A Quick Guide to Mobile App Backend Development

Introduction

While the world yearns for results, only a few care about the process. The visuals you see on your screen do not justify the means of making it.

A lot of work and time goes behind the screen as well. You guessed it correctly! We are talking about backend development.

You might not pay attention to the minor details on a website, however, a lot of effort and time goes behind refining even the most diminutive elements on it. As a result, backend development takes charge of simplifying things for you.

This article will focus on the reasons why backend development is incumbent for a website, and the components, frameworks, and strategies put underway to facilitate its development. 

 

 

 

 

Importance of A Robust Backend in Mobile Apps 

Mitochondria might be the powerhouse of the cell however, the backend powers the frontend of a mobile app.

It lays the foundation of entailing the right infrastructure and support to assist the frontend which is the part of the app that the users interact with.

For a mobile app to function effortlessly, certain features need to be designed that streamline well within the app. 

Hence, it becomes rather important for you to maintain the backend of your app and understand the cumulative power it holds on the success of your app.

Not only will you understand the significance of a solid backend in your mobile app but also the ways and strategies you can adopt to set the development of an incredible app in motion. 

 

 

 

Key Components of A Mobile App Backend

Once you realize how important a solid backend is to help your app prosper, it is time to scrutinize the different components and elements that accumulate to make up the complete backend of an app.

Some of these components are listed below:

 

Database

The crux of user information, content, as well as configuration settings that the user demands is stored in a database.

It ensures the user data availability at all times by storing its persistence, access, and updates.

The database is also important to make sure that it offers scalable strategies resulting in seamless management of growing user data created by mobile applications. 

 

Server

This is the brain of the backend that allows requests from the user interface, analyzes them, and sends outputs accordingly.

It acts as the heart of the backend to authorize and hold data security along with its management and storage.

The server also acts as an intermediary between any third-party APIs and the app that might be important for smooth functioning. 

 

APIs

This part of the backend authorizes connections between servers and mobile apps to ensure that consistent data transfer is feasible.

Such engagement between the app and the server ensures that the developers are working on the latest information inputs.

Third-party services are granted accessibility to enhance user experience and app functionality by APIs. 

With such components on board, you can rest assured of building a smooth-functioning app on the go.

If anything goes wrong in the front end, these components in the backend are on the fly to fix it. 

 

 

 

 

Development Frameworks for Mobile App Backend

Now that you understand the fundamental elements that make up the backend of any seamlessly functioning mobile app, it is time to know about the tools to work with to develop such an app.

Development frameworks are generally tools that allow developers to practice their hand at creating such apps through their backend.

Below are some of the most popular development frameworks that can help a company build their product:

 

 

NodeJS

It is a cross-platform backend service that consists of a server-side JavaScript ecosystem used to develop highly scalable and performing apps that can also be quick, lightweight, and maintainable. 

This framework also allows developers to write JavaScript on both the client and well as server-side.

Once executed, synchronized data transfer between the client and server side is possible. Some of the NodeJS features include:

• • Convenient development process.

• • Asynchronous request handling.

• • The availability of free tools. 
    
    
    

 

ExpressJS

Another bigshot in the mobile app development framework industry, ExpressJS harbors 19.28% of the developers in its community, according to Statista.

It is a lightweight app development framework that is designed on the foundation of NodeJS utilizing the CommonJS module system. This facilitates its use in any JavaScript project.

There are other features available as well like validation, routing, tagging, and much more keeping it a priority one for RESTful APIs.

Some of the features ExpressJS provides are:

• • A layer built atop NodeJS managing servers and routes.

• • Ease in spotting bug issues in the code.

• • Convenience in building APIs and web applications.

 

This framework was quite popular last year amongst the developers’ community with a user base of 40.58% according to Statista.

Only second to NodeJS, React Native is an open-source and cross-platform framework. It facilitates both iOS and Android app development which skyrockets its popularity around the world.

