Toptal is a marketplace for top Front-end developers, experts, programmers, specialists, consultants and coders. Toptal helps CEOs, CTOs, and management at top companies find front-end developers for app development, web development, and other software development projects to achieve their business needs.
Caroline is an accomplished front-end and UI developer who has built renowned campaigns for leading brands such as Spotify, Regal Cinemas, and Sony Music. For 13 years, she has crafted unique, memorable digital experiences using WordPress and Shopify. Her works include building performance-driven websites, eCommerce, and web applications for Howard Hughes, JP Morgan, Wine Enthusiast, and CVS. She also helped grow Yahoo! Movie’s Facebook fan count from 200,000 to 1.4 million in four months.
Anika is a senior web developer with 7+ years of experience developing websites and web apps for education, eCommerce, and business services. Anika is keen on working with a diverse set of technologies and programming languages, specializing in React, Vue, and Angular, as the most used languages in the front-end development projects she got involved in.
Antonio learned to code at the age of 11 and began his career as a front-end developer in 2001. Throughout his professional career, he's gained a great deal of hands-on experience through freelance jobs and personal projects, but mainly via advertising agencies and major news portals. Antonio is quick to pick up new technologies and adapt himself to new scenarios as needed, and challenges are always welcome for him.
Travis is an industry-attuned professional with a demonstrated history of leading high-performing teams to deliver cutting-edge web applications and digital experiences. He is skilled in all aspects of UI development, including front-end architecture, responsive design, and performance optimization. Travis has a proven track record of driving innovation and implementing best practices to enhance user experiences and meet business objectives.
Ibukunoluwa is a dynamic software engineer with over five years of experience as an innovative front-end developer. A high-impact team contributor who elevates sales and user experiences, he is excellent in open source and startups and an expert in application development and architecture. Ibukunoluwa's creative problem-solving and keen understanding of emerging technologies consistently deliver cutting-edge solutions.
Viktor is a skilled software architect with 10 years of expertise in front-end ecosystems. Since 2016, he has focused on creating superior React applications for high-traffic services using leading-edge solutions. As a professional committed to excellence, Viktor welcomes opportunities to work on projects where innovation aligns with stakeholder objectives. Over the past decade, he specialized in the front-end ecosystem. He is also comfortable working in full-stack environments.
Levan is a front-end engineering professional with hands-on experience working for software companies in a range of industries, including stock exchanges, digital goods, education, and eCommerce. Backed by a master's degree in computer science from Georgian Technical University, Levan is skilled in React, TypeScript, JavaScript, CSS, and SCSS. Levan is passionate about pixel-perfect design and the high-quality dynamic functionality of visual systems.
Parth has 11+ years of experience with in-depth knowledge and a strong passion for front-end tech. From 2017 to 2020, he co-founded his startup, studysid.com, acting as the CTO, where he raised USD 500,000 and learned a lot—primarily about ownership and organization. Since then, he has been working with multiple startups worldwide, namely Mindtickle, Bread Payments, Cast App, Column, and Crstl.
Daxesh is a well-rounded web developer specializing in the front end. He has delivered a range of products, including front-end architecture for scalability, design systems for global branding across several apps, and launching new applications for startups. Most of his work consists of leading technical teams, creating an efficient development environment, fixing technical debts, providing best practices, and mentoring developers.
Mark has over a decade of experience as a front-end developer working for digital agencies. His portfolio consists of websites, electronic document management systems (EDMS), Flash banners as well as eLearning modules. He's an expert at taking designs and bringing them to life as close as possible while keeping in mind about accessibility and the user experience.
Since 2011, Matt has been contributing to various projects of all shapes and sizes. He works primarily as a front-end developer specializing in front-end web applications. However, he also has a great deal of full-stack experience and can work well in both roles. Over the course of his career, Matt has worked in a number of different teams and solved numerous problems.
Front-end developers are skilled in creating polished interfaces for websites, single-page applications, and e-commerce platforms. This guide to hiring front-end developers features interview questions and answers, as well as best practices that will help you identify the best candidates for your company.
... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.
Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.
Our clients
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of Tripcents as any in-house team member of Tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a startup, they are our secret weapon.
Brantley Pace
CEO & Co-Founder
I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.
Paul Fenley
Director
The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.
Ryan Rockefeller
CEO
Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.
Jason Kulik
Co-founder
As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.
Stuart Pocknee
Principal
How to Hire Front-end Developers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Client Advisors
A Toptal client advisor will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right front-end developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new front-end developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
How much does it cost to hire a front-end developer?
