VS Code Extensions I Use as a Front-End Developer (and Why They Help Me)

When I started front-end development, I faced many small but annoying problems — messy code, slow browser reloads, forgetting to rename HTML tags, and more.
Over time, I found some great VS Code extensions that fixed these issues and made my coding faster and easier.
Here are the extensions I use regularly, why I use them, and the problems they solved for me:

Live Server
Problem: I had to refresh the browser manually every time I made a change, which was slow and boring.
Why I use it: Live Server reloads the browser automatically whenever I save my code. This helps me see changes instantly without extra steps.
Now, I just right-click my index.html and choose “Open with Live Server” — easy and fast!

Extenstion: Live Server

Prettier – Code Formatter
Problem: My code was messy and not consistent. Sometimes the indentations and spaces were all over the place.
Why I use it: Prettier formats my code automatically and keeps everything neat. I turn on “Format on Save” so it fixes code style every time I save.
Now my code looks clean and professional, even when I’m in a hurry.

Extenstion: Prettier

Color Highlight
Problem: I couldn’t see colors visually when I typed hex or RGB codes in CSS.
Why I use it: This extension shows the actual color next to the code, so I can quickly check if the color looks right.
It makes designing easier without needing extra tools.

Extenstion: Color Highlight

HTML to CSS Autocomplete
Problem: When I wrote CSS classes, I often forgot or misspelled the class names I used in HTML.
Why I use it: This extension suggests CSS classes as I type in the CSS file based on the classes in my HTML files.
It saves time and reduces mistakes when writing CSS.

Extenstion: HTML to CSS Autocomplete

Auto Rename Tag
Problem: I would rename an opening HTML tag but forget to rename the closing tag, causing errors.
Why I use it: This extension automatically renames the matching closing tag when I edit the opening tag.
It saves me from many small but frustrating HTML bugs

Extenstion: Auto Rename Tag

Path Intellisense
Problem: I often forgot the exact file paths when importing images or components, leading to errors.
Why I use it: Path Intellisense suggests file paths inside the project while I type, so I don’t have to remember or guess.
Now, I avoid typos and broken links easily.

Extenstion: Path Intellisense

Bracket Pair Colorizer 2
Problem: When I had many nested brackets {}, (), or [], it was hard to know which one matched which.
Why I use it: This extension colors matching brackets with the same color, making it easy to understand nested code.
It helps me read and debug code faster without confusion.

Extenstion: Bracket Pair Colorizer 2

Thoughts
These are not just random tools — they are extensions that fixed real problems I had while learning front-end development.
If you want to improve your workflow and avoid the mistakes I made, try these out. Start with a few, and add more as you go.
And if you know any other helpful extensions, please share them with me! I’m always eager to learn.
Happy coding!