A friend of mine recently asked me what backend development actually is. So I thought about writing this article to explain briefly what backend development is, why I chose it, and how to become a backend developer.
Now let’s get straight to it. What is backend development? Backend development is the area of web development that focuses on how a website or web application works. I would basically describe the backend as the brain of a web application. Just as we humans cannot function without our brains, web applications cannot function without the backend.
That's the simple answer to what backend development is now. Who are the people who develop backend applications? Backend developers and their main function is to ensure that the website performs correctly, from the databases, backend logic, application programming interfaces (APIs), and architecture, down to the servers. They write the code that enables our web applications to communicate with databases and servers.
Why did I choose to become a backend developer? So basically, I'm really not a design type. I basically love thinking logically, and backend development was the field for me. And also, things are more consistent in the backend, whilst in the frontend there is HTML, CSS, JS, and 100 new tools, etc.
Another reason I considered a career as a backend developer is the potential for high earnings. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a backend engineer in the United States is $108,675 per year. Of course, salaries can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry you work in. However, overall, backend engineering is a well-paying career path with plenty of opportunities for growth.
How to Become a Backend Developer
Before we get into the how, let's take a look at the skills a backend developer needs to have:
Web Development Languages
Database
Server
API
Please note that these are the basic skills a backend developer should have. There are definitely other skills like the ability to write tests, knowledge of algorithms and data structures, and security, and also, as a backend developer, you need to have basic frontend knowledge. If you are interested in becoming a backend developer, I'll drop a roadmap below. You can go through it and also use it on your journey as a guide.
Yeah, I know there are a lot of things to learn, but well, nothing Good comes easy. You have to put in the work. Mind you, I didn't say rush through the roadmap. Take your time to learn the fundamentals, understand them, and build stuffs. Keep learning and keep building and someday you will reap the result of the effort you put in.