In the world of programming and application development, the back-end plays a pivotal role in managing data and ensuring that systems run smoothly behind the scenes. The back-end is the mastermind that runs logical operations and processes data, making front-end user interfaces work perfectly.
Thanks to technologies like PHP and MySQL, back-end development has become one of the most sought-after technical specializations in today’s job market. If you’re looking to understand how applications work from the inside or build a solid career in programming, the back-end field is the perfect destination for you.
What is Back-End?
Backend Development is the side responsible for the processes that occur behind the scenes of any website or application. Back-End focuses on data processing, database management, and ensuring that the website or application runs smoothly when interacting with the user interface (Front End).
In simple terms, Back-End is what happens when you click a button, go to a new page, or enter data into a form. It deals with all the processes that you do not see directly with your eyes but are necessary for the website to work.
The most popular programming languages used in Back-End Development
The world of Back-End development is full of multiple programming languages that meet different needs and help build robust and secure applications. Let's review the most important of these languages and their features in an interesting way:
1. PHP - The Giant of the Hidden Web
PHP is one of the most popular back-end languages, it is the driving force for more than 80% of websites on the Internet, including Facebook and WordPress. PHP Features:
- Open source and easy to learn.
- Great integration with HTML.
- Wide support from the developer community and frameworks such as Laravel and CodeIgniter.
Disadvantages: Some standard libraries may lack organization.
2. Python - Simplicity and power at the same time
Python is characterized by its ease of writing codes and strong performance, making it an excellent choice for back-end development using frameworks such as Django and Flask.
Why Python?
- Writing short and effective codes.
- Integrated support for artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.
- A rich community that helps solve problems easily.
3. Java – Stability and Security
Java is known for being scalable and secure, making it an ideal choice for large applications such as banking systems and e-commerce sites.
Advantages of Java:
- High performance efficiency.
- Ready-made libraries that facilitate development.
- Works on various systems via JVM technology.
4. Node.js – Power and responsiveness
Despite being an operating environment rather than a language, Node.js relies on JavaScript for back-end development, allowing it to handle multiple tasks at once.
Why Node.js?
- High execution speed.
- Low development cost.
- Used by tech giants such as Netflix and Uber.
5. Ruby – The language of simplicity and rapid development
Ruby is widely used in web development, especially with the Ruby on Rails framework that facilitates building applications quickly and with high organization.
Advantages of Ruby:
- Writing easy and simple codes.
- A framework that helps produce scalable applications.
- A large community that supports collaborative development.
6. C++ – High Performance Language
C++ is often used in projects that require high performance and high accuracy, and is an ideal choice for competitive programming or complex back-end systems.
7. ASP.NET – Innovation with Microsoft Support
ASP.NET is characterized by providing integrated solutions for back-end development, especially using the C# language.
What distinguishes it:
- Direct support from Microsoft.
- High security.
- Superior performance with complex databases.
Which is right for you?
Choosing a language depends on the nature of the project, budget, and skills you have. However, we will focus on PHP as the preferred primary language.
We will learn one of these languages, usually PHP, and build amazing applications that make your ideas a tangible reality!
What are Back End Languages?
Back End languages are the foundation on which applications and websites rely to perform background operations, such as database management, request processing, and data validation. They can be likened to the engine that runs everything behind the scenes to ensure that the website runs efficiently and smoothly. Let's review the basic languages and their role in this field.
1. PHP: The Backbone of Back End Development
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is considered one of the most popular back end languages. It is used to create dynamic web applications that interact with databases and provide advanced features.
- PHP was first released in 1995, and it is open source, which contributed to its widespread popularity and community support.
- PHP is a flexible language that is used to develop simple websites to large projects such as content management (WordPress) or custom applications using frameworks such as Laravel.
- Thanks to its ease of learning, PHP is an ideal choice for beginners and professionals alike.
2. MySQL Language: The Data Guard
MySQL is an open source relational database used to store data in an organized manner and retrieve it when needed.
- MySQL was first released in 1995, and is the most popular choice when working with PHP.
- It is used to store data for users, products, orders, and more.
Its main features:
- Speed and performance.
- Strong support for big data.
- The ability to work with multiple applications.
By learning MySQL, you will be able to manage data effectively and build powerful applications.
How to start learning backend languages?
- Start with PHP: Learn the basics like writing scripts, working with forms, and working with databases using MySQL.
