It doesn't take nearly as long to develop an MVP as it does an MLP or a finished product.

MVPs can also be appropriate when you are creating a product that is so unique and innovative that you are testing a brand-new idea with your target audience. In these instances, time is often of the essence, and one of the most important factors is how quickly you can get to launch.

Finally, MVPs are a suitable option when the product is built for beta testing.

While MVPs have their place and might be the right choice for your product, MLPs serve a separate purpose in responding to different factors and needs.

For example, you might choose to build an MLP rather than an MVP when you are creating a product that isn't the only one in its niche. In these instances, the focus becomes winning over an audience with other market options. Therefore, you might choose to build an MLP to validate the exceptional user experience you are offering rather than build an MVP to test a basic concept that has already been validated by the market.

You also might build an MLP rather than an MVP when one of your primary focuses is building a loyal customer base right from the get-go.

Finally, some app developers will build an MVP first and later follow up with an MLP to test and receive feedback about the user experience of a product.

 in this guide, but let's take a quick look at the steps you will want to focus on when creating an MVP.

Anytime you consider bringing a product or service to the market, the core question is what problem you are offering to solve for the user. App development is no different. Your concept should begin with an audience's known issue and the solution you will present to them.

A useful exercise in the process is writing a few sentences that respond to the question, "what problem is this product solving for users?" This can be incredibly valuable in boiling down the basic app concept for you and your team. On top of that, it can be called upon when you create your marketing copy.

When you're building a product, trying to appeal to a huge audience can be tempting. After all, don't you want the largest possible number of people to buy what you're selling?

The reality is, though, that products are often much more successful when they hone in on a 

. When you cast too wide a net, you end up not catching that many fish.

Instead, you will want to clearly define your ideal user personas. These are the people that your product will appeal to. In creating these personas, be as detailed as possible, including information such as their age, gender, income level, social status, habits, needs, and device usage.

Understanding who you will be marketing your product to is essential, so this isn't a stage in the process you want to rush.

Now that you have a clear picture of your target audience, it's time to take a 

 and see what products are already out there with the purpose of solving the same problem you propose to solve. While you might truly have a unique idea that hasn't been brought to the market yet, there's a good chance other apps and sites will be your competitors.

UX research can be a big investment, and many start-ups will skip this step for this reason. The truth is, though, that it's essential to build a 

 to ensure that your product will provide a good user experience.

The next step is to think about which features will be necessary in order to solve the users' problem. When brainstorming about the functionality of the MVP, you can divide features into essentials and extras. During MVP development, only the necessary features will be included.

It might feel like it was a long road to get here, but taking the above steps before developing and testing your MVP can make a big difference in the probability of your success. Make sure you 

If you decide that building an MLP is the right call for your product, you'll want to incorporate the following steps into the process.

When building an MLP, defining the core problem you are solving is just as important as it is for an MVP. Even though your MLP will focus on delighting the user, the functionality still has to come first.

An MLP obviously goes beyond the bare-bones features of an MVP, but it's still important to keep this version light. Focus on the things you believe are necessary to the product and those that will elevate the user experience in a way that creates a loyal audience base.

What can your product bring to the table that will win over audiences with several other market options? While you still want to keep your app minimal, creating an MLP involves incorporating design features that push peoples' emotional buttons rather than simply solving an objective need.

You know your idea is brilliant, but the proof is always in the pudding. Once you have built your MLP and started testing it, you must conduct user interviews to get feedback on how people are responding to your new app or site.

If you decide you want to build an MLP instead of an MVP (or you're developing an MLP as the next stage after your MVP), it's important to invest in UX design. You might even consider working with a UX professional right from the start of the project when you are working to validate the concept.

Both MVPs and MLPs have their place, so the answer to this question has to do with your product, audience, needs, budget, and timeline. These two minimum products aren't mutually exclusive, either– your team might decide to first develop an MVP to test the initial idea and functions before creating an MLP to gain feedback on the UX and build a solid customer base.