Some of the widely popular apps relying on its framework include Tesla, Amazon Prime, Airbnb, Skype, and others. 

Some of the features it provides to the developer and user are:

• • Reusable components

• • Both Android and iOS support.

• • Compatible with third-party plugins.
    
    
    

 

Flutter

Flutter is another one of the framework giants responsible for developing cross-platform apps with the help of a single codebase. According to Statista, Flutter accounts for 9.12% of developers around the world as their favorite.

It is an open-source framework developed by Google that provides a native-like feel to the apps it builds due to its design layout. Such an SDK is perfect for cross-platform app development.

The mobile developers can also leverage its features to build an engaging application with a highly dependable mobile user interface. 

The framework provides multiple widgets, a rendering engine, testing, and other tools to offer the developers carte blanche creativity to design visually appealing mobile applications.

Some of the reputable companies using Flutter are Alibaba, Google, as well as Abby Road Studios.

Some of its features include:

• • Robust widget support.

• • In-built material design.

• • Rich motion APIs. 
    
    
    

 

API Development and Integration

Your business can gain a lot from good API integrations. It provides leverage to your company to gain a competitive edge over your competition in the marketplace.

Hence, understanding the ins and outs of API is important in your business software. You can integrate your existing software components with the help of API integration.

Hence, it becomes an important part of your mobile application. 

One of the most common kinds of APIs is REST API. These APIs allow many clients to interact with the backend services.

Hence, it is quite significant to design REST APIs precisely to not run into issues down the road. Some of the things to consider include app performance, ease of use for API consumers, and account security. 

Another query language that allows clients to request the precise data they need is GraphQL. This breeds more efficient communication as well as quick server-side capabilities.

It is also used as an alternative to the traditional REST APIs. However, unlike a REST API, GraphQL accumulates data retrieval into a single endpoint. 

 

 

 

 

Security Considerations in Backend Development

The backends handling heaps and mountains of data can easily be breached if stringent measures are not set in place. Data security is not just a concern for the user but also for the developers these days.

Hence, considering security as a significant asset to consider in your app development strategy is a wise way to go about things. Otherwise, the entire web application’s safety and well-being are at risk.

One of the major risks that haunt backend developers is the data injection risk. These risks generally impact the front end of the app, however, in this case, they can also impact the backend.

These attacks send queries to your app’s backend, and in the absence of checks to verify the query’s origin, attackers can execute output through your backend.

This would otherwise have been filtered and blocked by the front end. Hence, ensuring your backend from taking commands from non-authorized sources is the agentive way to stop such attacks.  

Another security concern to address in backend development is the lack of authentication security. Backend services provide authentication needs, database, and console access requires logins, and such services run on the OS layer.

Hence, it is rather important to maintain authentication security, or else any virus entering the system is bound to destroy it. 

 

 

 

 

Testing and Debugging Strategies

The idea of testing is to verify and identify the software’s functionality and well-being according to the technical requirements of the initial design and development.

This product must meet the requirements of the user effectively by delivering solutions for exceptional and boundary cases. 

Debugging, on the other hand, is the process of bug fixing in the software. It entails the entire procedure of identifying, analyzing, and removing any errors in the code.

Such an issue arises when the software is unable to execute the desired output and is solved by testing the software efficiently.

This can be quite a troublesome task since errors can be found on every layer of debugging. 

Some of the testing and debugging strategies for the backend are listed below

 

Unit Testing

Backend Unit Testing examines an individual component or unit of the software. It is run to analyze the working code of software units if they function according to the user requirements.

 

This kind of testing is done by the developers during the app’s development phase. This prior testing stage saves time, cost, and effort for the developers.

 

Some of the reasons why Backend Unit Testing is utilized in backend development are:

 

• • Assists the developers in understanding the codebase better allowing them to make decisions quickly. 

• • Code reusability is a huge factor that helps in code migration to a new project. 

