Toptal is a marketplace for top Front-end developers and coders. CEOs, CTOs, and management at top companies and startups work with Toptal Front-end freelancers to augment their development teams for Front-end development, app development, web development, and other software development projects to achieve their business needs.
United StatesFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since March 19, 2017
Johnathan has 15 years of experience writing web apps that span consumer productivity software to mission-critical financial trading platforms. He has extensive knowledge of front-end JavaScript and browser APIs as well as significant experience with popular frameworks and libraries like React and Redux. Johnathan's deep full-stack experience includes Node.js and Express, MongoDB as well as more traditional technologies like PHP, ASP.NET, and MySQL.
United StatesFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since January 8, 2016
For over a decade, Ryan's been planning, managing, programming, and shipping on software projects. A back-end developer turned front-end developer, his passion lies in the delivery of superbly designed web/mobile experiences that help people interface with data, backed by simple, elegant, and scalable code. He's a master of UX development with various front-end frameworks and is always focused on choosing the right tool for the job.
CanadaFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since August 21, 2018
As a full-stack developer, Siamak knows how to implement the pixel-perfect front-end and a user-friendly back-end to provide the best user experience for both visitors and administrators of the site.
BrazilFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since June 22, 2022
Ana is a software engineer with 4+ years of professional experience developing robust applications for high-volume businesses. She has been working remotely for companies all over the globe, mainly in Agile environments. Ana is a great team player with a can-do attitude and a problem-solving mindset.
United StatesFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since December 29, 2021
Nathan is a senior React engineer and an expert in streamlining UI/UX with React. As the lead design engineer at Motorola Solutions, he marshaled a product combining React, Angular, and Svelte to company-wide deployment, garnering more than 100,000 downloads. Nathan also developed Hypetrigger, a popular machine vision system for use with streaming services, and that is built with React and SolidJS for the front end.
United Arab EmiratesFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since September 23, 2022
Albert is a senior front-end developer with over nine years of industry experience, designing and building responsive web and mobile applications. He has excellent problem-solving and communication skills, a keen eye for design and UX, and is attentive to detail. Albert has worked in various cross-functional Agile teams and has applied his leadership skills to lead a team of five developers. Albert is looking forward to taking on new challenges and advancing his career.
United KingdomFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since August 19, 2021
Arnab is an innovative front-end developer with five years of experience blending the art of design with the skill of object-oriented programming to deliver an immersive and engaging user experience through efficient web applications with modern technologies like React and Node.js. Arnab is highly self-motivated and loves to keep up with the current trends in the IT world.
United KingdomFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since December 15, 2021
Karen is a software engineer with four years of professional experience. She loves building web software solutions that impact users. Karen is well-versed in creating easy-to-use, responsive, accessible, and user-friendly websites and web applications. She is also experienced in the development of back-end services and APIs. A developer with an excellent grasp of engineering concepts, data structures, algorithms, and system designs, Karen makes sure to provide the best possible quality.
GermanyFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since February 24, 2015
Storm is a front-end developer with 8+ years of experience and a focus on UX. To that end, he has honed his skills in writing succinctly, producing clean and efficient code, and building intuitive products. He gets excited when talking about web apps vs. websites and believes that his value stems from the impact he can have on his client’s customers. He’s available to work on front-end projects with a focus on UI, JavaScript, and React.
PortugalFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since September 9, 2019
Brad is a senior web developer who’s managed small teams of developers and about 160 different websites. He’s an expert in PHP technologies such as Laravel, along with best practice front-end web technologies. In his downtime, Brad enjoys developing automated apps in Python and sites in Laravel and React.
ArmeniaFreelance Front-end Developer at Toptal Since February 19, 2016
Tigran is a highly experienced freelancer and front-end developer. He is looking forward to work with great developers and on high-quality projects. He values clean and simple code and delivers world-class quality thanks to +17 years of experience. Tigran is always reliable and responsive, so you should hire him for your most complex projects.
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
What our clients think
Clients Rate Toptal Front-end Developers4.4 / 5.0on average across 523 reviews as of Mar 7, 2024
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
Tripcents
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
K Dunn & Associates
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
Radeeus
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
ProHatch
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
Site Specific Software Solutions
We used Toptal to hire a developer with extensive Amazon Web Services experience. We interviewed four candidates, one of which turned out to be a great fit for our requirements. The process was quick and effective.
Abner Guzmán Rivera, CTO and Chief Scientist
Photo Kharma
Sergio was an awesome developer to work with. Top notch, responsive, and got the work done efficiently.
Dennis Baldwin, Chief Technologist and Co-Founder
PriceBlink
Working with Marcin is a joy. He is competent, professional, flexible, and extremely quick to understand what is required and how to implement it.
André Fischer, CTO
POSTIFY
We needed a expert engineer who could start on our project immediately. Simanas exceeded our expectations with his work. Not having to interview and chase down an expert developer was an excellent time-saver and made everyone feel more comfortable with our choice to switch platforms to utilize a more robust language. Toptal made the process easy and convenient. Toptal is now the first place we look for expert-level help.
