Everything you need to know about Backend Web Development- The Beginner’s Guide

Internet is life today and everything you see on the internet is the work of a web developer who makes things easy for you to read, scroll through, communicate, sell, buy and what not. Clearly, there is something behind what you see that drives the whole internet. That ‘something’ is the Backend and today I am going to be talking about the backend web development.

The internet has evolved drastically over time and so is web development. Initially, there were only static pages to display information and no interaction. But today, there is a constant need for dynamic data to help make the internet more useful and user-centric.

In this article, I will talk to you about what is backend development, what are the backend languages for web development and many other nuances of web development. By the end of this article, you should be able to have a clear idea about:

• Backend development
• Pursuing a career in Full Stack development
• Understanding of the role and responsibilities and
• Skills that you must have

First, let’s start with What is Backend Development?

Backend development is server-side development. It is that part of the web that the user doesn’t see and where all behind the scene activities are carried out. It focuses on databases, APIs, servers, backend logic, etc.

• It lays the functional code that enables the websites and applications to process the user actions on the front end and deliver the correct information in response to that action.
• It is a combination of database, server and application. The web developer writes codes that help the browser to communicate with the databases and store, read, update or delete data in the database.

The backend is basically the brain of your application.

Since backend web development primarily focuses on how a website works, developers write code focusing on the functionality and logic that powers the application. Thus, the responsibility of backend programming includes APIs, writing codes to interact with the databases, working on business processes, data architecture, creating libraries and much more.

Backend Web Development Languages

There are two types of Backend programming languages- object-oriented and functional.

Object-oriented or OOP technique focuses on creating objects where statements should be executed in a particular order. Some of the most popular OOP languages are .NET, Java and Python.

The functional technique is a more action-based technique that uses declarative language. Meaning, statements can be executed in any order. Some popular languages are F#, SQL, R, etc.

Now, let’s take a deep look at the backend web development languages individually.

Java

This is the most popular programming language in the world. It is being used by developers for more than 20 years. It is an object-oriented programming language and is extremely versatile.

What makes it versatile is the Java Virtual Machine. It works as a middle layer for running code on any type of computer regardless of where the codes were compiled. It is highly convenient, boasts cross-stage compatibility and security.

Even though Java is very popular, it is not a beginner-friendly language as Python. It requires more codes even for the simplest of features. But with Java, image processing, database connectivity, networking, etc becomes very easy.

You can use Java for

• Android mobile applications
• Website development
• Image processing
• GUI based programs
• Networking
• Database connectivity, etc.

PHP

PHP is another backend scripting language that is very popular. Released in 1995, it is one of the first languages for building dynamic websites. It, currently, empowers about 78.2% of dynamic websites of the world. It is very easy to learn and use because of simple syntax.

PHP allows you to come up with multiple solutions for one problem. This very advantage makes it a bit tricky because the same code can mean different depending on the context. However, it also allows you to compile and run a program until you reach a problem which means it is more forgiving of errors.

Since it is open-source it has a large community to support you through the learning and the building process.

You can use PHP for

• Collect data through a form
• Dynamic page content
• Receive and send cookies
• Write server-side scripting
• Desktop application, etc.

.NET

.NET is a web app framework for building websites using languages like C#, F#, VB.NET, etc. It was developed by Microsoft and is a one-stop solution for building robust web, mobile, desktop, and cloud apps. It is a fast and friendly programming language and goes well with all the platforms and other programming languages

.NET follows an MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern which allows duties to be handled by the controller interacting with the model to process data.

You can use .NET for

• Building desktop applications
• Creating mobile apps
• Building games and web apps
• To work with big data, etc.

Ruby

Ruby is a dynamic, high-level open-source programming language that focuses on simplicity and productivity. It allows developers to create apps quickly without writing too many codes. It has a set of tools that allow you to create basic tasks with a single line of code.

Ruby prioritizes conventions over configurations. This helps in getting started with the development process without having to waste time configuring files.

You can use Ruby for

• Building web apps
• Automating the repetitive tasks
• Building games and mobile apps
• Creating prototypes, etc.

