What is Back-end Development?
Web development is split into two parts, the front end, and the back end. The front end is what website visitors usually interact with. Whereas the back end is what ensures the functionality of the website. Back-end development is the development of server-side elements on a website and it involves building and maintaining elements such as website security, the website server, APIs, data storage, and the server. These developers provide their services by utilizing a skillset of programming languages such as Java, Ruby, Python, and many more depending on what is required.
Back-end developers usually use the data that is received from the front-end and store that data for it to be used to perform several tasks and it is then sent back to the front-end. Back-end developers usually create solutions to problems to ensure there is a smooth transition of data between the front end and back end of the website.
What do back-end developers do?
Back-end developers build, maintain, and ensure the functionality of the website. These tasks can be broken down into several responsibilities. Website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi usually perform tasks that include:
- Developing the back-end systems and ensuring that they meet client requirements
- Looking over data storages and performing consistent backups to ensure data is secure.
- Perform tests to find bugs
- Integration of applications through the management of APIs
- Optimizing code and performance of the website to achieve an improved user experience
- Managing a huge database of code that can be reused by other developers in the organization
- Structuring the layout and architecture of the back end of the website
- Managing the security of data and websites to reduce the risk of cyber attacks.
- Work with front-end developers to transform code and make it user-interactive.
The skillset of a back-end developer.
Back-end developers require a lot of technical knowledge about programming languages. Some of the languages that website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi suggest you know include:
Python
Python is a programming language that is focused on being simple and easy to use. Back-end developers highly recommend this language because of its flexibility, ease of use, and readability being that it is easy to understand the code by just reading it. This makes Python easy to learn and implement in website development and its syntax is written understandably.
Python has several uses in web development which include server-side development. It can be used to develop APIs to make two servers communicate with each other. Its ease of use allows developers to perform repetitive tasks much more efficiently. Python’s extensive library allows for easy integration of machine learning algorithms into applications. All these features allow Python to be a highly recommended programming language for web developers.
Java
Java is another programming language that is commonly used by web developers and is considered to be more powerful than Python however, it is a little harder to use comparatively. It was built to be used flexibly across various environments and be used in high-performing projects.
The reason for its popularity is because of its flexibility, it can be used on any platform as long as that platform has a Java Virtual Machine installed on it. Because of this, Java can be used on multiple applications including web development and software development. Java also has a large dedicated community of developers to share and discuss their experiences to help newer developers build applications.
PHP
PHP is a server-side programming language that allows developers to alter the content on a website based on what data the user is requesting. It allows the website to construct the page by using the data from the database storage. PHP uses a dynamic webpage which means that the web page constantly changes based on what the user wants to see.
PHP is a relatively easy language to pick but is highly recommended by website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is used in WordPress which is one of the most popular content management systems today.
Ruby
Ruby is a programming language that supports multiple platforms. It is a programming language that became popular because of its productivity and simplicity. All information and code in Ruby are an object and can be assigned specific actions. It is a flexible language that allows developers to freely alter things whenever needed.
Ruby is commonly used in web development to create dynamic web pages and access databases. It has powerful frameworks and libraries that are compatible with various types of databases.
SQL
The most used query language is called structured Query Language, or SQL. Database interaction is done using SQL. Given that SQL is a declarative language, it’s easy for beginners to learn. Coders can ‘declare’ the results they want to see in a declarative language without defining the processes or procedures that will lead to those results.
For people who want to benefit from the amount of knowledge held in databases, a query language like SQL is excellent. Because SQL is a query language, it is widely used. A firm or enterprise is likely utilizing SQL to query a database if it exists.
C#
C# is a high-level programming language, programmers can use it to create applications that aren’t dependent on a specific kind of computer. These kinds of languages write and read more like human languages than like computer languages.
It error-proofs instructions that frequently trip up C++ users, C# is favored by developers because it has the same power as C++ (another back-end language).
The language has received acclaim from programmers on Stack Overflow for having “cool syntax.”
The back-end developer skillset continued…
Here are some more back-end skills that website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi recommend, that you might require in addition to learning back-end development that doesn’t involve programming languages.
Caching
It can be useful to comprehend how databases and database caching operate as a back-end developer. Data that is frequently accessed is stored in a temporary memory using the process of caching. It adds to a primary database by relieving it of unnecessary load and improves performance.
Database management systems including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, SQL Server, and caching technologies like Redis and Memcached are included in many job listings for back-end positions.
APIs
Two different apps can communicate with one another through APIs or application programming interfaces. They contribute to the development of the majority of server-side software architectures. As a back-end developer, you might encounter SOAP and REST API styles.
In comparison to REST, SOAP defines more standards, making it a bit more sophisticated and defining issues like security and message delivery. These inherent norms do come with a little bit of extra overhead. REST is an API for web services. REST APIs employ JSON data format and are based on URIs and the HTTP protocol. Building and scaling REST APIs can be straightforward however they can also be enormous and complex depending on how they’re created and used.
Servers
Since access to this information, including storage and recovery, is controlled by back-end programming, you’ll need to be familiar with how to stack and restore data from databases.
The two most often used databases are MongoDB and MySQL. Similar to how you may use cloud storage for your images, the database saves and organizes the client’s data so that it can be quickly sorted and recovered. Then, this database runs on a server that makes data available upon request.
Back-end Development Frameworks
Django
The model-view-controller (MVC) architectural paradigm, which divides the application’s logic, presentation, and data into distinct components, is used by the open-source Python web framework Django.
It was first developed in 2005 and has since grown to be one of the most well-liked Python web frameworks. The main priorities of Django are efficiency, clarity, and usability.