The cost associated with hiring a front-end developer depends on various factors, including preferred talent location, complexity and size of the project you’re hiring for, seniority, engagement commitment (hourly, part-time, or full-time), and more. In the US, for example, Glassdoor’s reported average total annual pay for front-end developers is $102,000 as of August 2024. With Toptal, you can speak with an expert talent matcher who will help you understand the cost of talent with the right skills and seniority level for your needs. To get started, schedule a call with us — it’s free, and there’s no obligation to hire with Toptal.
How do I hire a front-end developer?
To hire the right front-end developer, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect front-end developers for your project.
How in demand is front-end development?
Demand for front-end specialists keeps growing—front-end development is one of the top three most popular specializations in IT, with 73% of programmers working on user-facing interfaces.
How quickly can you hire with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a front-end developer with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your front-end developer, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
How are Toptal front-end developers different?
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our front-end developers to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.
In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.
When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched front-end developers ready to help you achieve your goals.
Can you hire front-end developers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?
You can hire front-end developers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our front-end developers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal front-end developers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your front-end developer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
Patryk is a seasoned full-stack developer and business owner who specializes in building pixel-perfect mobile and web apps. At businesses like Boston Consulting Group, Endeavor, and Cprime, he has been a skilled facilitator between business and product teams. Patryk has also spoken at notable conferences such as TEDx, the meet.js Summit, and ProductCamp.
Demand for the top front-end developers is perennial. For six years in a row, front-end development has been the third most popular specialization in the Stack Overflow Developer Survey. It’s also an integral part of the top role—full-stack developer. Many companies rely on front-end developers as they continually need to launch new websites and add features to market new products and keep a competitive edge.
JavaScript, HTML, and CSS are the foundations for any website, making them the top technologies that more than half of professional software engineers use. In a growing market, finding the appropriate front-end developer poses a challenge; at times it may be impossible to find an exact skill match for a given set of project requirements. The challenge then becomes one of knowing the nuances inherent in the front-end app development space, being able to discern which skills are essential and which are a bonus. Hiring managers who can find the right new hires—either on-site or remote developers—can help their company grow.
This hiring guide provides an overview of the front-end developer skill set, outlines the components of a strategic front-end job description, and suggests interview questions to help you find and assess the perfect match for your project.
What Attributes Distinguish Quality Front-end Developers From Others?
First, let’s explore a more precise answer to the question “What job does a front-end developer do?” Front-end developers are primarily responsible for the client-side development of web applications—that is, the part of the web application that runs within the web browser on a user’s computer or mobile device. They specialize in coding the visual, user-facing elements of a website or application.
Key development services include not only creating HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code to build interactive interfaces, but also organizing this code in a maintainable and scalable way. A sleek new website is of no use if it’s coded in a way that means it will take hours of digging through spaghetti code to implement a slight change—and even longer to fix without breaking existing functionality.
That’s why development quality is so relevant when evaluating candidates. Technology evolves rapidly, especially in front-end development, as new frameworks are being released constantly. Having experience with your specific project dependencies is ideal, but a seasoned developer will typically be able to quickly learn what they need to know about any unknown parts of your technological stack, assuming they have adequate documentation.
Beyond architectural wisdom and the ability to adapt quickly to new technologies, there are three attributes that set the best front-end developers apart from the rest:
Attention to Detail
Front-end development involves accurately translating intricate design details into code. A keen eye for detail ensures that the final product matches the original design vision and provides end users with a seamless experience.
Proficiency in Core Technologies
Today, a lot of work is done with modern libraries and frameworks like React and Material UI, but a good understanding of the technologies underneath (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) is crucial when solving performance problems, developing SEO, and implementing advanced designs.
Problem-solving Abilities
The ability to analyze and address complex front-end challenges is crucial given the complexity inherent in today’s front-end frameworks and wide project scopes. Quality front-end experts can think critically, break down problems into manageable steps, and propose solutions while taking into account pros and cons rather than unquestioningly following the latest trends.
How Can You Identify the Ideal Front-end Developer for You?
The first step is to identify the capability gap in your current team. Consider whether you need a seasoned front-end expert or if a junior developer will suit your purposes. Less experienced developers can work on simpler tasks under supervision, but the time spent training them will initially detract from their and their mentor’s productivity. When filling whole expertise gaps in your team or starting a project from scratch, it’s worth investing in a senior developer; they will bring expertise and overall higher productivity.