Whether you build an MVP, an MLP, or neither, one of the most important aspects of the app development project is the partners you team up with. If you're looking for experienced and knowledgeable developers that will help you turn your idea into a reality, 

Dev Guide: Minimum Viable Product vs Minimum Lovable Product

Endless opportunities are opened up when you connect your business with the Internet of Things, but that doesn't mean the process is always free of obstacles. Whether you're thinking about transforming your own business using IoT or you dream of creating an IoT solution for a consumer market, this type of project requires a hefty investment and the right partner to succeed.

Once you have a firm grasp of the problem you are trying to solve using IoT solutions, one of the next steps is creating a shortlist of IoT partners that you can select.

You can only usefully narrow down your list to the best possible IoT developers for your project, however, if you know the right questions to ask and the types of answers to look for. For this reason, we've created a list of ten questions you'll want to ask any prospective IoT partners before you hire them.

10 Questions to Ask IoT Partners Before Hiring Them

Asking the right questions before you hire IoT developers can help ensure that your processes are agile, your resources are used efficiently, and you are able to achieve successful and desirable outcomes. It's easy to assume that implementing an 

 is a one-time deal, but existing solutions often need to evolve with the changing tech landscape over time.

For this reason, selecting a partner you feel you can work with in the long term is exceedingly important.

1. What Experience Do You Have Developing IoT Projects?

When you're hiring anyone to take on any type of task, one of the primary questions you'll want to ask is what type of experience they have that makes them feel they are a good fit for the role. The right IoT partner will be able to present you with some case studies where their services have helped companies develop IoT partners. Ideally, these case studies will show that they have worked on IoT platforms on on-premises devices or gateways as well as those distributed between cloud services.

If you find that they have worked in your particular industry, all the better. That being said, an IoT team that has successfully implemented projects in a few areas with a set of best practices and an architectural approach can often apply the same methodology to industries they have yet to work in.

Since IoT projects require a wide variety of expertise, from cloud services and mobile app development to protocol optimization, it's important that anyone you hire is experienced in several different aspects of software development.

You'll also want to learn about their experience working with third-party systems through APIs and what programming languages they have expertise in.

2. Do You Have Expertise on the Hardware Side of IoT?

It's not absolutely essential for your IoT developers to have experience designing hardware components, but it can be a big plus. If the partner you find has expertise in this development aspect, it can mean that you don't have to look for additional partners to design sensors and devices.

Ask about how knowledgeable and competent they are when it comes to hardware engineering and if they have established relationships with hardware manufacturers.

During implementation, selecting your hardware and software will be a critical decision. There are a number of different tools involved in IoT projects, and the interoperability and connectivity of these systems is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

Implementing IoT includes required components such as sensors, edge gateways, communication protocols, IoT platforms, and cloud data management and analytics software. When you're talking to prospective teams, ask them about their experience with various hardware and software to see if their expertise and your needs sync up.

3. Do You Have Experience Implementing Real-Time Systems in My Sector?

IoT solutions are commonly divided into two categories: internally and externally focused projects. Internally focused projects involve creating and retrofitting assets within a company, while externally focused products consist of building new products to be sold to consumers.

It's common for IoT vendors to work solely in one of these groups, so it's a good idea to find a partner with experience in the realm applicable to your project.

4. What Are the Best Practices You Follow?

One thing you'll absolutely want to find out about is the operation processes of potential IoT partners. You can ask them if they have specific protocols they use to streamline production or if there are best practices they follow during the process.

A competent and reliable team will be able to walk you through their methodology and practices ahead of time. They'll also inform you about the software solutions they have found that help make the process as streamlined as possible.

Understanding the best practices of software engineering is highly important when setting a steady development pace.

To get into further details, you can ask them about their policy regarding response time (and how strict that policy is,) how they approach communication flows, and whether they are proactive in dealing with predictable issues. It's also important to ensure that they are generally on the same page as you regarding the vision your business has for the solution.

Finally, you'll also want to find out how involved they will be in the discovery stage of your project.

