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Concepts

Backend

A short explanation of the backend in our glossary

The part of an IT system that handles data processing behind the scenes is the backend, which in the IT industry usually refers to the client-server side.

In a piece of software or an application, the administrative part is almost always referred to as the backend — for example the software used to maintain the content of a website, database servers or file-access systems.

Backend development is therefore the development and maintenance of these systems running in the background. Backend developers build interfaces for frontend developers, who can then use them for the app or for rendering a website.