16 Must-Have VS Code Extensions for Web Developers

As a web developer, choosing the right tools to streamline your development workflow can make all the difference. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the most popular code editors, and its vast extension library can help you write cleaner code, improve productivity, and debug faster.

Here are 16 top VS Code extensions that every web developer should consider using in their workflow.

1. ESLint

🔹 Description: ESLint helps catch and fix JavaScript and TypeScript errors based on coding standards. It ensures that your code adheres to best practices, improving quality and maintainability.
🔹 Features:

Detects syntax and style issues.
Auto-fixes minor errors.
Ensures consistency across your project.
🔹 Install: 🔗 ESLint

2. Prettier - Code Formatter

🔹 Description: Prettier automatically formats your code to keep it neat, consistent, and readable. It works with multiple languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and more.
🔹 Features:

Formats code according to predefined rules.
Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, HTML, and more.
Integrates with ESLint to avoid conflicts.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Prettier

3. Live Server

🔹 Description: Live Server launches a local development server with live reloading, allowing you to view real-time changes in the browser.
🔹 Features:

Automatically refreshes the browser on file changes.
Supports dynamic content like JavaScript.
Simple setup for fast feedback.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Live Server

4. Path Intellisense

🔹 Description: This extension provides auto-completion for file and folder paths, making it easy to reference other files in your project without worrying about typos.
🔹 Features:

Autocompletes file paths as you type.
Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, and more.
Reduces errors from incorrect file paths.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Path Intellisense

5. Bracket Pair Colorizer

🔹 Description: This extension colorizes matching brackets, helping you quickly identify and match opening and closing braces, parentheses, and brackets.
🔹 Features:

Colorizes matching brackets.
Helps with debugging complex nested code.
Customizable color schemes.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Bracket Pair Colorizer

6. GitLens – Git Supercharged

🔹 Description: GitLens enhances VS Code's Git capabilities, offering powerful insights like Git blame, commit history, and more directly in the editor.
🔹 Features:

Shows Git history and commit details inline.
Tracks who made changes and when.
Offers a detailed view of Git logs and branches.
🔹 Install: 🔗 GitLens

7. Auto Rename Tag

🔹 Description: Auto Rename Tag automatically updates both the opening and closing HTML/XML tags when one is renamed, speeding up your workflow.
🔹 Features:

Renames matching HTML/XML tags automatically.
Saves time on manual tag updates.
Works with HTML, JSX, and XML.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Auto Rename Tag

8. Tailwind CSS IntelliSense

🔹 Description: Tailwind CSS IntelliSense provides autocompletion for Tailwind classes, making it easier to work with this popular utility-first CSS framework.
🔹 Features:

Autocompletion for Tailwind classes.
Linting support for unused classes.
Hover over previews of classes and their styles.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Tailwind CSS IntelliSense

9. JavaScript (ES6) Code Snippets

🔹 Description: This extension adds a collection of ES6+ code snippets to speed up JavaScript development.
🔹 Features:

Includes snippets for ES6+ functions, loops, imports, and more.
Makes coding faster and more efficient.
Reduces repetitive typing.
🔹 Install: 🔗 JavaScript ES6 Snippets

10. CSS Peek

🔹 Description: CSS Peek lets you view CSS rules when you hover over HTML elements, helping you navigate quickly without switching files.
🔹 Features:

Peek at the CSS rules of HTML elements.
Quick navigation to CSS definitions.
Speeds up debugging and styling.
🔹 Install: 🔗 CSS Peek

11. Material Icon Theme

🔹 Description: Material Icon Theme brings visually appealing icons to VS Code, improving project navigation and aesthetics.
🔹 Features:

Adds custom material icons for files and folders.
Supports various themes.
Enhances the look and feel of your workspace.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Material Icon Theme

12. Debugger for Chrome

🔹 Description: This extension allows you to debug JavaScript code directly in Chrome from within VS Code, streamlining the debugging process.
🔹 Features:

Set breakpoints and inspect variables directly in Chrome.
Debug your JavaScript code within the browser.
Easy integration with Chrome DevTools.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Debugger for Chrome

13. REST Client

🔹 Description: REST Client lets you send HTTP requests and view the response directly inside VS Code, eliminating the need for external tools like Postman.
🔹 Features:

Send GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and other requests.
View API responses in VS Code.
Save the request history for reuse.
🔹 Install: 🔗 REST Client

14. Thunder Client

🔹 Description: Thunder Client is a lightweight alternative to Postman designed for making API calls directly in VS Code.
🔹 Features:

Simple and intuitive UI for API requests.
History and environment variables for testing.
Lightweight and fast.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Thunder Client

15. Better Comments

🔹 Description: Better Comments helps you organize and highlight comments in your code by color-coding different types of comments.
🔹 Features:

Highlights TODOs, important notes, and warnings.
Color codes comments to enhance readability.
Improve code documentation.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Better Comments

16. Code Spell Checker

🔹 Description: Code Spell Checker helps detect and correct spelling mistakes in your code, comments, and documentation.
🔹 Features:

Checks spelling across multiple languages.
Detects errors in code, comments, and text files.
Supports JavaScript, HTML, Markdown, and more.
🔹 Install: 🔗 Code Spell Checker

Conclusion

By installing these extensions, you'll be able to optimize your workflow, maintain cleaner code, and increase your development speed. From error detection to styling and debugging, these extensions provide the tools to handle almost any challenge that comes your way as a web developer.

Souy Soeng

16 Top VS Code Extensions for Web Developers