To that end, you’ll need to identify gaps and clearly define the objectives and scope of your development projects, then list the qualities and qualifications of a candidate you’re seeking. Consider the needs of your organization as a whole: does the development team need full-time in-house help, or could remote front-end developers get the job done? Pay particular attention to listing technical skills, especially as they pertain to your project’s tech stack components. Such a list will make it easier to evaluate the relevance of candidates’ hands-on experience.
Complementary Technology Skills for Front-end Development
While project-specific front-end skills are the most desirable, the following skills enable developers to tackle a broader range of challenges, work more efficiently, and contribute to the overall success of front-end projects:
Skill Description
Usage
HTML is the standard markup language used for creating the structure and content of webpages. It provides a set of tags that define elements and their hierarchical relationships within a webpage. HTML tags describe the purpose and formatting of content such as headings, paragraphs, images, links, tables, forms, and more. The most recent version is HTML5.
HTML is the foundation of web development and is essential for structuring the content of a webpage. Front-end web developers use HTML to define the layout, organize visible and behind-the-scenes information, and ensure semantic markup, enabling search engines and assistive technologies to understand the content accurately.
CSS is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation and visual appearance of HTML elements on a webpage. CSS allows developers to control the layout, colors, fonts, spacing, and other visual aspects of a website. The most recent version is CSS3.
CSS is crucial for creating visually appealing and consistent designs across web pages. It enables front-end developers to customize the look and feel of elements, apply responsive layouts, and handle animations and transitions. CSS works alongside HTML to separate the structure and content from the presentation, enhancing maintainability and flexibility.
JavaScript is a high-level programming language that runs in web browsers and allows developers to add interactivity and dynamic functionality to web pages. It enables client-side scripting and interacts with the user’s web browser to manipulate elements, handle events, validate forms, create animations, and more.
JavaScript is a fundamental language for software development. It empowers developers to create interactive web experiences, perform client-side data processing, and communicate with web servers between page loads. JavaScript frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, or Vue.js provide more advanced tools and features for front-end development, whereas Node.js is commonly employed to use JS for back-end work.
TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that introduces static typing and additional features to enhance the development experience. It adds type checking, interfaces, classes, modules, and other object-oriented programming concepts to JavaScript.
TypeScript offers developers a more robust and scalable way to build complex web applications. It helps catch errors during development by enforcing strict typing rules, improving code quality, and providing better tooling and integrated development environment support. TypeScript is particularly valuable in large codebases and collaborative projects, where maintaining code integrity and scalability is crucial.
Responsive web development (or responsive web design) refers to the practice of creating websites that adapt and respond to different screen sizes, resolutions, and devices. It ensures that the website displays and functions optimally on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, providing a consistent user experience.
With the increasing variety of devices and screen sizes, responsive web development is vital for delivering a seamless user experience. Front-end engineers use techniques like fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries to design and code websites that automatically adjust their layout, content, and functionality based on the user’s device, ensuring optimal usability and accessibility.
Web design involves creating the visual and aesthetic aspects of a website. It encompasses various elements, including layout, typography, color schemes, graphics, icons, and overall user interface (UI) design. Web designers focus on creating visually appealing and intuitive designs that align with the brand, target audience, and project goals.
Web design plays a critical role in the overall user experience and success of a website. It involves understanding user behavior, wireframing and prototyping, creating visually engaging interfaces, ensuring usability and accessibility, and collaborating with front-end developers to implement the design into a functioning website. Effective web design enhances engagement, communicates the brand’s message, and improves overall user satisfaction.
Do Front-end Developers Need to Know Design?
Front-end programmers do not necessarily need to have expertise in design, but having a basic understanding of UI and UX design principles and aesthetics is beneficial. While the roles of front-end developers and designers often overlap to some extent, they have distinct areas of focus. Designers work more on the aesthetic end of the spectrum, whereas front-end developers primarily implement the user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.
Having a fundamental understanding of design concepts and an attention to detail allows front-end developers to effectively collaborate with designers and ensure the proper implementation of visual elements and user experience.
How Crucial is React?
React-based front ends are quite common, but they’re not the only option. Angular and Vue.js are also popular, and more recent challengers, such as Svelte, have started to gain serious traction. What is most important is the system already in use on your project, or what you plan to use. For greenfield projects in which the choice of front-end framework is undecided, you have some flexibility; significant experience with any major framework will suffice.
Is jQuery Still a Relevant Front-end Skill?
Once one of the most commonly used cross-browser-compatible front-end libraries, jQuery simplifies and enhances common tasks such as manipulating and traversing HTML documents, handling events, creating animations, and making asynchronous requests.