- Learn MySQL: Understand how to create tables, manage data, and execute basic SQL queries.
- Move to frameworks like Laravel: to speed up the development process and build advanced applications.
Why are PHP and MySQL essential?
PHP and MySQL are a powerful and integrated duo. PHP handles requests and creates dynamic content, while MySQL stores and retrieves data when needed. Learning these two technologies forms the foundation for becoming a professional backend developer.
But that's not all, mastering backend languages requires you to acquire more skills and techniques to develop scalable and secure applications. In the following sections, we will review the most important tools and techniques that backend developers need.
Back End Roadmap
This track is based on developing your knowledge of web basics to advanced skills related to architectural design and publishing. We will focus on mandatory and optional points with an emphasis on PHP, MySQL, and Laravel.
Stage One: Internet Basics (Required)
1. Understanding the Internet
- How does the Internet work?
- The concept of HTTP and protocols.
- Browsers and how do they work?
- Domain Name System (DNS).
- The concept of domains and hosting.
Stage Two: Learning a Programming Language (Required)
2. PHP (Required)
- Learn the basics: variables, loops, conditions, functions.
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP).
- Managing Sessions & Cookies.
- Uploading files and processing images.
3. JavaScript (Optional)
- Learn the basics of JavaScript to understand how to work with interactive interfaces.
Stage 3: Version Control System (Required)
4. Git
- Basic Git commands (clone, commit, push, pull).
- Create and manage branches.
5. GitHub or GitLab (Required)
- Upload and share your projects.
Stage 4: Databases (Required)
6. MySQL (Required)
- Create databases and tables.
- Basic SQL commands (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).
- Indexes and Normalization.
7. ORM with Laravel (Required)
- Learn Eloquent ORM to use databases programmatically.
8. PostgreSQL and NoSQL (Optional)
- MongoDB and Redis as a complement to skills.
Stage 5: Laravel (Required)
9. Laravel Basics
- Setting up the project using Composer.
- Creating Routes, Controllers, and Views.
- Blade Template System.
10. Advanced Topics
- Middleware.
- API Development using Laravel Passport or Sanctum.
- Managing Relationships.
- Handling Events and Queues.
11. Extending the Application
- Common Packages like Spatie.
- Email Integration.
Stage 6: Security (Required)
12. OWASP Risks
- Identify common security threats and how to protect against them.
- Input Validation, CSRF, XSS.
13. Encryption (Hashing)
- Use bcrypt and argon2 to protect passwords.
Stage 7: APIs (Required)
14. RESTful APIs
- Create and consume REST APIs.
- Authenticate using JWT or OAuth.
15. GraphQL (Optional)
- Learn GraphQL for advanced projects.
Stage 8: Additional Tools (Optional)
16. Docker
- Set up a development environment.
17. Nginx and Apache
- Hosting applications.
Stage 9: Architecture (Optional)
18. System Design
- Learn Monolithic vs. Microservice applications.
19. Performance Optimization
- Caching Strategies (Redis).
- Load Management Using CDN.
Stage 10: Deployment and Project Management (Required)
20. CI/CD
- Set up automated deployment pipelines using GitHub Actions or GitLab CI.
21. Project Management
- Use Trello or Jira to manage project progress.
Practical Tips:
- Implement practical projects at each stage (e.g. create a blog or management system).
- Follow the official Laravel documentation to stay updated.
- Make time for hands-on experience through GitHub.
How to become a master in the field of back-end?
To become a master in the field of back-end development, you must follow an integrated and carefully planned path that includes the previous 10 stages, which aim to build the basic and advanced skills that any professional back-end developer needs.
Your journey is not limited to theoretical learning only, but you must focus on implementing integrated practical projects using the tools and techniques you learn. Continuously following technical developments and practical application are the key to success!
The field is evolving rapidly, and the distinguished developer is the one who always stays up to date with the latest tools and practices.
Back-end Professionalism Plan - 155 Days of Hard Work
Since back-end development requires learning a variety of skills and is more in-depth than front-end, this plan spans over 5 months to ensure that basic and advanced concepts are understood and applied in practical projects.
Introductory Week: Understanding the Internet (5 days)
Objective: Build a comprehensive understanding of how the Internet works and the basic protocols.
1. How does the Internet work?
- Understand the flow of data over the network.
- Understand the role of servers and clients.
2. HTTP Concept and Basic Protocols
- HTTP and HTTPS: How do they work and what is the difference between them?
