Web Development
The process of creating a website is known as web development, and it is carried out using programming, markup and scripting languages. Technical but non-design work done on software for the server side equates to back end development, which is not visible to the user but ensures website functionality, correct performance and security. It includes architecture, databases, back end logic, programming and APIs (application programming interfaces). Front end development tackles the graphical user interface, its layout, images, videos, text, buttons and other visual elements. Full stack development takes care of both back and front end development.
Web vs Full Stack vs Front End vs Back End Developer
Web Developer is a broad term that includes professionals with varying specialisations contributing to website or app development. As a Web Developer, you may be an expert in front end, back end or full stack development, all of which aim at building functional, efficient, responsive and dynamic websites or apps.
While both Front and Back End Developers are experts in website or application development and work together in development teams, they specialise in different aspects.
Front End or Client-Side Developers build the user-facing components, including user interface, layout and visual design. Since users interact directly with these aspects, they add up to create the overall user experience. Collaborating with designers, they typically use HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create a website or app’s visual appeal and ensure its ease of use through responsive layouts, styles, animations, and various interactive features.
Back End Developers tackle components on the server side of websites or applications, including logic, database management (data storage, processing and retrieval), and APIs, which the end user does not see. Their repertoire of programming languages includes Python, Ruby, Java, and PHP, among others, used to develop the code for the server side which builds the functionality and infrastructure to hold up the front end. Back End Developers use various frameworks, such as Django, Ruby on Rails, or Express.js.
The roles may overlap depending on the size of development teams and the scope of the developer’s skills. With proficiency in both front and back end development, full stack developers are qualified to work on all aspects of a web or app development project. They are likely to use both sets of tools and languages used by front and Back End Developers to achieve their goal of building a complete product, which includes database management.
Front and Back End Developers typically collaborate as part of a development team building websites or mobile apps and work alongside product managers, principal architects and website testers to build the structure of a website or mobile app. Some challenges that Back End Developers face include ensuring quick response to front-end user requests, security and backup while Front End Developers tackle issues such as search engine optimisation and user accessibility. Full stack developers address all these aspects and others using an integrated approach to web and app development.
Types of Back End Developers
Database Developers or Administrators design and maintain databases, which store and manage large volumes of structured or unstructured data, and ensure they run efficiently to optimise the performance of the website or app. These professionals create and manage database schemas and optimise queries, keeping the data secure and reliable. They also conduct regular back-ups and update permissions. Back End Developers are typically in charge of database administration and work with data science tools and SQL.
DevOps Engineers manage the infrastructure and deployment of web applications. They perform server configuration and maintenance, monitor application performance, and carry out continuous integration and deployment.
Security Developers safeguard web applications and data from data breaches and cyber threats by designing and implementing security measures that include encryption, access controls and vulnerability testing.
Solutions Architects help businesses scale their online functions by building and implementing relevant software solutions.
API Developers build and maintain secure and reliable APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), which facilitate software-to-software communication, enabling the front-end and other applications to communicate with the server and exchange data and functionality.
Middleware Developers develop and maintain middleware or software that connects systems or components within an application and supports communication between them, for instance, between databases and application servers.
A Back End Developer’s Toolkit
Programming languages, frameworks, databases and servers are the chief tools a Back End Developer uses to develop, test and maintain the websites and apps they help develop. Programming languages include Python, PHP, JavaScript, Ruby, Java and C#. Some useful frameworks are Laravel, Django, Spring, Ruby on Rails, Meteor and Node.js. Databases, such as MongoDB, MySQL and Oracle, are part of the toolkit, and servers include Apache, NGINX, Lighttpd, and Microsoft IIS.
Some Programming Languages Back End Developers Use
Back End Developers must be proficient in at least one programming language along with its frameworks, such as Django, Flask and Ruby on Rails, and technologies, such as SQL databases and NoSQL databases. You may add more to your repertoire to progress in your career and keep yourself current with the latest skills and knowledge needed for your work. The languages and related technologies in which you must be well versed depend on your project and organisation's needs.
Python is versatile and popularly used in back end development. It has several useful features, such as readability and ease of use, and is supported by a vast library of modules and packages. As a result, it can be applied to diverse tasks, including web development, data analysis, and machine learning.
Java is also used extensively in back end development. Given its scalability, performance and security features, it is suited to large-scale enterprise applications that are mission critical, that is, critical to a business and its operations.
Ruby is an open-source language employed widely for developing data-driven websites as it is flexible, dynamic, productive and relatively simple to learn and use and allows quick prototyping. Content management systems, such as WordPress, use Ruby. The Ruby on Rails framework supports using Ruby in building web applications.
PHP is a general-purpose and popular choice of programming language for web development. It is highly suited to building dynamic websites, ranging from blogs to well-known and global websites.
JavaScript, while chiefly applicable to front end development, is also popularly used for back end development supported by platforms such as Node.js, which provides an appropriate runtime environment.
Databases
A database is a structured collection of information or data stored and organised, typically electronically in a computer system, in a way that allows efficient and easy access, retrieval, management, modification and updating. A database management system (DBMS) controls the database. Users or applications can interact with and extract the needed information for observation and analysis. Databases, such as those relating to customer records, product information and financial transactions, are integral to diverse applications and industries, allowing businesses to make informed decisions.
Analysing databases helps improve business processes, such as sales, order processing and customer service, enhance user experience by keeping track of customers or users, and strengthen patient care by securely storing patient data. Databases also allow users to store personal data; personal cloud storage allows users to store photographs and other media. Most databases use structured query language (SQL) to write and query data.