However, with advancements in modern JavaScript and browser support for native APIs, front-end programmers often avoid jQuery. Many jQuery maneuvers can now be accomplished just as easily without it, making it undesirable for newer projects but still relevant in legacy contexts.
How to Write a Front-end Developer Job Description for Your Project
To attract top talent for your front-end developer position, start with a job description template. You should also:
Specify required skills (e.g., HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP) and preferred frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) to ensure targeted applications.
Highlight key responsibilities, such as UI implementation, performance optimization, cross-browser compatibility, and search engine optimization.
Mention potential job titles (Front-end Developer, UI/UX Developer) for clarity.
Include the desired experience level (junior, mid-level, senior) to attract suitable candidates.
Describe your company culture and your team dynamics.
What Are the Most Important Front-end Developer Interview Questions?
Relevant interview questions for front-end engineers will help you not only to assess a candidate’s technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills, but also to determine how close a match they are to your project specifics. It may be worth including some wider-context questions and even some full-stack development questions if there’s a possibility their role may involve any back-end development. You may also want to make sure the candidate knows your project’s version control system(s), which in most cases will include Git.
In conversation, high-quality developers should be able to further demonstrate a deep understanding of the pertinent technologies you identified in their portfolios, and offer recommendations on their best practices. Here are some sample questions that can help in evaluating potential candidates:
What front-end technologies and frameworks are you proficient in?
The candidate should mention their proficiency in core front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s helpful if they’re familiar with popular frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js, and it’s worth delving deeper into any major framework or technology in your tech stack with focused questions. You could discuss full platforms like WordPress or any heavily leveraged front-end testing tools like Selenium. Senior front-end developers will likely have experience with several different frameworks and should be able to elaborate on the various trade-offs associated with each.
Can you describe a challenging front-end project you have worked on? How did you overcome any obstacles?
Good answers should demonstrate a candidate’s problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to find effective solutions. Look for candidates who showcase their critical thinking and creativity in resolving complex front-end issues.
How do you ensure cross-browser compatibility and responsive design in your projects?
The candidate should discuss techniques they have used to ensure cross-browser compatibility, such as CSS media queries and thorough testing on different browsers and devices. They should also mention their approach to responsive design, i.e., ensuring that websites adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices. Answers should reflect their knowledge of best practices and their ability to deliver consistent user experiences across different platforms.
How do you optimize website performance?
The candidate should demonstrate their understanding of performance optimization techniques. Look for answers that mention strategies like minimizing file sizes, leveraging caching mechanisms, optimizing images, and reducing HTTP requests. Top candidates may also mention their familiarity with performance analysis tools and their ability to conduct performance audits.
Can you explain your approach to collaborating with designers and back-end developers?
The candidate should emphasize effective communication and collaboration skills. They should explain their approach to the requirements provided by designers and their ability to translate those designs into functional front-end interfaces. The candidate should also have demonstrated experience collaborating with back-end developers to integrate front- and back-end functionalities seamlessly.
Why do Companies Hire Front-end Developers?
Hiring skilled front-end developers empowers businesses to deliver exceptional user experiences and build robust web applications. Since front ends themselves are used in so many contexts within every industry, it helps to be able to communicate to stakeholders the high-level value they might add to your particular project, and this depends on the applicable front-end use case.
Front-end Use Cases
Front-end developers are crucial for the success of various projects, as they bring expertise in creating visually appealing user interfaces and enhancing user experience. What does that look like in various projects?
Use Case
Front-end Developer Contributions
Website Development
Ensuring that websites are visually engaging, responsive, and accessible across devices and browsers
Web and Mobile Applications
Implementing interactive elements, seamless navigation, and performance optimizations
E-commerce Projects
Creating intuitive product listings and secure checkout processes to optimize the user journey for online shoppers
Single-page Applications
Delivering smooth, dynamic experiences without page reloads
UI/UX Prototyping
Bringing design concepts to life and validating their feasibility
Front-end developers bridge the gap between product designers and back-end developers, transforming your company’s design concepts into functional code. Their work often requires knowledge of cross-platform compatibility, enabling applications to run seamlessly across devices and browsers. Performance optimization is a high priority for enterprises operating at scale, and seemingly small changes to the front end can lead to significant gains. These developers also work on search engine optimization and web accessibility to help your app reach the widest audience. In short, front-end engineers are ambassadors to your user base, and having a top performer in this role is crucial to the ongoing success of your product.