- Understand GET and POST requests and how servers respond.
3. Browsers and how they work?
- How to display web pages.
- Browser Cache concept.
4. Domain Name System (DNS)
- How are domain names translated into IP addresses?
- The role of DNS records.
5. Domains and Hosting
- The concept of domains and how to reserve them.
- Understanding the types of hosting and how to choose the most suitable for projects.
First Month: Programming and Database Basics (30 Days)
Objective: Building a strong foundation in programming and databases.
1. Week 1: PHP Programming Basics
- Learn variables, loops, and conditions.
- Build simple programs such as a calculator.
2. Week 2: Databases using MySQL
- Create databases and tables.
- Learn basic SQL queries (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).
3. Week 3: Connecting PHP to MySQL
- Create dynamic applications such as a simple login system.
- Dealing with forms.
4. Week 4: Reinforcing practical understanding
- Building a simple project such as an address book.
- Focusing on practical exercises and reviewing what has been learned.
Month 2: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and Advanced Concepts (30 Days)
Objective: Learn object-oriented programming and understand how to use it in real projects.
1. Week 1: OOP Basics
- Understand Classes, Objects, and Inheritance.
- Write programs using OOP.
2. Week 2: Apply object-oriented programming in practice
- Build a user management system using OOP.
- Organize codes in separate files.
3. Week 3: Explore security techniques in PHP
- Learn how to protect against SQL Injection.
- Use prepared statements.
4. Week 4: Create a complete practical project using OOP
- Simple product management system.
- Improve the project using security features.
Month 3: Advanced Frameworks and Rules (30 Days)
Goal: Master the Laravel framework and learn advanced techniques.
1. Week 1: Introduction to Laravel
- Install Laravel and learn its basic structure.
- Understand MVC (Model-View-Controller).
2. Week 2: Working with Eloquent ORM
- Create models and bind them to tables.
- Execute complex queries using Eloquent.
3. Week 3: Create APIs
- Learn to create RESTful APIs.
- Build a small API project such as a task management system.
4. Week 4: Practical project using Laravel
- Create a simple Content Management System (CMS).
- Include Authentication features.
Month 4: Improving performance and dealing with advanced technologies (30 days)
Goal: Improve applications and add advanced features.
1. Week 1: Improving performance
- Learn about caching.
- Reduce application response time.
2. Week 2: Dealing with large files and uploading
- Adding features for uploading files.
- Improving the performance of uploading large files.
3. Week 3: Time management and sending notifications
- Working with scheduled tasks (Schedulers).
- Sending email and SMS notifications.
4. Week 4: Integrated project using acquired skills
- Creating a practical application such as a reservation system.
- Improving the project using best practices.
Month 5: Advanced projects and continuous development (30 days)
Goal: Apply all acquired skills in real projects.
1. Week 1: Creating an advanced project
- A simple e-commerce system.
- Include a control panel to manage products and users.
2. Week 2: Add advanced features
- Detailed reports using MySQL.
- Integrate electronic payment gateways.
3. Week 3: Review and document projects
- Optimize and organize code.
- Create documentation for projects.
4. Week 4: Develop future skills
- Learn about Docker and GitHub Actions.
- Explore technologies like GraphQL.
Total plan duration: 155 days
This track ensures that you have a deep understanding of every stage of back-end development, from the basics to advanced projects, enabling you to build powerful and effective applications!
Defining the responsibilities of a back-end developer
A back-end developer focuses on:
- Writing codes that process and store data in databases such as MySQL.
- Designing APIs that communicate with front-end applications.
- Optimizing system performance.
- Securing data and developing algorithms.
Examples of Backend tasks:
- Building a user login system.
- Designing a database to store information such as customer names.
- Optimizing data queries to ensure fast performance.
Difference between Front-end and Back-end?
Working in web development is like running a fancy restaurant - the Front-end is the dining room that guests see, while the Back-end is the kitchen where everything is prepared. Let's get to know the roles of each more clearly.
The Front-end is the part that the user interacts with directly. When you open a website and see attractive colors, interactive buttons, drop-down menus, and animations - all of this is the work of a Front-end developer. It is responsible for turning designs into a tangible reality that the user can interact with easily and smoothly.
The Backend is the mastermind behind the scenes. When you log in to your account, buy a product, or send a message - all of these operations are handled in the Backend. It is like a control room that manages all the complex operations, from saving user data to processing payments and securing sensitive information.
