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A webmaster is a generalist who is comprehensively involved in the development, update and maintenance of websites and web applications. Webmaster combines in one person the activities of various specialists from the field of web development: programmer, layout designer, web designer, content manager, optimizer, moderator, server administrator, etc.
Webmaster is also the name given to the owners of websites who independently manage their projects without the involvement of highly specialized specialists.
“Webmaster” is the name of a special Yandex tool (Yandex Webmaster) which provides some statistical data on the site, analytical and management capabilities for its indexing and presentation in search results.
The emergence and development of the webmaster profession
The term itself first appeared in 1992 in Tim Berners-Lee's “Style Guide For Online Hypertext” book. It was proposed to indicate the webmaster in the postal address, which you can write to if errors occur in the operation of the Internet resource.
Pic.Tim Berners-Lee
Gradually, the word began to be used to name the type of activity in creating and maintaining websites. The first developers were webmasters, as they were fully responsible for the design, architecture and functioning of the resource. But the projects became more and more complex and in demand, so a division of responsibilities was needed, which meant the development of narrow specialties. The reverse process became possible when website development became available to almost anyone, and many personal projects emerged.
With the growing popularity of freelancing services and the creation of Internet projects for personal income, interest in web mastering has naturally grown. Hiring such broad specialists is seen by employers as a way to save money, and those who want to master skills are attracted by the prospect of creating and monetizing their own projects and the opportunity to go freelance.
If initially webmasters were self-taught, then later various courses, trainings, and online schools began to appear to help webmasters obtain the necessary skills.
The webmaster's profession is so popular that an unofficial webmaster professional holiday has already appeared, celebrated on April 4th. The date is symbolic - it coincides with the celebration of International Internet Day, and 404 is the server response code for a non-existent page.
Skills a webmaster must have
To become a webmaster, you will have to master web programming and at least superficially all related areas. Webmasters need to:
· confidently know at least one web programming language, and it is better to navigate all the most common ones (PHP, JavaScript, Python);
· know the basics of layout (HTML, CSS) and be able to implement them in practice;
· understand XML standards;
· be able to configure web servers (Apache, Nginx);
· master the basics of administration (Linux, Windows);
· understand the operating principles of the HTTP, HTTPS, FTP protocols;
· be able to use databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle);
· have a basic understanding of website design;
· master graphic editors at least at a primitive level (like photoshop);
· be able to build a logical project architecture;
· have at least a superficial understanding UI/UX & usability issues;
· understand the principles of internal optimization for search engines;
· have basic knowledge in the field of Internet marketing. If a webmaster works with customer projects, he will also need the skills of an account manager and a project manager, because these roles are required to keep communication with clients & will have to be performed along with others.
Webmaster's Education
Webmastering is not taught in universities, but it is easy to obtain the minimum knowledge necessary to get started. Main options: self-study and courses.
It’s easy to find training materials on the Internet related to web programming, the basics of Internet marketing, etc. Basic knowledge can be obtained from books, video tutorials, conference recordings, and reading professional blogs.
If you do not have basic programming skills, it may be more effective to study in special courses, where they usually begin with a study of who a webmaster is and end with the first practical progoramming experience. There are many courses & some may issue certificates as well as offer students internships with partner companies after graduation.
But perhaps the most effective way to become a webmaster is to put all your knowledge into practice. Since there is no formal education in the specialty, employers mainly focus on real experience and portfolio.
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