What is Back-End Development and Top 10 Technologies to Watch for in 2023
Overview
Backend development drives software applications by focusing on the architecture and acting as a funnel between the front-end and the database. Backend technologies play a crucial role in scalability, functionality, and responsiveness in web and mobile applications.
Top 10 Back-End Technologies
1. Ruby on Rails
2. Laravel
3. CakePHP
4. Django
5. Spring Boot
6. Node.js
7. Nest.js
8. Express.js
9. Flask
10. Meteor
Conclusion
Choosing the right back-end technology is crucial for scalability, operating speed, and instant response to customer needs. It’s important to brainstorm and compare the features of each technology before choosing the best one.
Additional Resources
No additional resources provided.
What is Backend Development?
Backend development involves server-side functions that facilitate user actions like making payments and checking out on websites like Amazon. The process involves the server, database, and application logic implemented by backend developers. It sends and receives data and works invisibly to display information on the front end. Backend developers handle everything behind the scenes, from databases to servers to API creation and data architecture. Various tools, languages, and technologies are used to accomplish these tasks, such as MongoDB, Oracle, MySQL, and SQL servers for CRUD operations. They serve the data back to the client-side of the application.
Backend Technologies for Web Development
Backend technologies are crucial for web development as they form the foundation of software creation. Specialized backend developers are required for the website or application to function well, be responsive and fast. With the exponential growth of backend technologies, it’s essential to choose the appropriate technology for your project. The benefits of backend technologies include task automation, developer productivity enhancement, simplified development processes, quicker development, improved product quality, scalability and robustness, and enhanced security and integration.
Top Backend Technologies
Here are the top 10 backend technologies that are expected to dominate the mobile and web domains by 2023:
1. Node.js
2. Django
3. Ruby on Rails
4. Laravel
5. Express.js
6. Spring Boot
7. ASP.NET
8. Flask
9. Symfony
10. Phoenix
This list showcases the most popular and powerful technologies for building robust and scalable web and mobile applications. Developers should stay up-to-date on these technologies to remain competent in the ever-evolving tech industry.
Ruby on Rails for Web Application Development
Ruby on Rails is an open-source backend web application development framework written in Ruby. It follows the MVC architectural pattern and supports software engineering paradigms and patterns such as DRY, CoC, and active record pattern. Its features include:
- Built-in unit testing system called RSpec
- Powerful Active Record library
- Efficient code deployment
- Simple and flexible syntax
- Layered architecture for code separation
Ruby on Rails is ideal for long-term projects, those with heavy traffic or complex functionalities. Top companies using Ruby on Rails include GitHub, Airbnb, and Twitter.
Laravel: A Comprehensive PHP Backend Framework
Laravel is an open-source and reliable backend PHP framework that adheres to the Model-View-Controller architecture pattern to support extensive toolkit features and large teams. This powerful framework facilitates the development of swift and contemporary web applications with added Modern toolkit and API support for intuitive user interface development. Some of its key features include Artisan (a command-line tool), Eloquent ORM (Object Relational Mapping), modular libraries, template engine, and many more.
Laravel is enriched with PHP features such as interfaces, overloading, namespaces, and anonymous functions. A few more advantages of Laravel include strong security measures, such as bcrypt Hashing Algorithm for password encryption, and built-in security features that prevent web attacks. Companies such as Pfizer, BBC, Razorpay, Lenovo, and BBC prefer Laravel to develop app-like APIs and scalable web applications. It has ready-to-use packages, such as Envoy, Socialite, and Cashier for performing common tasks, OAuth authentication, and managing subscription billing services.
Overview of CakePHP
CakePHP is a user-friendly, open-source web framework built in PHP that incorporates the MVC architectural pattern. It employs software design patterns like active record, association data mapping, front-end control and follows convention over configuration. It streamlines application development, deployment, and maintenance. The framework is perfect for RAD scenarios, allowing you to create applications in weeks, instead of months.
Key Features:
- CakePHP streamlines coding by leveraging conventions over configurations to make assumptions about your code.
- Simple syntax, application scaffolding, and code generation tools facilitate prototyping and validation.
- The MVC design eliminates the need for the complex combination of components and architectural design.
- CakePHP provides an intuitive directory structure for creating custom environments and extensive caching and logging capabilities.
- PHPUnit testing integration is included as well.
[CakePHP]
Django: A High-Level Python Development Framework
Django is an open-source, Python-based, and high-level development framework that separates the UI and the business logic based on the MTV (Model-Template-Views) architectural pattern. It has reusability, pluggability, low coupling, minimal code, avoiding duplication of effort principles, which support rapid development and pragmatic approaches. Python is used for data models, files, and settings. Django makes it easy to create database-driven websites. Companies such as Spotify, Instagram, Pinterest, Mozilla, among others, use Django for their projects.
Key Features:
- Django offers the best documentation, similar to a well-established library, helping developers quickly find functions for their projects.
- Django prioritizes security by preventing cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, SQL injection, and providing secure user authentication systems for passwords and account management.
- Django is a scalable framework that allows apps to switch from small to large-scale projects quickly and efficiently.
- Django provides helper modules and libraries that developers can use to handle common web development tasks like user authentication, site maps, RSS feeds, and content administration.
Code:
“`
# import Django
import django
# check Django version
print(django.get_version())
“`
Spring Boot: A Framework for Java-based Web Development
Spring Boot is an open-source, Java-based web development framework that enables developers to rapidly build production-grade, standalone applications with minimal configurations. It simplifies and accelerates the process of setting up, configuring, and running web-based applications, allowing developers to be more productive and reduce development time. Popular companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon use Spring Boot for their web development needs.
