Back-End Web Development: Server-Side Programming With Node.js, Django, Ruby On Rails and other Frameworks
Web development is the procedure of creating a website or web application. It includes two main parts: the front-end and the back-end. The front-end and back-end work together to build a whole website or web application. The front-end provides the user interface, and the back-end provides the data and logic.
In 2022, the market size of worldwide web development was USD 6.9 billion. According to a Statista survey, it is revealed that the most popular web framework among developers in 2023 is Node.js. Read on to learn more about back-end web development and top back-end web development frameworks.
Introduction To Back-End Web Development And Web Development Frameworks
Back-end web development involves the creation of the server-side of a web application. The server-side is responsible for handling the data and logic of the application. The primary programming languages used by back-end developers are Java, Python, and PHP, etc., in order to create back-end applications.
The back-end is known for storing data in a database that can include anything from user profiles to information about products or services. It processes user requests including logging in, registering, and adding items to a cart. In addition, the back-end executes business logic, generates responses to user requests, and interacts with the database.
Web development frameworks consist of pre-written code that can be utilized to quicken the web application development procedure. These frameworks offer a structure and various tools that make it easier to create complicated web applications.
Top 8 Back-End Web Development Frameworks
There are plenty of back-end web development frameworks that are used depending on the specific requirements of the web development project. Below are the top 8 back-end web development frameworks.
• Node.js
Node.js is currently the most popular back-end web development framework. It is a JavaScript runtime environment that can be utilized for developing back-end and front-end applications as well. This framework has an asynchronous programming model, making it a good option for dealing with concurrent requests.
Features:
- Asynchronous programming model
- Big developer community
- Numerous libraries and modules
- Ideal for both front-end and back-end applications
Pros:
- Quick and efficient
- Scalable and extensible
- Easy to learn and easy to use
- Best option for developing real-time applications
Cons:
- Can be tough to debug
- Not the best choice for large and complex web applications
• Spring Boot
Spring Boot is a Java framework which is popular for being easy to use and deploy. This framework is a reasonable option for creating web applications that have to be deployed swiftly and easily.
Features:
- Easy to learn, use, and deploy
- Quick development
- Production-ready
- Extensive documentation
- Support for various features, like security, testing, and caching
Pros:
- Scalable and extensible
- Fast and efficient
- Well-documented
- Ideal for developing enterprise applications
Cons:
- Can be difficult to configure
- Not the most flexible framework
• ASP.NET
A Microsoft framework that is known for its scalability and security. It is a good choice for developing web applications that need to be highly scalable and secure.
Features:
- Open-source and cross-platform
- Robust security features
- Rich ecosystem of libraries and tools
- High performance and scalability
Pros:
- Secure and reliable
- Quick
- Well-documented
- Ideal for developing web applications and microservices
Cons:
- Hard to learn and use, especially for beginners
- It is not as flexible as other frameworks
• Laravel
Laravel is a PHP framework which is popular for being flexible and elegant. It is a decent option for creating web applications that need plenty of customization.
Features:
- Elegant and expressive syntax
- Well-documented
- Active community of developers
- Extensive library of pre-built components
Pros:
- Best for developing web applications and APIs
- Fast
- Highly scalable
- Easy to learn and use
Cons:
- Does not work well for large and complex applications
- Can be difficult to debug
• Django
Django is a Python framework that is known for its simplicity and flexibility. For web applications that need to be quick and easy to develop, Django is a great choice.
Features:
- Simple and easy to use
- Well-documented
- Active community of developers
- Extensive library of pre-built components
Pros:
- Easy to learn and use
- Highly efficient and quick
- Scalable and extensible
- Popular choice for developing web applications and APIs
Cons:
- Challenging to customize
- Not the best choice for real-time applications
• Ruby On Rails
Ruby On Rails is a well-known Ruby framework which is popular for its productivity and elegance. This framework is widely used for creating web applications that need a lot of data manipulation.
Features:
- MVC architecture
- Active record pattern
- Extensive library of pre-built components
- Convention over configuration
Pros:
- Good for developing web applications and APIs
- Quick and elegant
- Scalable
- Easy to learn and use
Cons:
- Not the best option for developing real-time applications
- Can be tough to customize
• Flask
Flask is a Python framework which is quite simple and very flexible. This framework remains a popular option in order to create web applications that have to be developed quickly and easily.
Features:
- Lightweight and flexible
- Active community of developers
- Well-documented
Pros:
- Easy to learn and use
- Simple and highly flexible
- Good for developing small and simple web applications
Cons:
- Not as well-suited for large and complex applications
- Can be difficult to maintain
• Phoenix
Phoenix is another top web framework that is composed in Elixir. Though it is one of the newest frameworks, it is quite popular because of its scalability, performance, and ease of use.
Features:
- MVC architecture
- Open Telecom Platform
- LiveView
Pros:
- Support for real-time applications
- Fast and scalable
- Easy to learn and use
- Active community of developers
Cons:
- Not as popular as other frameworks
- Hard to configure
Bottom Line
To conclude, back-end web development creates the server-side of a web application and is primarily responsible for handling the data and logic of any web application. Some of the most well-known back-end web development frameworks are Node.js, Spring Boot, Laravel, Django, Flask, Ruby On Rails, etc. However, it is vital to note that specific requirements of the project should be considered to know which framework to use.