Are you hiring programmers for an app project but aren't sure how to best screen potential candidates? Take a look at our list of twelve of the 

how to test your developer's skills before hiring

This question is particularly important if you are creating a consumer-oriented IoT platform. A user-friendly and intuitive interface is a must in these instances, and you'll want to make sure you find a partner that is well-versed in the best practices of 

In your search for IoT developers, you might find that some are specifically focused on things like server infrastructure, architecture, and firmware development. In other cases, you can find competent and capable partners when it comes to incorporating intuitive UI in both web and mobile apps.

As you might imagine, this is a vital question to ask before beginning a project with IoT partners. Otherwise, they might fall short when it's time to produce the user-facing functionality.

Robust data security is a must in the dynamic IoT environment. This is perhaps one of the most important questions for you to ask when hiring IoT developers, as you'll want to make sure that their security mechanisms are beefy and highly capable.

You might find that you can further narrow your list using this question, as data security should be a non-negotiable element. Any IoT developer you partner with should know exactly what to do when it comes to protecting your device, incorporating data encryption, and employing security mechanisms for both cloud and device storage.

Look for thoughtful and engaged partners when it comes to data security questions. On top of that, ask to look over the tools and processes they use to complete security audits.

7. Are You Able to Scale Up as Our Needs Change?

Your IoT solution will likely need to scale up over time as your solution has had time in the market. When you select an IoT partner, you want to know that they will be able to help you manage changes and scale up when the time comes.

For example, it's completely within the realm of possibility that you could want to add new devices and features down the road. It's essential that you don't have to reorder the entire solution at this point but instead can have the team make the necessary changes to keep things flowing seamlessly.

Relatedly, you'll want to check their ability to manage your IoT projects from afar, even if you scale up later. After all, the last thing you want to have to do is throw out your existing solution or find third-party solutions once you've outgrown your current partners and system.

When you partner with an IoT vendor, you want to know that their solution will be able to align with your desired outcome and existing architecture. Similarly, it's important to learn about their agility when it comes to implementing the solution.

In a perfect world, the IoT partner you find will be willing to work with the technology, tools, and devices you prefer. It's also a good idea to pair up with a team willing to incorporate your company's existing infrastructure to create a customized solution for your organization.

As a quick note, you'll want to watch out for providers that try to pin you to specific proprietary tech as a part of the partnership. Even if they otherwise seem like a great team that could help provide the solution you need, it's best to avoid these types of companies because it can cause big problems in the future.

9. How Long Does a Project of This Size and Scale Typically Take?

Since many complex components exist in an IoT ecosystem, implementing an IoT system isn't the world's fastest process. While it can vary greatly depending on the particular project, the average time to market for an IoT is around 18-24 months.

That being said, many different factors can impact how long it takes to implement this type of system, and you'll want to learn how they build timelines depending on the project's size, scope, and requirements.

Are you in the middle of an app development project, and you're constantly running into obstacles that slow the process? Check out our guide on 

how to stop your app project from stalling

. If you're really in a bind and you need to start over with new developers, read about 

10. What Is the Average Cost For a Project of This Size and Scope?

The previous questions in our list should help you narrow down your final candidates to a shortlist. Once you have this in hand, you can start talking numbers.

It can be a good idea to offer some high-level requirements to help the vendor create a quote that reflects the scope and size of your project. You can go a step beyond that and provide them with a detailed request for a quote, which can allow you to receive comparable quotes from different teams.

In addition to how potential partners answer the above questions, you'll also want to make sure that they have all of the necessary technical skills to get the job done well and efficiently. Typically, an IoT team will include people in a variety of roles, including:

When you're delivering a project that involves the Internet of Things, there are a number of skills the development team should have up their sleeve. 

Of course, there are also soft skills you should keep an eye out for, too. After all, the best IoT team in the world isn't worth much if they aren't able to communicate in a timely and clear fashion. The ability to keep everyone on the same page as things progress is essential and non-negotiable.