Python

Python is an interpreted general-purpose versatile programming language that is used for both desktop and web app development.

It is very easy to use and offers extensive libraries for backend development. It has easy to understand syntax compared to other languages.

Python is praised for its readable and elegant code. It allows quick automation and can be used for cross-platform shell scripting. Ruby and Python have a lot of similarities as they both are dynamic, object-oriented and open source languages.

You can use Python for

• Quick automation
• Web development
• Cross-platform shell scripting, etc.

SQL

SQL or Structured Query Language is used to interact with databases. It is very easy to learn and easy to use for beginners because it is a declarative language. This means that the coder declares the desired results without specifying the process.

You can use SQL for creating, accessing, and manipulating databases. Those working closely with data can benefit from working with SQL like data-driven marketers, financial analysts, etc.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a beginner-friendly language that is used for both frontend and back end development. It is a high-level language that requires very little setup, to begin with. Since it is a dynamically typed language, it is difficult to maintain and scale.

It has a large community worldwide which means that you get a lot of support and opportunities as well if you know JavaScript backend development.

You can use JavaScript for

• Mobile apps
• Desktop apps
• Websites
• Games
• Web servers, etc.

Skills that you need for Backend Web Development

Knowledge of Database

Now, every website needs a database. It stores client data and website content. It allows options to arrange, recover, alter and store information. As a backend web developer, you must have extensive knowledge about the various database management systems.

There are two types of databases available- SQL and NoSQL. SQL database works on queries and produces results based on queries. In NoSQL, there is no need to structure the data as opposed to SQL where data is mapped in a table and is linked to each other in a significant way.

Knowledge of API

API or Application Programming Interface is a medium through which computer software talk to each other. It sets the rules through which different software, services, clients communicate with each other. The server provides the API for two systems to communicate with each other.

Backend developers should have good knowledge about APIs because it enables data transfer enabling them to fetch the user data.

Knowledge of Servers

Every app runs on a remote system called a server. Server refers to computers that receive requests from web-based files including HTML, Javascript, CSS, etc. and send them to the client.

Knowledge of Data Structures

The data structure is an important aspect of backend development. Even though this is not a mandatory skill to have but a skill that is in demand among employers. Data structures form the basis of accessing, organizing and modifying data. A backend developer should know the following data structures:

• List functions
• Array operations
• Hashmap and hash tree concepts

Knowledge of Algorithms

Next to data structures, algorithms is another important aspect to have as a skill for a backend developer. It serves as the foundation for problem-solving and determines the approach for solving any problem. Lacking this skill will limit your employability. You should know:

• Sorting algorithms like selection sort, insertion sort, bubble sort, quick sort, merge sort, etc.
• Searching algorithms like Breadth-first search, Depth-first search, etc.
• Iterative algorithms
• Recursive algorithms

Other Backend Web Development skills that you should have

• Knowledge of security compliances
• Skill to manage hosting environment and database administration
• Knowledge about how to scale the app, handle changes and large amounts of data
• Knowledge of version control like Git and GitHub
• Knowledge about hosting and deploying, etc.

What more you would be doing as a Backend Developer?

Backend web development includes an array of responsibilities like interacting with the database, writing API, creating libraries, improving data architecture. Apart from these, you will also be managing the following:

• Coordinating with the front-end developer. In case you are a Full Stack developer, you will be required to have a good command over front-end development as well.
• Develop server-side algorithms for efficient data transfer to the client-side of the app.
• Cross collaboration with managers, QA’s, and other team members.
• Ensuring that the app is fast and performs at the same pace even when the traffic increases
• Collaborating with the stakeholders to understand their needs, translate them and come up with the most effective technical solution.
• Optimizing app for response time and efficiency
• Implementing best practices of security structures
• And much more.

I hope you were able to get a clear picture of backend web development and the capabilities that you must acquire to succeed in your career in the IT industry. Keep an open mind and an appetite for learning if you want to succeed. Feel free to connect with me if you need any help regarding web development, learning Full Stack or anything at all.

Read About Frontend Web Development in my previous post.