Top 10 VS Code Extensions Every Web Developer Needs in 2024
In the ever-evolving world of web development, efficiency is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Visual Studio Code has become the editor of choice for millions of developers worldwide,
but its real power lies in its extensions. The right extensions can turn a slow workflow
into a highly productive one.
After testing hundreds of extensions across real-world projects, here are the 10
essential VS Code extensions that can instantly improve your development experience.
🚀 1. Prettier – Code Formatter
Why you need it: Prettier removes all arguments about code style by automatically formatting your code.
- Auto-format code on save
- Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, HTML, JSON, and more
- Uses simple configuration via
.prettierrc - Works perfectly with ESLint
"editor.formatOnSave": true to keep your code clean automatically.
⚡ 2. ESLint – JavaScript Quality Guardian
Why you need it: ESLint finds errors while you code instead of after deployment.
- Live error detection
- Custom rules for teams
- Auto-fix for common mistakes
- Framework support (React, Vue, Angular)
🎨 3. Live Server – Instant Browser Refresh
Live Server launches a local server and reloads the browser whenever you save your files.
- One-click server start
- Automatic page reload
- Supports multiple projects
🔍 4. GitLens – Supercharged Git
GitLens expands VS Code’s Git features and makes version history easy to understand.
- Shows who changed each line
- Browse commit history
- Compare branches and files
🌈 5. Material Icon Theme
This extension adds beautiful icons to files and folders.
- Easy file identification
- Modern UI design
- Perfect for large projects
📦 6. Auto Rename Tag
Automatically updates closing HTML/XML tags when you rename opening tags.
- Works with HTML, JSX, Vue
- No configuration required
- Prevents tag errors
🎯 7. JavaScript (ES6) Code Snippets
Speeds up coding by providing shortcuts for common patterns.
clg→ console.log()imp→ import statementnfn→ arrow function
🔧 8. REST Client
Test APIs directly inside VS Code without Postman.
- Send HTTP requests
- Use environment variables
- View responses in editor
Authorization: Bearer {{token}}
📝 9. Bracket Pair Colorizer
Highlights matching brackets with different colors for better readability.
- Great for nested code
- Reduces syntax confusion
- Custom color options
🗂️ 10. Path Intellisense
Auto-completes file paths while importing files.
- Faster imports
- Fewer path errors
- Works with JS, TS, CSS
🏆 Bonus: Ultimate VS Code Setup
Step 1: Install extensions via Command Palette.
Step 2: Use this settings file:
“editor.formatOnSave”: true,
“editor.codeActionsOnSave”: {
“source.fixAll.eslint”: true
},
“emmet.includeLanguages”: {
“javascript”: “html”,
“vue”: “html”
}
}
Step 3: Export extension list:
📈 The Impact on Your Workflow
- 30–40% less repetitive work
- Fewer runtime errors
- Faster team onboarding
- Cleaner and consistent code