Selecting the Right IoT Partners For Your Needs

Choosing the right IoT team can feel like a daunting and truly arduous task, but you'll find that all of your hard work and effort paid off in the end. The last thing you want is to make a split-second decision when it comes to hiring IoT partners, and you'll be glad to know that you went the extra mile to find developers that are willing and able to turn your dream into a reality.

At Planetary, we know what it means to engage in a meaningful and productive partnership with businesses. After all, we specialize in helping companies of all sizes take a concept and turn it into a beautiful, functional digital product. If you're looking for the right team to help you transform your next app project from a vision in your head to a sleek, intuitive product, 

 and tell us a little bit about what you're working on.

How to Hire IoT Developers: 10 Questions to Ask Your Partner

In order to create a high-functioning site or app that is easy for users to interact with, both front-end developers and back-end developers are necessary.

That being said, it's easy to get confused about the difference between back-end and front-end development and what this means for the development of your new digital product. While these two types of professionals work together to create websites, apps, or software, their goals and concerns are on opposite sides of the same coin.

At the same time, there are also full-stack developers who possess skills in both the front and back end, but each of these has become so specialized that it's more typical for a professional to focus their attention on only one.

Let's take a look at what you need to know about both of these vital aspects of site and app development to help you build the best team for your project.

Front-end development focuses on the part of a website, app, or piece of software that the user sees and interacts with. One of their main goals is to ensure that users can navigate the site or app easily. Through the use of design skills, specific programming languages, and an arsenal of other tools, front-end developers create layouts, drop-down menus, and designs for sites and apps.

The programming languages used by front-end developers include HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They use HTML to help lay out the content and structure of the site, CSS to incorporate additional design features, and JavaScript to add the more complex interactive aspects of a site.

In some cases, a front-end developer might also be well-versed in other programming languages, such as Ruby, 

A number of different libraries and frameworks are utilized by front-end developers to ensure that the code is condensed and the content appears in its optimal form on any device.

In addition to code editing tools such as Eclipse and Notepad, these developers might also use software like Sketch or Photoshop to aid in the graphic design component of the role.

Creativity and technical knowledge are necessary on the front-end, as front-end developers help to ensure that the user interface functions correctly 

 visually appears in its proper form on all devices and browsers.

Wondering if you need both a front-end developer and a UI developer? Check out 

In addition to being proficient in the design and technical aspects of the client side of an app or site, the best front-end developers will also possess a number of vital soft skills. These include:

Front-end developers aren't usually taking on the bulk of the design tasks, but they still need to have the ability to think creatively. This is because they are performing essential tasks that allow the web designers or UI/UX team to achieve their vision.

There are always technical issues that pop up during development, and front-end developers need to be able to come up with creative solutions to problems and have the ability to work under quite a bit of pressure.

Communicating with the complete project team and the client is an important part of front-end development. For this reason, highly developed skills in the realm of teamwork are essential for these professionals. They need to know how to work independently and collaborate with a team.

Back-end development deals with the "invisible" structure under the surface that makes it possible for the user to experience the front end of a site or piece of software.

While front-end developers focus on the aspect of a site or app that users interact with, back-end developers are concerned with the server side of sites. They are the people behind-the-scenes that help ensure the overall functionality of an app or site and build the structure of the product so that the front end can perform and display as desired.

The databases, operations, and API of a site are created by back-end developers. You can think of these developers as working "under the hood" of apps and sites, dealing with aspects of digital products that aren't seen by the end user.

The programming languages used by back-end developers include Python, Java, and Ruby. They also use tools to store, organize, and alter data, such as Oracle and SQL Server.

Even though back-end developers are more behind-the-scenes than front-end developers, they still need a wide variety of soft skills to help the development project go smoothly. Some of the non-technical skills that are valued in back-end professionals include:

One of the tricky parts of being a back-end developer beyond the highly technical aspects of the job is communicating with non-programmers about your role. People that don't have experience coding aren't going to be familiar with the details of the process or even the vocabulary, so it's important to be able to describe complex things in lay terms.

