What Does a Backend Developer Do?

Last Updated on 2024-10-11

Users are often familiar with how web applications should look and feel. But little is known about what goes on behind the scenes. So, today’s article sheds light on the backend developers, the people responsible for the intricate inner workings of websites and apps.

As users, what’s the first thing we encounter when we visit a website or mobile app? It might be the design, layout, and experience of browsing the page. Whenever we click a button or download a file, you’ll find that the site displays the content almost instantly.

To do this, the frontend side should work seamlessly with the backend side. The backstage area is what powers a website or app. It runs round-the-clock, providing the functionality for users as they cruise around the site.

Backend developers manage a website’s backend functionality. They are software specialists who work with the nuts and bolts in backend development. Let’s discover what they do and how they keep web apps alive and functioning as they should.  

Roles of a Backend Developer

In a nutshell, a backend developer is a specialist who focuses on the backend or the server-side of web applications. Server-side refers to the things concealed from the users. It includes:

• application logic
• servers
• databases
• Application Programming Interface (API)
• and other backend processes.

Backend developers are responsible for building and maintaining the logic and functionality needed to power the user-facing components of a website.

Additionally, their backend code enhance the usefulness of everything that the frontend developers build. Thus, they enable web apps to perform properly, keeping them fast and efficient.

Also, the code they write enables smooth communication between the database and the web browser. To do this, backend developers use backend development languages and technologies to serve the data to users through the frontend code.

Backend developers rarely work alone. They may work with a backend development team. Oftentimes, they work with front-end developers, full-stack developers, software testers, and user experience designers.

A back-end developer is responsible for:

• creating and managing databases
• implementing web server technologies
• creating software using backend frameworks
• writing code using server-side languages
• handling API integration
• overseeing cloud computing management
• setting up and maintaining the Content Management System
• monitoring security settings and prevent hackings
• backing up and restoring the website files and databases.
• generating reports and analytics to stakeholders.  

Essential Skills of a Backend Developer

Consider these core backend developer skills the next time you’re planning to hire one for your team.

Programming Languages

A skilled backend developer should be proficient at server-side programming languages. Examples of these are Python, .NET, Java, and others. Generally, a backend developer knows at least one and maybe familiar with two or more programming languages.

Databases and Cache

It’s important for backend developers to have knowledge in DBMS (Database Management System). DBMS is a technology used for optimizing and managing storage, retrieval, and restoration of files in databases. Oracle, MySQL, MongoDB, and SQLServer are some of the widely-used databases for backend development.

Servers

Additionally, a solid background in managing servers is preferable when working with backend developers. Your website or application needs a database to handle the traffic and content.

To perform the client/server architecture, a database should connect to remote computer hardware known as database servers. Apache, Microsoft IIS, Nginx, II Servers are some of the popular tools for server management.

Application Programming Interface (API)

You can’t talk about backend development without mentioning APIs. Application Programming Interface plays a vital role in server-side software architecture. It acts as an intermediary for two applications to communicate and transfer data to each other.

Hence, a good knowledge of REST (Representational State Transfer) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is highly desirable in backend developers.

Frameworks

Look for a backend developer with working experience in different frameworks. A software framework provides a foundation where developers can build applications.

Additionally, it includes predefined classes and functions necessary for handling hardware, processing input, and interacting with system software. CakePHP, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Django, and Flask are a few of the popular backend frameworks.

Soft Skills

Unlike technical skills, soft skills can be challenging to measure or quantify. Soft skills refer to a person’s interpersonal abilities. It includes how a person engages with other people.

Choose a backend developer with excellent communication skills. This is a must since web developers have to share their ideas and feedback when completing projects. A candidate who is a problem-solver, detail-oriented, and well-organized would be a great addition to your development team.

Hire Top-Tier Software Talent

To sum up, backend developers play an important role in software development. Their contributions might be out of the public’s eye for the most part. However, they are equally as important at creating a fast and smooth experience for the end-users. They use their skills to ensure that the backend efficiently works with the frontend.

With that, we insist that you hire backend developers with top-notch skills and experience. Someone who understands your business goals and can bring effective software solutions.

Our development team at Full Scale delivers robust solutions for clients with unique challenges in different industries. Be it a frontend, backend, or a full-stack developer, you can count on us to help your startup scale for success.

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