If you're a web developer who spends a lot of time inside Visual Studio Code, you already know how powerful this editor can be with the right extensions.
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Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has become the primary code editor for web developers—and for good reason. It is fast, lightweight, and very customizable. However, the real power of VS Code comes from its extensions. These small tools can change your coding experience, automate repetitive tasks, and help you write better code in less time.
In this post, I will share the best VS Code extensions that I use daily to increase productivity, write cleaner code, and create websites more efficiently.
1. Live Server
Live Server is one of the first extensions I install whenever I set up a new VS Code environment. It creates a local development server that supports real-time reloading. Every time you save a file, it refreshes the browser automatically, so you can see your changes immediately.
Key benefits:
- No need to refresh the browser manually
- Easy to use
- Great for building static sites, landing pages, or practicing front-end skills
2. Auto Close Tag
This extension does exactly what it says: it automatically closes HTML and XML tags for you. It might seem small, but it eliminates one of the most common sources of errors in front-end development—forgotten closing tags.
Why I use it:
- It improves speed when writing HTML or JSX
- Keeps the code clean and readable
3. Auto Rename Tag
Auto Rename Tag works beautifully with Auto Close Tag. When you change the opening tag of an element, it automatically updates the closing tag to match—no more manually editing both.
Why I use it:
- No need to manually rename both tags
- Works seamlessly in JSX too
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4. CSS Peek
With CSS Peek, you can hover over a class or ID in your HTML or JSX and go directly to its CSS definition. This is similar to how you navigate functions in a programming language, but applied to your styles.
Why it's useful:
- Enhances the speed of style debugging
- No longer requires scrolling through CSS files
- Supports SCSS and LESS as well
5. ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native Snippets
As a React developer, I use snippets to skip writing repetitive boilerplate code. This extension offers pre-made code templates for ES6, React, Redux, and React Native.
Why it's useful:
- Provides shortcuts for useState, useEffect, and more
- Increases the efficiency of writing functional components
- Ensures code consistency
6. HTML Boilerplate
Whenever I start a new project, I use this extension to generate a standard HTML5 document structure instantly. No need to write <!DOCTYPE html> and all the tags manually.
7. HTML CSS Support
This extension provides CSS class suggestions and auto-completes in your HTML files. It checks your stylesheets and makes class names accessible in your HTML editor.
Key Benefits:
- Works with linked stylesheets
- Supports frameworks like Bootstrap and Tailwind CSS
- Minimizes errors and speed up coding
8. JavaScript (ES6) Code Snippets
Modern JavaScript has many powerful features, and this extension makes it easier to use them. It provides snippets for arrow functions, destructuring, map, filter, reduce, and more.
Why I love it:
- Helps to write cleaner JavaScript
- Saves time on writing repetitive code
- Great for both vanilla JS and frameworks like React
Snippets are useful not only for beginners but also for anyone looking to code more quickly.
Supported languages (file extensions)
- JavaScript (.js)
- TypeScript (.ts)
- JavaScript React (.jsx)
- TypeScript React (.tsx)
- Html (.html)
- Vue (.vue)
9. Material Icon Theme
This extension gives your file explorer a visual upgrade with icons based on Material Design. Unique icons for different file types help you navigate large projects more easily.
Advantages:
- Easily recognize file types
- Looks clean and professional
- Increases visual productivity
10. One Dark Pro Theme
One Dark Pro, which takes inspiration from Atom’s One Dark theme, is among the most favored themes for VS Code. I use it on a daily basis as it’s easy on the eyes, particularly during lengthy coding sessions.
What makes it special:
- Beautiful color contrast
- Sleek, modern design
- Reduces eye strain
Choosing the right theme isn’t just about looks—it can impact your focus and comfort.
11. ReactJS Code Snippets
If you're using React, this is a useful tool to help you work faster. It has snippets for common hooks (useState, useEffect), props, lifecycle methods, and more.
Key benefits:
- Create components more quickly
- Keep consistency with React patterns
- Understand new syntax with examples
Combine it with the ES6+ React snippet pack for the best results.
Conclusion
These are the VS Code extensions I personally use every single day as a web developer. They help me write better code, work faster, and stay organized. If you haven’t tried some of them yet, I highly recommend giving them a shot—they can truly transform your development workflow.
You don’t need to install hundreds of extensions. Just pick the ones that solve real problems for your workflow. The right tools can make all the difference in how smoothly and efficiently you code.
Must Read If you haven't
- 100+ Frontend Projects to Level up Your Skill
- 8 Websites to Improve your Frontend Development Skills
- Roadmap to Learning JavaScript for Beginners [2025]
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