Back-end developers need to be able to listen well to understand what is expected of them and what is desired from the client. It only takes one small communication problem to lead to issues that set everyone back in the project timeline, so listening is just as essential as being able to give clear instructions to these professionals.

It's common for back-end developers to be all-stars when it comes to working independently, but they still need to be well-versed in collaborating with others. Whether they are constantly working with new people or consistently engaging with the same team, people on the back end of an app or site need to be team players for everything to function smoothly.

While some people specialize in front-end or back-end development, others are full-stack developers who can utilize coding skills for both the front and back end.

These are professionals that are proficient in the development of an entire application or site. It's common for companies to hire this type of developer in order to benefit from their ability to look at the big picture during the app or site creation.

It's typical for full-stack developers to know the standard programming languages for both the back and front end while also having skills in developing algorithms, web architecture, Git and GitHub, and databases.

The Differences Between Back-End and Front-End Development

Now that we've taken a closer look at front-end and back-end development, let's dive into the specific differences between these two crucial roles in website and app development.

Working on Different Sides of the Same Coin

Perhaps the most obvious difference between front-end and back-end developers is that they work on different sides of an app or website. While front-end developers are focused on the visual elements that users interact with (also known as the client side,) back-end developers are working behind the scenes to build and tweak the parts of a digital product that are unseen by users (also known as the server side.)

Through their collaboration, these two types of developers create websites, apps, and software that allow users to interact with digital products in a way that is beneficial to both themselves and the brand.

Approaching Development With Different Goals

By having front-end and back-end developers focusing on different goals, they can create products that are fully functional and easy to use. 

On the front end, developers approach development with the goal of making a site or app accessible to all users and responsive on all necessary devices. Back-end professionals approach development with the focus of creating a digital product that supports the goals of the front end and functions properly.

Bringing Different Strengths to the Table

Both sides of the development process are equally vital and important. That being said, front-end and back-end developers typically bring different strengths to the table to create a cohesive, attractive, and highly functional site or app.

While front-end developers know how to work on the UI/UX of an app or site as well as the design, back-end developers bring the strengths of knowing how to solve system-related issues and implement algorithms.

Specializing in Different Programming Languages

Another key difference between these two types of developers is the programming languages they primarily work with. Programming languages allow individuals to communicate using code in order to create the desired outcome.

Front-end developers typically work in languages like:

 and is the standard text formatting language that both makes and displays web pages, with files consisting of both the content and the tags.

Short for Cascading Style Sheets, this is a popular styling language in web design that is simple enough for HTML elements.

One of the most popular client-side scripting languages, JavaScript is open-source and supported by a wide variety of browsers, enabling the user interaction to be enhanced.

They also use libraries and frameworks, such as:

Helping to simplify the interactions between the Document Object Model and JavaScript, this is an open-source JavaScript library used on the front-end.

Used to extend the functionality of CSS, this is a robust and reliable 

 that includes everything from inheritance, variables, and nesting.

Managed by Google, Flutter is a UI development SDK that is open-source and powered by the Dart programming language.

Component-based and open-source, this JavaScript library is maintained by Facebook and used for the view layer of an application.

Primarily used to create SPAs (single-page web apps,) this is a front-end JavaScript framework that is open-source and transforms static HTML to dynamic HTML.

The languages back-end developers work with, on the other hand, include:

Designed for web development, this is a service-side scripting language that is written and executed on the server-side.

Allowing programmers to integrate systems efficiently and work quickly, this is an object-oriented programming language.

Used for building desktop and web apps, this is a class-based object-oriented programming language.

Widely used as a part of back-end programming, C++ is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language.

This cross-platform, open-source runtime environment uses the JavaScript language in order to run on many different operating systems.

Some of the frameworks they might utilize during development are:

This server-side framework provides default structures like web pages, web services, and databases.

Used for server-side development, this is a Node Js framework that can be used to build hybrid, multi-page, and single-page apps.

This robust web application framework uses PHP and allows developers to reuse components from a variety of different frameworks in order to build web apps.

