Most “frontend skills lists” are generic or opinion-based. I wanted something data-driven, so I analyzed 50+ frontend developer job postings to see what companies are actually asking for. Even before going through my list, I recommend exploring the comprehensive Frontend Developer Roadmap by roadmap.sh. This community-driven resource provides a step-by-step guide to becoming a modern frontend developer in 2025.
Here’s the distilled list of strong picks — the non-negotiables for becoming a confident, job-ready frontend developer:
1. React (Primary Framework)
- Hooks, lifecycle methods, component design
- Context API for state sharing
2. TypeScript
- Type safety for scalable applications
3. Build Tools & Bundlers
- Webpack, Vite, or esbuild
4. Unit Testing
- Jest, React Testing Library
5. State Management
- Redux Toolkit, plus awareness of lighter alternatives like Zustand or Jotai
6. HTML5
- Semantic markup, forms, media, accessibility basics
7. CSS / SCSS
- Grid, Flexbox, responsive layouts
8. Performance Profiling
- React Profiler, Lighthouse, Google PageSpeed
9. UI Frameworks
- Material UI, Tailwind, Bootstrap, Ant Design
10. API Communication
- REST & GraphQL fundamentals
11. Caching & Headers
- cache-control, ETag
12. Web Storage
- Cookies, LocalStorage, IndexedDB
13. Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
- Service workers, offline caching
14. Secondary Frameworks
- Angular, Vue, Svelte for ecosystem awareness
15. Data Visualization & Animation
- D3.js, GSAP, Framer Motion, LottieFiles
16. NoSQL Basics
- MongoDB for simple frontend projects
17. CI/CD Basics
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Vercel deployments
18. Git Essentials
- Commit messages, squash, rebase, resolving conflicts
19. JavaScript ES6+
- Modern syntax, object handling, hoisting, closures
Why this matters: This list is what hiring managers actually look for today. Focus on these skills, and you’ll be prepared to confidently step into modern frontend roles.