Have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes of a website? Wondered about the process that occurs when you click a button to navigate to another page? Additionally, have you questioned what happens to your personal information when you register for a free trial? Backend web development languages handle the ‘behind-the-scenes’ functionality of web applications. In this article, we’ll answer some common questions about backend web development like How do backend technologies work? What job does a back-end developer perform? Moreover, we also explore some backend web developer languages and backend tools?

What is Backend Web Development?

Web development activities that are done at the back end of programs are referred to as backend web development. Back-end development covers server-side web application logic and integration and activities like writing APIs, creating libraries and working with system components. It differs from frontend web development which things that user can directly observe on the website.

Backend web developer builds code that allows a database and an application to communicate with one another. Backend web developer takes care and maintains the back-end of a website including databases, servers, and apps, and they control what you don’t see.

What Does Backend Web Developer Do?

Backend web developer needs to have technical expertise, analytical thinking, and excellent collaboration skills. As a back-end web developer, you should be able to work independently to design the web infrastructure.

Here’s what many back-end developers do on a day-to-day basis:

• Build and maintain websites: The primary duty of a back-end developer involves utilizing diverse tools, frameworks and languages to assess the optimal approach for creating user-friendly prototypes and transforming them into websites. This demands a comprehension of cross-platform functionality and compatibility.
• Write high-quality code: To produce sustainable web applications, developers must write clean and easily maintainable code.
• Perform quality assurance (QA) testing: Create and oversee testing schedules to optimize user interface and experience, ensuring optimal display on various browsers and devices.
• Assess efficiency and speed: Once a website is up and running. during updates and edits, developers need to assess its performance and scalability, adjusting code as necessary.
• Troubleshoot and debug: Be able to troubleshoot issues and resolve them, while communicating them to project managers, stakeholders and QA teams.
• Train and support: Maintain workflows with client teams to ensure ongoing support, along with leading training and mentorship for junior developers.

Types of Backend Web Development Languages

Backend programming can either be object-oriented (OOP) or functional. Object-oriented programming (OOP) centers around the creation of objects, and in this programming paradigm, statements must follow a specific sequence. Widely adopted OOP languages include Java, .NET, and Python.

On the other hand, functional back-end programming is an approach that leans towards being more action-oriented. Functional programming employs a declarative language, allowing statements to be executed in any order. This methodology is commonly employed in data science, with popular languages including SQL, F# and R.

How to Become A Backend Web Developer?

There are numerous avenues one can explore to enter the field of web development. Whether you’ve recently graduated or are contemplating a career transition, it’s crucial to evaluate your existing transferable skills and contemplate acquiring the additional skills necessary to pursue a role as a backend web developer.

Technical Skills

As a back-end developer, there are certain technical skills you will need to learn to navigate developing the back-end of the web or mobile application.  

• Programming languages: A proficient back-end developer should have a solid command of back-end programming languages like Python, Java and PHP. These languages are essential for the functioning of websites when combined with databases, frameworks and servers. Python, in particular, stands out as one of the most widely used programming languages due to its compatibility with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, making it suitable for crafting clear and logical code. Additionally, having a fundamental understanding of front-end languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript is useful.
• Frameworks: Frameworks serve as the libraries for back-end programming languages, assisting in constructing server configurations. They are typically associated with specific programming languages. For example, if you are acquainted with Python, you would likely be familiar with frameworks like Flask, Django or other Python-based frameworks.
• Databases and servers: It’s essential to grasp the process of storing and retrieving data from databases in back-end programming. Database governs access to information, includes storage and retrieval aspects. Commonly used database systems include MongoDB and MySQL. The database is responsible for storing and structuring client data, allowing for easy organization and retrieval, similar to how you might utilize cloud storage for your photos. Subsequently, this database operates on a server, delivering data as requested.
• Application Program Interface (API): An API comprises a set of definitions and guidelines for creating application software. Besides designing websites for internet browsers, companies frequently seek mobile applications compatible with iOS or Android. Familiarity with application development languages such as JavaScript can broaden your employment prospects.

Soft Skills

In addition to technical abilities, possessing these soft skills will enhance your ability to collaborate more efficiently, productively, and smoothly with your team members.

• Communication: For a back-end web developer, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the engineer’s vision to effectively implement it. Proficient written and verbal communication skills are crucial for expressing ideas and troubleshooting effectively with team members and stakeholders.

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking: When developing a web or mobile app, you must discover inventive solutions including debugging and revising code without causing the entire site to crash. As a developer, you should analyze the reasons behind the functionality or lack thereof in a code segment and foresee and avert errors.

• Industry knowledge: Holistic understanding of the tech industry is always helpful to keep up with overall economic trends as well as updates to languages and platforms. To brush up, look into blogs, forums, news and books related to web development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, backend web development is a multifaceted field that requires a solid understanding of various components and practices. This beginner’s guide has provided a comprehensive overview, covering everything from language selection to performance optimization. As you embark on your backend development journey, remember to stay curious, keep learning and adapt to the evolving landscape of web development.