Derek Minor, Senior VP of Web Development
Networld Media Group
Toptal's developers and architects have been both very professional and easy to work with. The solution they produced was fairly priced and top quality, reducing our time to launch. Thanks again, Toptal.
Jeremy Wessels, CEO
Kognosi
We had a great experience with Toptal. They paired us with the perfect developer for our application and made the process very easy. It was also easy to extend beyond the initial time frame, and we were able to keep the same contractor throughout our project. We definitely recommend Toptal for finding high quality talent quickly and seamlessly.
Ryan Morrissey, CTO
Applied Business Technologies, LLC
I'm incredibly impressed with Toptal. Our developer communicates with me every day, and is a very powerful coder. He's a true professional and his work is just excellent. 5 stars for Toptal.
Pietro Casoar, CEO
Ronin Play Pty Ltd
Working with Toptal has been a great experience. Prior to using them, I had spent quite some time interviewing other freelancers and wasn't finding what I needed. After engaging with Toptal, they matched me up with the perfect developer in a matter of days. The developer I'm working with not only delivers quality code, but he also makes suggestions on things that I hadn't thought of. It's clear to me that Amaury knows what he is doing. Highly recommended!
George Cheng, CEO
Bulavard, Inc.
As a Toptal qualified front-end developer, I also run my own consulting practice. When clients come to me for help filling key roles on their team, Toptal is the only place I feel comfortable recommending. Toptal's entire candidate pool is the best of the best. Toptal is the best value for money I've found in nearly half a decade of professional online work.
Ethan Brooks, CTO
Langlotz Patent & Trademark Works, Inc.
In Higgle's early days, we needed the best-in-class developers, at affordable rates, in a timely fashion. Toptal delivered!
Lara Aldag, CEO
Higgle
Toptal makes finding a candidate extremely easy and gives you peace-of-mind that they have the skills to deliver. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone looking for highly-skilled developers.
Michael Gluckman, Data Manager
Mxit
Toptal’s ability to rapidly match our project with the best developers was just superb. The developers have become part of our team, and I’m amazed at the level of professional commitment each of them has demonstrated. For those looking to work remotely with the best engineers, look no further than Toptal.
Laurent Alis, Founder
Livepress
Toptal makes finding qualified engineers a breeze. We needed an experienced ASP.NET MVC architect to guide the development of our start-up app, and Toptal had three great candidates for us in less than a week. After making our selection, the engineer was online immediately and hit the ground running. It was so much faster and easier than having to discover and vet candidates ourselves.
Jeff Kelly, Co-Founder
Concerted Solutions
We needed some short-term work in Scala, and Toptal found us a great developer within 24 hours. This simply would not have been possible via any other platform.
Franco Arda, Co-Founder
WhatAdsWork.com
Toptal offers a no-compromise solution to businesses undergoing rapid development and scale. Every engineer we've contracted through Toptal has quickly integrated into our team and held their work to the highest standard of quality while maintaining blazing development speed.
Greg Kimball, Co-Founder
nifti.com
How to Hire Front-end Developers through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of engineering 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 of hiring a front-end developer will vary across different use cases and regions. Glassdoor reports the average total pay for a front-end developer in the United States to be $93,715. More specialized front-end developer roles are currently not far from this figure, on average: For example, a React developer makes more ($98,418) and so does an Angular developer ($99,241). (All figures current as of October 26, 2023.)
How do I hire a front-end developer?
Hiring a front-end developer involves these steps:
Identify the ideal type of front-end developer for you, defining the technical and soft skills your project needs.
Write a clear and enticing job description that highlights key responsibilities, required skills and experience, and describes your company’s culture.
Follow our tips for conducting an effective interview.
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 quick is the hiring process with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a front-end developer with Toptal in about 48 hours. Our talent matchers are experts 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.
Patryk is a seasoned full-stack developer and business owner who specializes in building pixel-perfect web and mobile 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 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—the full-stack developer. Because of the internet’s constant growth, companies continually need new websites and 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 developers 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 development space, and 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 front-end developer skills, 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 perform?” 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.
This includes 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 a slight change will take hours of digging through spaghetti code to implement it—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 exceptional 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 project or projects, then list the qualities and qualifications of a candidate you’re looking for. 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.
HTML is the foundation of web development and is essential for structuring the content of a webpage. Front-end 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.
CSS is crucial for creating visually appealing and consistent designs across webpages. 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 webpages. 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 front-end 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 build on top of the language, providing more advanced tools and features for front-end development.
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 IDE 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 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 and/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., HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript) and preferred frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js, or an alternative) 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 also 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. It will pay to make sure the candidate knows your project’s source control system(s), which in most cases will include Git.
In conversation, seasoned developers should be able to further demonstrate a deep understanding of the pertinent technologies you identified in their portfolios earlier 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.
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 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. They transform your company’s design concepts into functional code. They ensure cross-platform compatibility, enabling applications to work seamlessly across devices and browsers. They optimize performance by employing efficient coding practices and enhancing website speed and responsiveness. They 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.