• • Unit Tests aid in solving bugs early in the development phase and cut costs.
    
    
    

 

Integration Testing

This technique is used to examine the functionality of a mobile application’s multiple components.

The app must be integrated or configured with an emulator to make sure the program operates as planned.

Such testing is similar to unit testing and aims to identify the bugs early on in the development stage. 

Some of the features that integration testing provides are:

 

• • Reliability- The synchronicity between multiple components is examined through this testing in the mobile app. This enhances the reliability of the system making sure that every piece goes right into the puzzle.
    
    

• • Early-Detection- Catching the bug early on in the development phase is a big advantage this type of testing provides to the developer. It is a major key in limiting minor issues from becoming a major concern.
    
    

• • Cost-Effective- The identification and elimination of bugs in the development phase save time and cost for both the client and the developer. Once the software is deployed, it becomes much more complex to deal with bugs that could have been detected early on.
    
    

 

Deployment and Maintenance

It is crucial to understand that deploying and maintaining updates and changes in your backend is significant in your app.

This ensures the availability and reliability of the backend for mobile app users. Contemporaneously, keep an eye out for the performance and well-being of the backend mobile app system in real-time.

This will keep your troubleshooting timely and optimized as required. 

One of the major deployment techniques is Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD). To understand what they mean, let us take them apart one by one 

 

 

Continuous Integration

Continuous integration is a deployment strategy where developers share a version control repository frequently updating codes and then checking its veracity through automated checks.

It develops an automated approach to create, package, and examine their built applications.

A constant integration process incentivizes developers for frequent changes in code leading to better quality

 

 

Continuous Delivery

Where CI ends, CD begins by automating application delivery to specific ecosystems that contain production, development, and testing environments.

Continuous delivery allows an automated method to enter code changes in these environments.

Now the concern arises, what has CI/CD got anything to do with the deployment and maintenance of the backend of a mobile application? Let us explain

DevOps is an approach that combines software development with operations. Previously isolated teams now collaborate cross-functionally with shared ownership to deliver the result of the software to their users smoothly.

Such an approach aids in teams working in harmony to provide CI/CD in the backend systems for smooth functionality of the app.

 

 

Conclusion

If you made it to the end, we hope you finally get the basic ins and outs of mobile backend app development and its significance.

Although the front end might be the face of the app, it is all made possible only through the back end of it. Similar to actors being the stars of a movie while much work goes behind the screen too. 

If you want to try and test a few strategies for a functional app backend yourself, the above techniques will surely allow you to make that possible.

The precise use of such techniques can make or break the success or failure of your app.

So make sure to go through such methods thoroughly and figure out for yourself; the best way you can leverage them for your mobile application backend.

 

 

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)

 

1. How to choose the right hosting background for a mobile app backend architecture?

 

The decision to host a solution relies on multiple factors such as anticipated traffic, budget, as well as app complexity. Some scalable solutions and flexible options are offered by cloud platforms such as Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS. Analyze your requirements and assess factors like performance, management, and reliability while coming to a decision. 

 

2. How to safeguard my app’s backend from unauthorized access?

 

Allowing token-based authentication and role-based access is significant for your backend’s security. The former ensures that only authorized users can access the system while the latter ensures specific users are restricted based on their roles and permissions. Make sure to frequently update and patch security loopholes to increase overall system security.

 

3. What is the difference between GraphQL and RESTful APIs? 

 

The latter are used for straightforward data retrieval while the former follows a pre-defined structure. GraphQL allows clients only the required data providing more flexible options. To build simpler applications, pick RESTful APIs while GraphQL is preferable for projects demanding dynamic data acquiring capabilities. 

 

4. How to ensure the constant stability of the mobile app backend?

 

Accommodate continuous integrations and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices to automate the testing as well as the deployment processes. Frequently update your system to eliminate any bugs and issues in it. Make sure to analyze the backend’s performance for smooth functionality of the product.