20 Best Web Development Books For Scaling Up Your Knowledge

Web development can be broken down into two major fields. One is front-end development (User Interface), and the other is back-end development (Server Side). The front-end part takes care of the outer looks of the website, while the back-end takes care of developing functionality and logic that powers the application. Together, both fields are also known as full-stack development.

Check out these Full-Stack Developer jobs on Unstop!

Getting your hands on some of the best web development books can help you gain deeper insights into software development and get acquainted with real-life applications. So, to help you build your knowledge about web development, this article will provide an overview of the best web development books in the market. 

Getting Started With Web Development

Every software developer is aware of the basics of programming. But for web development, developers need to master some specific languages. For example, if you are a front-end web developer, you should have a strong hold on HTML and CSS for a website's layouts and design patterns. Further, you can use Javascript and its frameworks to add interactivity to your website. Similarly, back-end developers need to learn about back-end programming languages like PHP, Java or Python and have sufficient knowledge of databases. 

Best Web Development Books

Whether you have little programming experience or are an experienced developer, these web development books will help you scale up your skills. 

1. HTML / CSS QuickStart Guide

Author - David DuRocher

This is among the best web development books one can read to kickstart their journey into the world of front-end web development. HTML / CSS QuickStart Guide provides insights into many topics and clarifies the differences between HTML, CSS, and design principles. The book has many visual examples coupled with some intriguing exercises for the readers to solve, making it an engaging read.

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2. HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites + JavaScript & JQuery

Author - Jon Duckett

As the name suggests, Jon Duckett's book is for front-end technologies. The book mainly focuses on intermediate developers and covers basic programming concepts. Apart from being a helpful guide for HTML and CSS, Jon Duckett's book offers beginner-friendly knowledge for responsive web design and Javascript. This book lets you easily brush up on the core programming concepts in Javascript and JQuery. What makes this one of the best web development books is that it teaches you to create scripts from scratch and elaborates on the concepts of Javascript scripts and APIs in simple language.

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3. Eloquent JavaScript, 3rd Edition: A Modern Introduction to Programming

Author - Marijn Haverbeke

Eloquent JavaScript slowly takes you from the most basic concepts of Javascript to the most complex ones in an engaging manner. The book contains practical examples of codes and many assignments for absolute beginners that allow them to grasp the concepts well. The content is concise and busts all the myths related to Javascript. Anybody with a basic understanding of programming language will be able to wrap their head around this masterpiece.

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4. You Don`t Know JS

Author - Kyle Simpson

You Don`t Know JS is a web development book that takes you through the lesser-known concepts of front-end development. The book is divided into six modules and provides a detailed analysis of every topic. This web development book caters to the needs of beginners and experienced developers. It successfully touched upon how JavaScript actually works behind the scenes and gives a fair idea about all the advantages of using the same for web development.

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5. The Road to React: Your journey to master React.js in JavaScript (2021 Edition)

Author - Robin Wieruch

The Road to React is a web development book that gives a detailed overview of the most popular front-end framework. The book starts with essential topics of React and then tosses in the concepts of API, code organization, advanced concepts, and state management topics. The book is up-to-date with the newly added concepts and is packed with several practical exercises for the developers. This is a must for people who want to get ready with professional-level knowledge of React. 

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6. Beginning Node.js, Express & MongoDB Development

Author - Greg Lim

This book mainly focuses on the back-end part of the website. It is a beginner-friendly book that helps the readers to understand how the whole website works. While reading the book, users can also learn to develop some successful projects and how to deploy them. The book simplifies most concepts related to back-end development. People who already have a thorough knowledge of JavaScript should definitely give this a read.

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7. Web Development with Node and Express: Leveraging the JavaScript Stack

Author - Ethan Brown

This is yet another comprehensive guide to backend development. It mainly focuses on building dynamic web applications with Express, a key Node component. The book covers the two significant domains of back-end development which are server-side rendering and API development. This web development book allows the readers to quickly grasp the large web architecture best practices that help in building single/multiple page applications. It also contains some mini projects that can benefit the readers greatly. 

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8. Learning PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, CSS & HTML5: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic Websites

Author - Robin Nixon

The book is power-packed with full-stack development knowledge which can help you build interactive and data-driven websites using some of the major open-source technologies. This book is best for readers who have tried their hands at web development before. The book contains screenshots of the codes which makes it engaging, and the illustrations make learning easy. Moreover, if someone wants to have an excellent grasp on advanced-level PHP programming, MySQL & JavaScript, this is a must-read for them.

