Backend developers are in high demand and giant companies like Google and Apple tend to hire them. These companies give a handsome salary package to the backend developers because backend developers are rare in the market. However, if you are new to this field and want to learn about backend programming, it can be tough to know where to begin.
Backend development comprises programming languages, algorithms, and a wide range of programming tools to become more skilled in the development field.
Not every backend web developer job demands the same set of abilities, but there are a few skills you must know in backend development. There are also some foundations that are essential to understand regardless of what you’re doing.
In this article, you will learn the backend developer skills you need to learn to become a skilled developer. So, let’s start with a brief introduction of the backend developer and what he does. In the latter section, you will learn all the essential skills for a backend developer.
Who is a Backend Developer and What He Does?
The back end of a website is a collection of software and code that allows a website to function. It is made up of three components that the user will never see: a server, an application, and a database.
Their back-end code improves the usability of everything the front-end developer creates. Here are some responsibilities of a backend developer:
- The backend developer creates the database, integrates it, and manages the whole website.
- He works with the backend frameworks to build server-side applications or software.
- Works on web server technologies.
- He integrates cloud computing systems.
- Mostly interacts with the server-side programming languages.
- He also works on operating systems.
- API integration.
- Security settings and anti-hacking measures.
- Reporting—creating analytics and statistics.
- Backup and restoration technologies for files and databases on a website.
Now, let’s discuss the Backend Developer Skills required for backend development.
Top Backend Developer Skills
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are crucial foundational languages for frontend development, and you may think these languages are irrelevant for backend developers to master.
Hypertext Markup Language or HTML is the backbone of a website: everything you see on the frontend is made possible by HTML, which provides its structure. CSS is concerned with the colors, layouts, and fonts of a website.
JavaScript is responsible for a website’s interactive and animated elements. It collaborates with HTML and CSS to provide users with an engaging experience with a website’s frontend.
Backend Programming Languages
To be a competent backend developer, you must be fluent in the language, because language is everything in programming.
Programming languages are the means by which programmers connect with computers in order to execute instructions and implement algorithms. Every backend developer needs a backend programming language to learn backend development. And there are various languages to master— Java, Python, and PHP are three of the most popular.
Knowledge About Famous Frameworks
Once you’ve decided on a language, you’ll need to become acquainted with the frameworks associated with that language. A web framework is intended to aid in the creation of an online application. It essentially serves as a basis for backend developers to implement specific apps in their own language.
If you choose Java language, you may utilize Spring or Micronaut. If Python is your favorite language, you may use Django or Flask as your framework.
Data Structure and Algorithms
Backend development is computation, and you should have a basic knowledge of the mechanism, structures, and techniques necessary to implement and display that data as a backend developer. These include linear and binary search, hashcode implementations, data sorting, stacks, queues, and lists, among others.
Database and Cache
Database management systems are closely related to data structures. Databases are used by websites to store and organize vast amounts of data, while database management systems (or DBMSes) are used by developers to access that data.
Backend developers should be conversant with the following database management systems:
- PostgreSQL
- AWSDynamoDB
- Oracle
All of these tools are used to handle massive volumes of data, and they also leverage cache to store small amounts of data for specific users.
Familiarity with Servers and Operating Systems
Backend development is entirely server-side, which necessitates a solid understanding of servers. A server is a computer or system that distributes data, resources. And services such as file storage, security, and databases to other computers.
Apache, NGINX, and Microsoft are three of the most used servers in the world. Learning the fundamentals of Linux is also incredibly beneficial because the majority of these servers support Linux operating systems.
Knowledge About APIs
APIs are growing rapidly as a component of backend development. An API (or Application Programming Interface) is a communication interface that enables different apps to communicate with one another.
For instance, when you use your phone to order something from Amazon, you’re actually utilizing an API to connect to Amazon. APIs are crucial in the development of server-side architectures. Sometimes it requires more complex and complicated code to allow applications to communicate with other apps.
Problem Solving
Backend development is a hectic and problem-solving field but sometimes it may be enjoyable for those who enjoy problem-solving. In many respects, a backend developer is the problem solver for a website, therefore curiosity and a desire to solve problems are vital traits of a backend developer.
Final Thoughts
When you are keen to learn backend development as a career, you need some backend developer skills to become an expert backend developer. You not only need a single language to become an expert in backend development but you also have strong hands-on other skills— APIs, OS, Problem Solving, Frameworks, and many others.
When you apply all these skills in your practical life, you will feel a change in your mentality and way of thinking. You will always solve problems in your real-life whenever you will face a problem. It will also help you in your personal life as well as broads your mind.
I hope you have understood the skills essential for learning backend development. If you have any queries regarding this, you can search different blogs on the internet.