Difference between In front of something and In the front of something

in front of something—in the position directly before smth.:

• She couldn’t watch the television because he was standing in front of the screen.

in the front of something—in the foremost or most important part of smth.:

• Two rooms were built in the front of the west end of the house.

Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase at the front of something—

1. in the position nearest to the front part of smth.:

• At the front of the machine is the feeding board, a large wooden surface sloping gently down.

2. involved in the most advanced developments in a particular field:

• The Beach Boys are at the front of this wave of frantic surf music.