Data Structures
Data Structure refers to a specific manner of storing and organising data in a computer’s memory, facilitating easy and efficient retrieval and utilisation when needed. In other words, data structures work behind the scenes to ensure that data is tidy and easy to locate. Arrays, Linked Lists, Stack, Queue, Trees, etc. Data Structures are examples of data structures used across various areas of computer science, including operating systems, graphics and AI (artificial Intelligence). Data structures in algorithms enable improvements in the performance of programs and software.
Algorithms
“Algos” or algorithms lay out a series of step-by-step instructions to solve a known problem or get a specific task done. They may be broadly classified as those that search and those that sort. Algorithms may be written in any programming language.
Coding & Programming
The process of using a programming language to enable a computer to follow a programmer’s instructions is called coding. You may choose the programming language in which to write your code, following established syntax and rules. Coding involves writing many lines of code to create a software program instructing the computer on what to do. The document containing several lines of code is the script, which must be converted into a program. A compiler converts the written code into machine code for the computer to understand, execute and return the results.
Examples of languages used for back end coding are C, Python, R, and Java. CSS and HTML are some languages used for front end coding. Examples of programs we use in daily life are diverse applications, operating systems, websites, games, banking and financial software, and online shopping.
Software production or creating an application or website requires steps in addition to coding, such as research, planning, design, testing, deployment, and maintenance, which add up to the more extensive process of programming. Programmers must understand data structures and how to analyse and implement algorithms.
By writing, converting and delivering code for programming projects, coders provide building blocks for programmers to develop applications or software. The outline or structure of the program must be clear to coders to write code, and they must also understand the algorithms in use, which may be explained to them using pseudocode.
Version Control Systems
Developers must easily and efficiently manage and monitor changes made to the source code. Software tools called version control systems or VCS allow developers to collaborate and maintain the integrity of the codebase in a centralised repository, which means that they can track changes, view previous versions and restore any version if required. VCS encourage consistency in coding and help minimise coding errors and conflicts. Some commonly used version control systems include Git, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce.
APIs
Application Programming Interfaces or APIs are crucial intermediaries in web and mobile app development, cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things), and other domains. They facilitate software-to-software communication and interaction, allowing applications, services or platforms to exchange data and functionality and work together securely and in a standardised manner.
APIs must be designed and implemented following best practices that comprise clear and consistent naming conventions, versioning, and proper documentation of rules and protocols allowing one software app to access and use the features or data of another.
By enabling the integration of different software platforms, APIs allow developers to leverage the functionality of existing resources and services to build increasingly innovative, interconnected and powerful apps. APIs must also factor in security measures, such as API keys, and versioning capabilities.
Examples of APIs include RESTful APIs, SOAP APIs and GraphQL APIs, each suited to different purposes. Some examples of the functionalities that APIs offer are data retrieval from a database, sending and receiving data over a network, accessing hardware features, interaction with social media platforms or payment gateways, and user searches for flights, hotels or restaurants.
Code Analysis Tools
Software tools that analyse source code quality to help detect potential errors, bugs and security vulnerabilities, which manual testing may not reveal, are known as code analysis tools. Techniques, such as static analysis, dynamic analysis, and code coverage analysis, are automated and systematic and incorporated into the development cycle to enable early detection and save the time and effort that tests and debugging need. Widely used tools, such as SonarQube, ESLint and Code Climate, tackle code in various programming languages, identify issues and provide detailed reports with recommendations and likely security threats.
Examples of Job Responsibilities Working with Some Specific Employers
Back End Developers typically work with transaction processing, risk management, data analysis, and security when employed with financial institutions. If working for government agencies, they help develop and maintain web applications, databases and back end systems for various purposes, such as citizen services, data management and internal operations.
Back End Developers build and maintain systems that facilitate patient management, electronic health records and medical data analysis within healthcare facilities. Working with educational institutions, research centres or edtech companies, back end development helps build online learning platforms, manage research data management and develop educational software.
Software development firms would typically have you build custom software solutions for their clients, and you would work on different projects, ranging from enterprise software to mobile apps. When working for online retailers and e-commerce platforms, back end development helps manage complex data and extensive inventory, process transactions, and fulfil customers’ orders.
Current Scenario
The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current jobs), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for web development is not only favourable but expected to grow faster than average. The notable growth over the last few years signifies promising opportunities for those currently launching their web development careers.
With growing digital technology and the rising use of cloud services, the demand for Back End Developers skilled in cloud-based development and serverless architectures continues to be high. Since data-driven decisions are becoming more prevalent, Back End Developers who can create and manage secure databases are growing in importance. What is critical to stay relevant in the industry and find new opportunities is to undertake continuous learning to adapt to rapid technological progress.
Location typically influences the average salary of web development professionals, with specialised experts and those trained and educated in full stack development earning a higher average than others.
AI (artificial intelligence) is being adopted into workflows across industries, including software development. Its impact on the employment of software professionals remains to be seen. However, AI may be currently viewed as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for developers. Even if AI does not eliminate their jobs, developers will need to upgrade their skills to leverage the benefits of AI and it might even help free up time to prioritise innovation and higher-level tasks by taking care of repetitive and mundane tasks. By the same token, to prevent burnout from higher-level creative work, companies will need to ensure a positive and enriching developer experience, an appropriate work environment and efficient toolchains for their software teams.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Back End Developers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, full-time Back End Developers have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.