What is Backend?
TL;DR
Backend is the server-side part of a website or app that handles data, logic, and connections to databases that users never see.
Example
What backend handles:
- User authentication (login/logout)
- Database operations (save, read, update, delete)
- Payment processing
- Email sending
- API connections to other services
- Business logic and calculations
- File uploads and storage
Backend vs. frontend:
| Action | Frontend | Backend |
|---|---|---|
| User clicks "Buy" | Shows button | Processes payment |
| User types search | Shows input | Finds matching products |
| User uploads photo | Shows preview | Saves to storage |
| User logs in | Shows form | Verifies password |
Backend technologies:
- Languages: Python, Node.js, PHP, Java, Go
- Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
- Frameworks: Django, Express, Laravel
Explanation
Backend Architecture
Traditional (Monolithic): Everything in one application. Simple to start, harder to scale.
Microservices: Split into small, independent services. Complex to build, easier to scale.
Serverless: No servers to manage. Pay per function execution. Examples: AWS Lambda, Vercel Functions
APIs: Frontend-Backend Communication
Backend exposes APIs (endpoints). Frontend calls these APIs. Data flows back and forth as JSON.
Example: Frontend: "GET /api/products" Backend: Returns list of products as JSON Frontend: Displays products to user
Why It Matters
For Business Owners
Backend is where business logic lives. Pricing rules, discount calculations, inventory management, all happen in backend.
Backend affects performance. Slow database queries = slow website. Good backend architecture scales with traffic.
Backend handles security. User data, passwords, payments, all protected by backend code. Poor backend = vulnerable to hackers.
Backend enables integrations. Connecting to payment systems, shipping APIs, accounting software happens in backend.
Questions to Ask Developers
- What language/framework for backend?
- How is data backed up?
- How does it scale with more users?
- What security measures are in place?
- How are API errors handled?
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