Following the model-template-views pattern, this is a Python web-based framework that is used to create complicated and large web apps.

Providing support for Java apps, this is a server-side framework that supports frameworks like Struts, Hibernate, and EJB.

These different languages, frameworks, and libraries allow front-end developers to create the client side of a digital product and back-end developers to build and perfect the server side.

While both front-end development and back-end development are considered pretty good gigs, there is a difference in how much each of these roles typically receives when it comes to salary.

The average annual salary of a mid-career front-end developer is almost $77,000 in the U.S., while the average for back-end developers at the same point in their career is $101,619.

Finding the Right Team to Develop Your Digital Product

If you found yourself here because you're considering piecing together your own team to develop a web app, that's great! In our post about 

how many developers you need to build a web app

, you can see that there are a lot of different options on the table (and pros and cons to each one,) including finding your own freelancers.

While this can appear to be the most budget-friendly option out there, it's worth understanding that there are hidden costs to hiring different developers and experts online that you've never worked with before (and that haven't ever worked together as a part of this particular team.) If you're worried about the time-cost of screening and hiring these various professionals and the potential setbacks you could face if you have to 

, you might consider hiring a team like ours.

At Planetary, we love working with brands of all sizes to create beautiful, functional, and highly-intuitive digital products. If you're curious about whether we'd be a good fit for your next project, 

Understanding the difference between a front-end developer and a UI developer is essential when creating a new digital product. Otherwise, you can end up wasting a lot of time screening potential freelancers, hiring developers, and weeding through offers from development companies.

Do you need a front-end developer and a UI developer when creating a web or mobile app? What's the difference between these two roles, anyway?

Stick with us while we answer these questions and more.

Terminology is constantly changing in the software industry, and not everyone always shares the same definitions of varying titles and terms. This confusion can be exacerbated by software development being incredibly technical, sometimes leaving non-programmers in the dark when communicating with coders.

In a perfect world, everyone would agree on where these two terms overlap and diverge, but unfortunately, things aren't that cut and dry. There are definitely front-end developers who have expertise in UI (

) design. Typically, this is more common at smaller development companies. Larger companies are more likely to have separate people fulfilling the roles of UI designers, UX designers, UI developers, front-end developers, and back-end developers.

The short answer is: front-end refers to the technical aspects of a site, application, or software that a user interacts with, while UI designers and developers deal specifically with the user interface.

Perhaps the simplest way to think about the difference between these roles is to consider UI developers as the people more focused on design, while front-end developers are more focused on implementation. Another way to say it is that someone focusing on UI/UX is more concerned with the human side of the design and development process, while the front-end developer deals with the technical side of putting the elements UI developers create into a framework that functions smoothly.

To better understand the distinction between these roles, let's first learn a bit more about each one.

In software and web design, development is typically broken into two broad categories: front-end and back-end.

Front-end developers write code with the end user in mind– they are creating the features and elements of a site or software that the user will see and use. Another way to think about it is that front-end developers are dealing with the client side of an application or site.

In many cases, front-end developers are tasked with taking the designs created by UI and UX designers and turning them into a functional reality.

If you're piecing together you're own dream team of developers, be sure to check out our list of some of the 

best coding interview tools for screening

A UI developer helps to create a user interface flow that allows the user to interact with the product in a way that is efficient, intuitive, and simple. Simultaneously, they incorporate the brand's business and users' needs and goals.

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Dev Guide: Minimum Viable Product vs Minimum Lovable Product

How to Hire IoT Developers: 10 Questions to Ask Your Partner

The Differences Between Back-End and Front-End Development

FAQ: Do I Need Both a Front-end Developer and UI Developer?

Settings Goals and Missing Targets in a Website Redesign

The Ultimate Guide to Web Application Architecture (Updated)

FAQ: Is PHP Still a Relevant Language For Building Web Apps?

Agile vs. Scrum vs. Waterfall: Which is Best for App Projects?

The Three Different App Types: Native vs Mobile vs Hybrid

The Difference Between QA and QC in Web App Development

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