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9. Ruby on Rails Tutorial: Learn Web Development with Rails

Author - Michael Hartl

A detailed overview of the famous back-end language called Ruby can be expected from this web development book. It is a must-read for developers learning how to build ruby web apps. The book proves to be a perfect blend of explanation and exercises. It covers all the aspects of development, starting from installation, development environment, and source control to testing. This is a great book to start learning Rails.

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10. Flask Web Development 2e: Developing Web Applications with Python

Author - Miguel Grinberg

This web development book offers theoretical knowledge and works as a practical guide by providing some real-world applications for the readers. If you have learned Python and want to leverage your Python skills into web development, this book is the best for you. Through this, you can learn how to build a full-stack application and deploy it. The structured flow of this book makes it even more reader-friendly.

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11. Professional Java for Web Applications

Author - Nicholas S. Williams

This book is a comprehensive guide to Java programming and object-oriented programming concepts, which one needs to build complex web applications in an enterprise environment. The book demands a very basic knowledge of Java and takes you to the most advanced topics of Java in the most simplified manner. It also focuses on some of the web development technologies like Spring MVC, Spring Security, JPA Hibernate, Servlet, JSP, Web Services, and Spring validation.

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12. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach To Web And Mobile Usability

Author - Steve Krug

One might not consider Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug a programming book; however, it elaborates standard concepts of web usability that go hand in hand with good web development practices. This is one of the best books you can find on modern web development as it offers a no-nonsense approach to web usability by covering the basic principles of intuitive navigation and information design. The new edition also sheds light on mobile usability best practices. The best part is that this book is filled with illustrations, making it easier for the readers to understand the concepts.

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13. Secrets Of The JavaScript Ninja, Second Edition

Authors - Bear Bibeault, John Resig, Josip Maras

The above-mentioned books will get you up to speed with JavaScript, but if you want to become a pro, you need to master the critical JavaScript concepts. For the same, this book is your best bet as it offers concepts of web development suited for those who are already familiar with JavaScript and want to further their knowledge. The book covers topics such as functions, objects, closures, prototypes, and promises. It also includes chapters on APIs such as the DOM, events, and timers. Towards the end of the book, you will get ideas on how to avoid the most common JavaScript pitfalls, write your code more succinctly, and manage asynchronous code.

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14. Fullstack Vue: The Complete Guide to Vue.js

Authors - Hassan Djirdeh, Nate Murray, Ari Lerner

Another popular framework of JavaScript is Fullstack Vue. This fantastic book is useful for intermediate and advanced developers. This book takes a deep dive into the entire framework of Vue by offering solid foundations and explaining best practices for working with JavaScript frameworks. The book is filled with practical examples and exercises covering various aspects of the Vue framework. 

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15. Designing With Web Standards

Author - Jeffrey Zeldman

Jeffrey Zeldman’s primary focus in his popular book- Designing with Web Standards is the importance of designing with shared standards. One of the most popular web development books, this book plunges into the history, value, and current state of web standards. The book is perfect for anyone involved in the web development process, including designers, nonprogrammers, and supervisors. The book uses simple language to unfold the concepts without a heavy emphasis on code. This masterpiece is a must-read web development book.

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16. JavaScript: The Good Parts

Author - Douglas Crockford

This book by a well-known Java Guru, focuses on the best practices for sharpening one's web development skills and covers the most valuable parts of JavaScript. It's a concise and valuable resource for experienced developers looking to write better JavaScript code for web development.

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17. Node.js Design Patterns

Author - Mario Casciaro & Luciano Mammino

Node.js Design Patterns is the perfect book for developers looking to understand and master server-side JavaScript with Node.js. It explores design patterns and best practices for building scalable and maintainable applications using Node.js.

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18. Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics

Author - Jennifer Niederst Robbins

The book is a comprehensive guide aimed at beginners and covers various fundamental web development topics, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web graphics. It provides step-by-step instructions for learning web development, making it useful for even those new to the field. It offers real-world examples, exercises, and explanations of core web technologies, making it a valuable resource for software developers who want to get started with web development or enhance their skills.

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19. JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

Author - David Flanagan

David Flanagan's book is an excellent guide for JavaScript language, covering everything from its core syntax to advanced topics, making it a valuable resource for beginners and experienced developers. The book offers insights into best practices for writing effective JavaScript code and is considered a go-to reference for anyone wanting to build a strong foundation in JavaScript. 

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20. PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites

Author - Larry Ullman

PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites provides a comprehensive introduction to PHP and database-driven web development. Ullman's book has step-by-step instructions, complete scripts, and expert tips to guide readers on security, sessions and cookies, web tools and more. 

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The above books cover a range of web development topics, from JavaScript and front-end development to server-side development with Node.js. Depending on your specific interests and skill level as a software engineer, you can choose the book that best suits your needs for building solid fundamental knowledge to make a strong web development career. All the best! 

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