Whats the difference?

It's funny you ask this because I had the same sort of thought this morning. My title is 'Software Engineer' when my boss describes it he says we are 'Frontend Developers' but then we use PHP which is a 'Backend Language' and we build and alter database schemas which is most assuredly 'Backend Development', we do all this via 'Programming'.

I would say the 'Designer' is a bit different than the rest. While you can be a UI designer or a UX designer for example. I tend to thing that designers work on how something looks and or feels... Or rather why something works and a developer work on the HOW something works. Though I could be off base, it is certainly one of those things I struggle with separating.

Hi Nick

In Web Development terms A Designer uses programs like Photoshop/illustrator to mockup a web design they may have a bit of front end development skills e.g.. HTML , CSS maybe Javascript they show developers and clients what the website will look like. The Design is then Passed to the Front End Developer who takes the design and programs / codes the front end of the website the using HTML,CSS,JAVASCRIPT. Once this is complete the Back End Developer Takes over and adds the Mechanics of the site using Backend Development programming / coding in (PHP ,PYTHON ,RUBY ,NODE.JS) these are used for ... Connecting Databases, Button Clicks, the functionality of the website, the Backend developers do the heavy lifting and usually are experts in coding as this is where the most amount of coding is involved. To be honest I have never came across an engineer they are normally used for Software Development in things like Desktop Apps & Frameworks.

These days the lines are blurred as a lot of Developers are what you call full stack developers meaning they can do front end and back end & Design.