The Frontend works with relatively simple technologies such as HTML to build the structure of the page, CSS to beautify it, and JavaScript to make it interactive. While the Backend deals with more complex programming languages such as PHP, Python, or Java, databases that store information, and servers that process orders.
When you order a product on an e-commerce site, the Frontend sends your order to the Backend, which checks the product’s availability, processes the payment process, saves your order in the database, and then sends a confirmation to the Frontend to show you a success message.
Frontend developers focus on user experience and aesthetics. They care about how the user navigates the site, how easy it is to find information, and how attractive the design is. While Backend developers focus on operational efficiency, data security, and responsiveness.
The relationship between Frontend and Backend can be likened to a bridge between two worlds: the beautiful visual world of the user, and the complex world of data and operations. Both are essential to building a successful web application, and both complement each other perfectly.
Anyone who wants to enter the field of web development has to choose between these two paths according to their inclinations - either work on the creative and interactive side with Frontend, or dive into the world of logic and data with Backend, or even combine them to become a Full Stack Developer.
Difference between Backend and DevOps: A Simple Explanation
Is DevOps the same as Backend?
The simple answer is: No, Backend and DevOps are two completely different areas of software development and infrastructure management. Each has a unique role in the software development lifecycle, but their work can overlap at some points.
What is DevOps?
DevOps combines software development (Development) and operations (Operations) with the aim of improving the software development lifecycle.
A DevOps Engineer focuses on:
- Automation: Simplifying and deploying software updates using tools like Jenkins and Docker.
- Infrastructure Management: Setting up and managing servers and clouds using tools like Terraform and Kubernetes.
- Monitoring and Analytics: Monitoring the performance of applications and servers using tools like Prometheus.
- Ensuring Business Continuity: Improving workflows and ensuring fast, high-quality software delivery.
Examples of DevOps Tasks:
- Setting up a new web application server using AWS.
- Creating automated deployment pipelines (CI/CD Pipelines) to accelerate software updates.
- Monitoring system performance and ensuring stability under stress.
Is DevOps easier than Backend?
The answer depends on interests and skills:
- Backend requires strong programming skills and a deep understanding of algorithms and data structures.
- DevOps focuses more on automation, infrastructure management, and understanding cloud tools, with some programming skills.
How do Backend and DevOps overlap?
- Backend developers can learn DevOps techniques to expand their skills and participate in managing automated deployments.
- In contrast, DevOps engineers can work with backend code to improve performance or solve deployment issues.
Can you start as a Backend and then transition to DevOps?
Of course, many DevOps engineers started their careers as Backend developers, where programming experience helps them deal with process automation and infrastructure management better.
The difference in brief
- Backend: Focuses on building software systems and dealing with data.
- DevOps: Focuses on improving the software development lifecycle and infrastructure management.
Each has its own scope and importance in a software development team, and any developer can choose the one that best suits their interests and ambitions.
Average Salaries for Back-End Developers
Back-End Developer salaries vary greatly by region, experience, and company size. Here’s an overview of average salaries in the US, Europe, and the Middle East:
US: The average salary for a back-end developer is around $158,122 per year. Salaries range from $111,255 to $224,733, depending on experience and geographic location.
Europe: Salaries vary significantly across European countries:
- Germany: The average salary for a remote software engineer is around $72,900 per year.
- Netherlands: The average salary is $75,656 per year.
- Spain: The average salary is around $68,216 per year.
- Poland: The average salary is $71,327 per year.
- Portugal: The average salary is around $61,608 per year.
Middle East: Salaries in this region vary based on country and experience. For example, in Turkey, the average salary for a remote software engineer is around $56,658 per year.
Please note that these numbers are approximate and may vary based on multiple factors such as experience, skills, and company size.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner looking to discover the world of programming, or a professional looking to improve your skills, backend development opens up endless possibilities in the field of technology.
With the increasing demand for this specialty around the world, you can build a distinguished and profitable career. By learning PHP, MySQL, and other backend technologies, you will be able to contribute to the creation of innovative applications that meet the needs of users and achieve sustainable success. Now is the perfect time to start on this exciting path!
Feel free to ask any questions or share your experience with us in the comments – we are here to help you on your journey towards professional backend development. What's the first question that comes to your mind about a backend developer that we haven't covered yet? Share your thoughts with us!