Django has been implemented by well-known websites such as Disqus, Mozilla, and The Washington Times, enhancing its position as one of the top backend frameworks available.
Express.js
Based on Node.js, ExpressJS is a quick, compact, and adaptable online application framework. It gives web and mobile applications a unique set of functionalities.
ExpressJS makes it easier to design server-side web applications, enabling programmers to easily create dynamic web pages and APIs. It has several HTTP utility methods to manage requests and responses, a strong routing mechanism, and middleware support.
ExpressJS enables developers to use third-party libraries and packages that act as plugins, giving code and apps a more modular structure. As a result, the development process is quicker, more effective, and less error-prone.
Laravel
For creating web applications based on the Symfony framework, Laravel is an open-source PHP web framework.
It has a specific dependency manager and a modular packaging system. Additionally, experts believe that this technology is one of the best web frameworks and that it is the best program for backend development.
One of Laravel’s most distinguishing characteristics is its ability to offer a variety of ways to access relational databases while simultaneously providing utilities for application deployment and maintenance. The source code for Laravel is also available on GitHub, and it comes with an MIT license.
Ruby on Rails
The web application framework Ruby on Rails, usually referred to as Rails, was created using the Ruby programming language.
This platform gives developers the tools they need to produce cutting-edge, scalable web apps. It promotes convenience and usability by offering standard fixes for common issues. Developers can therefore concentrate on making features that are specific to the requirements of their apps in this way.
Additionally, this platform promotes the usage of technologies that are considered industry standards, including CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and JSON. Additionally, it follows software engineering best practices like DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and COC (Convention over Configuration), which speed up development and ensure high-quality code.
ASP.NET
Microsoft created the open-source ASP.NET Core web application framework. It is a cross-platform framework that enables programmers to create web applications with high performance and scalability for many operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
On top of the cloud computing-optimized.NET Core runtime, ASP.NET Core was developed. With built-in security features, cloud readiness, and cross-platform development capabilities, it offers a modular design. Numerous capabilities offered by ASP.NET Core make it simple for programmers to create maintainable, scalable, and effective web applications from a single codebase.
Trends in Back-end Development
Web developers can remain ahead of the curve and capitalize on the chances that are waiting for them by recognizing the trends and developments that will come in the future. Here are some personal perspectives and forecasts by website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi regarding the back-end development industry.
Serverless Architecture
Back-end management can be done effectively and affordably by becoming serverless. Because resources are adjusted by the provider automatically, it allows developers to concentrate on writing code and offers scalability and robustness.
With serverless, infrastructure is managed by the cloud provider, negating the need for server scaling or maintenance. Writing and managing code for the serverless platform, handling business logic, and interfacing with services like databases or APIs still require a back-end development. Moreover, they must be capable of writing scalable and effective code in addition to being conversant with the particular serverless platform.
Back-end development as a Service
Backend as a service is a cloud-based service that constructs a pre-built back-end infrastructure for a website so that developers can mainly focus on the front-end infrastructure of the website. The rise in popularity of BAAS is because of how developers can save time and money by not needing to spend time in the initial setup of a back-end structure from scratch.
Besides time and resource saving, BAAS offers a secure infrastructure as the service providers are responsible for making sure that security systems are maintained and kept up to date regularly. Overall, BAAS allows developers to be more efficient in the development process of a website and will continue to grow and advance in the future.
Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has been rapidly growing in the past couple of years and has been playing a crucial role in the web development industry. With the constant advancements in machine learning technology website developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been using it to conduct predictive analysis and use machine learning to suggest improvements in the development of a website. Furthermore, with the integration of artificial intelligence web developers can improve decision making, eliminate the need for manually performing repetitive tasks, and provide a better overall infrastructure for a website.
Microservices
As systems become more distributed and complicated, microservices have become more and more common. Building an application by dividing its business components into manageable services that can be deployed and controlled separately from one another is the guiding philosophy of microservices.
Microservices is an approach that benefits both the development of the underlying technical code and the overall business organization plan. Additionally, they facilitate the division of teams into units that concentrate on creating and controlling particular business operations. This level of specificity boosts productivity and communication across the board in the company. The advantages of microservices come with drawbacks.
FAQs
How has back-end development evolved over the years?
Back-end development has significantly grown over the years by allowing developers to work more efficiently with advancements in programming languages and frameworks. Moreover, these advancements in the backend allowed increased focus on security and the use of APIs. As the industry continues to evolve we may get to see even greater changes.
What is caching and why is it important?
The main goal of a cache is to improve data performance by minimizing access to the slower storage layer beneath. A cache often stores a subset of data transiently, sacrificing capacity for speed. Whereas, databases, hold data that is normally comprehensive and long-lasting.
What’s the difference between a database and a data warehouse?
The main purpose of a database is to store data. Whereas, a data warehouse is useful for data analysis. Databases are frequently designed for read-write operations when it comes to single-point transactions, a data warehouse is employed for massive analytical queries.
What is the difference between web hosting and domain name?
The primary difference between web hosting and domain name is that hosting is where the website files are stored while a domain is an address used to access the website. However, you must have both elements to create a functioning website.
What platforms do you build your websites?
We have vast experience in a variety of popular platforms including:
- Laravel
- HTML
- CSS
- Frameworks
- Databases [SQL]
- Servers
- JavaScript
- Flutter
- React
- React Native
- Vue.js
- Angular
When can you start?
We are ready when you are! Just give us a call or you can drop a “hey” on WhatsApp and we will be with you right away.