Key Features:
* Flexible and scalable configuration of XML configurations, Java Beans, and Database Transactions
* Powerful batch processing and REST endpoint management
* Auto-configuration of everything, eliminating the need to generate code or configure XML
* Production-ready features including health checks, metrics, and externalized configuration
* Reduction in boilerplate code and XML configuration through annotations.
Node.js: A powerful JavaScript runtime environment for server-side and networking applications
Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment used for developing server-side applications. Its extensive library of JavaScript modules makes web development much easier, allowing for the integration of third-party libraries and APIs. Node.js offers a ‘JavaScript everywhere’ approach to web development by enabling developers to write server scripts and command-line tools using JavaScript. Many top companies, such as NASA, Microsoft, Netflix, PayPal, and Uber, use Node.js.
Key Features:
- The Node.js library provides non-blocking, asynchronous APIs.
- Node.js employs a single-threaded model with event loops, enabling non-blocking responses to scale higher than traditional servers.
- Node.js uses Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, providing lightning-fast code execution.
- Node.js is compatible with a range of platforms and devices.
// Example of asynchronous function call using callbacks
fs.readFile('/file/path', function(err, data) {
if (err) throw err;
console.log(data);
});
The above code reads a file asynchronously without blocking the Node.js event loop. The callback function notifies the server when file data is available.
NEST.JS
NestJS is a versatile, open-source Node.js framework for creating complex backend systems. It is designed to be testable, scalable, and loosely coupled, and is based on TypeScript. With Nest.js, developers can easily integrate various modules, such as GraphQL, Mongoose, and TypeORM. The framework comes with built-in CLI functionality, which boosts productivity, and it uses a structural approach that simplifies complex backend development. With its Dependency Injection Container, NestJS promotes code reuse and supports multiple databases, including Redis, MongoDB, and Apache Cassandra.
Express.js: A Lightweight and Comprehensive Backend Framework
Express.js is an open-source backend Node.js web framework that provides web and mobile developers with a flexible set of features for creating web applications. It is a prime component of popular development stacks such as MERN, MEAN, or MEVN, supported by MongoDB and JavaScript front-end framework. Express.js handles routing, HTTP requests, sessions, and error handling. You can develop single-page, multi-page, and hybrid web applications using this framework.
Notable companies like Accenture, Intuit, Twitter, and Myntra use Express for creating web applications. Features like routing, dynamic views, and content negotiation make Express highly valuable for developers. It efficiently scales the application by adding nodes and additional resources. With caching, you can eliminate recompiling code and also improve website loading times. The community members help solve problems encountered while working with Express.
Flask: A Popular Python Micro-Framework for Web Development
Flask is a widely used python micro-framework, known for its speed, productivity, and ease of use in web development. It is lightweight since it includes only essential web development components like routing and sessions. Flask supports data handling through custom modules or extensions. Flask does not have boilerplate code or dependencies which makes it business-friendly. Moreover, Flask offers numerous extensions to customize web applications, as LinkedIn, Mozilla, Netflix, and Reddit uses Flask to develop their applications.
Key Features:
– Flask is lightweight since it does not include external libraries.
– Flask provides full control to the developer while developing applications.
– Flask offers an integrated unit testing system and debugging for robust application development.
– Flask supports the latest technologies like machine learning and cloud computing.
– Flask uses WSGI templates to create flexible and scalable web applications.
– Flask allows you to use secure cookies for added security in HTTP requests.
Meteor: A Powerful Open-Source Web Framework
MeteorJS is a fantastic, free, open-source web framework written using Node.js. Its ability to rapidly prototype produces cross-platform outputs for web, iOS, and Android. Meteor support MongoDB and uses the Distributed Data Protocol and publish-subscribe pattern which automates the propagation of data changes without requiring developers to write any synchronization code.
Meteor provides a full ecosystem for creating real-time apps, making it much easier to use than combining various tools and frameworks. Developers can use any popular front-end JS framework including Vue, React, Svelte, Angular, or Blaze. Companies that use Meteor include Speedway Motorsports, Nordstrom, Vitalyst, Accenture, Shelf, and Rocket.
Key Features:
* Same code can be used for the front-end and back-end of your website and mobile applications
* Contains front-end and back-end components to assist the whole app development lifecycle
* Live browser reloading automatically refreshes the website whenever the front-end is updated
* Supports NPM modules and offers its own custom package manager
Career as a Backend Developer
Backend development is a highly sought-after career option in the current job market, with top companies like Google, Apple and Facebook recruiting for this role. If you have a passion for programming and technology, then a career as a backend developer is perfect for you. The average salary for backend developers in India ranges from ₹2.0 – ₹22.0 Lakhs, with an average salary of ₹6.0 Lakhs.
As a backend developer, there are various roles you could take on, including Backend Developer, Backend Engineer, Backend Developer Node JS, Backend Developer PHP, Junior Back End Developer, and Senior Back End Developer. When choosing a backend technology, there are numerous factors to consider, such as individual preferences, project deadlines, market timing, project complexity, budgets, volumes, flexibility, productivity, and future-oriented support.
Developers may need to experiment with new technologies, as enterprises are always migrating to newer technology. However, choosing the appropriate backend framework is essential for a successful project. We hope the list of the best backend frameworks will assist you in selecting the right framework for your project needs.
Additional Resources
For those interested in becoming a backend developer, check out this article on essential backend developer skills:
Learn about popular backend frameworks in this article:
For those who want to understand the difference between frontend and backend development, this article provides a clear explanation:
