As you might guess, mobile development is the process of creating applications that work on mobile devices running iOS or Android OS, and web development is the process of creating websites and web applications that work in web browsers. Both of these fields are always evolving. For example, in the web development space, the trend is moving towards single-page applications(SPAs) and responsive web design, and mobile development is moving beyond just smart phone apps to encompass smart watches and other wearable devices.
However, at the end of the day, app development on any platform comes down to determining user needs, designing and coding software solutions to meet them, and providing ongoing maintenance and user support to ensure your application continues working as intended.
Many learners start with Johns Hopkins’ HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers or the Introduction to CSS3 course from Michigan. For a broader path, consider Meta’s Meta Web Development Fundamentals or the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate.
No special computer skills are required to begin, though strong reading and critical thinking help. Basic familiarity with HTML or design is useful, and advanced courses may suggest knowledge of CSS, the DOM, or frameworks like Bootstrap.
Yes, courses and Specializations include practical assignments to build real skills, and you earn shareable certificates upon completion. You can also practice quickly with Guided Projects like Server Side Rendering with Next.js: Update a News Website and Next.js for Beginners: Build a Multi-Page Portfolio Website.
You’ll learn HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and modern frameworks, plus languages like PHP and Python alongside contemporary back-end technologies. The catalog also features topics like React and Angular, and mobile app development for iOS and Android.
Yes—explore Meta’s Meta Android Developer and Meta iOS Developer Professional Certificates. For cross‑platform, the Meta React Native Specialization focuses on building mobile apps with a single codebase.
Web development focuses on building websites and web apps that run in a browser, often emphasizing responsive design and trends like single-page applications. Mobile development creates apps for devices running iOS or Android, and increasingly includes experiences for wearables.
Consider Meta’s Meta Full Stack Developer: Front-End & Back-End from Scratch for an end‑to‑end path. You can also build back‑end skills with Michigan’s Django for Everybody and explore engineering workflows with IBM’s IBM DevOps and Software Engineering.