How to Learn Back-End Web Development

Back end web development is the backbone of websites and webpages. You might have the surface-level information set up by using front end web development and web design, but you’ll need back end web development to ensure everything functions the way it should. 

There are many options for learning back end web development, and it can seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to look first. This guide will go over some options that may suit your current needs. From there, you’ll be able to move forward with your back end web development education confidently. 

What is Back End Web Development?

Back end web development covers the back end, or “server-side,” of websites. Essentially, it’s the part of websites that handles everything that happens behind the scenes. Without back end web development, websites would only have text, images, and sometimes animations. 

Back end web development is important because it helps websites function. While websites can operate using only front end web development, they will be relatively basic and unable to retain anything. Back end web development allows complex programs to operate on the site, store relevant information, and generate new content based on the user’s actions. Modern websites need back end web development to stay current because simple websites can only go so far in the increasingly digital world. 

Read more about back end web development and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Back End Web Development?

While front end web development focuses on the parts of websites that users see, back end web development handles most of its functions. Back-end web development skills are essential when it comes to organizing, cataloging, and saving (or deleting) data. Without these skills, websites are static and lifeless. You’ll need to use back end web development to ensure that your site meets modern standards and user expectations. Front-end-only websites might lead to user frustration if the site is intended for complex uses such as data retrieval. 

Back end web development allows websites to store login information and prevent user frustration from forgetting their password when they revisit your site. If you’ve accidentally logged out of essential websites after clearing your cache, you know how much of a headache it can be to re-login to every site you visit. Your users will appreciate the ease of access to their accounts, which will help enhance their overall user experience.

In-Person Back End Web Development Training

In-person training is the most familiar format because most people have had in-person education through school. For this reason, you’re likely familiar with the perks and drawbacks of in-person courses, but you may not have considered how they compare to other training methods.

Most in-person training centers will have a distraction-free environment and all the necessary equipment to complete the course. You’ll also have a group of peers that can lead to networking opportunities. That’s useful if you need extra motivation to continue through your training over long periods of time.

If you’re already self-motivated and have regular access to a computer, you may find that commuting costs can be a considerable drawback. That includes monetary and time costs—you might want to think about how it takes you to go from home to class and everything it can affect. Sometimes you’ll find that you have obligations at home, such as kids or pets, that can make commuting unreasonable. If that sounds like you, you may want to consider live online options instead.

Live Online Back End Web Development Training

Most people consider live online courses relatively new, but many training facilities, such as Noble Desktop, have taught people online for decades. Live online courses are taught in real-time and are equally as engaging and interactive as their in-person counterparts. The most notable point about live online courses is that they’re taught by the same experts that teach in-person classes, which means you’ll receive the same quality instruction no matter which option you choose. 

The primary drawback of live online courses is that you’ll need to set up your own equipment and learning environment. Thankfully, for the most part, you’ll need a laptop, and then you can learn from anywhere in the world. That can be from your office at work or your living room couch. Once you’ve set up your workspace to fit your needs, you’ll find that the ultimate perk of live online courses is their freedom and flexibility.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

It’s perfectly understandable if you’re not ready to take a full back end web development class. You may have a tight budget or schedule that prevents you from committing as much as you desire. That’s normal, and luckily there’s still a way to learn without spending money. 

While in-person and live online courses are ideal for gaining knowledge because you’re working with an expert, free online classes are helpful to get an overview or obtain foundational knowledge of the subject without needing to pay for a class. The free Intro to Node course goes over how to use it to create servers required for back end programs to run properly. This class will help you get ahead of the curve once you sign up for a full class and make it easier to progress into more complex areas. 

Read about more free back end web development videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Back End Web Development Classes

You might want to start learning back end web development but aren’t able to commit quite yet for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re juggling a tight schedule and having difficulty fitting in new activities. You might also have budget constraints and need to save funds before paying for a full course. If that sounds familiar, you can look into on-demand back end web development classes.

These classes are ideal because they’re often free and self-paced. That means you can pause, rewind, and rewatch as many times as you desire. You can also work towards finding a training center that resonates with you by taking their on-demand courses. Most of these on-demand classes are intended strictly for beginners, and it’ll be hard to progress in these skills through self-paced classes alone. Use these classes to test the waters, and then decide if back end web development and your training center are best for you.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

There are plenty of tools and resources available for you to use when learning back-end web development, but which one is best for you? Everyone has their preferences and learning differences, which helps to sort out the options that best match your learning style. The good news is that you can choose from a solid assortment of flexible options for your current schedule, budget, and needs. 

It’s also worth noting that once you’ve taken a class or two and utilized various tools, you can mix and match the ones that work well with your routine. Your instructor might prefer certain tools or tactics to get the job done, but it’s okay to use a different approach if you find that it works better with how you think. Don’t feel pressured to follow what you’re told simply because your instructor uses it—in all likelihood, they’ve gone through the same process you did while they were learning too! 

When choosing your first training session, pick one that fits best with your level of commitment. You’ll learn more quickly and effectively with an in-person or live online bootcamp, but it’s understandable if you’re not ready to jump into that program yet. Beginners usually start with a free video tutorial with a training facility and then try a short-term class to ease into the topic. You might discover that you are interested in an adjacent topic during this trial-and-error period. For example, while pursuing back end web development, you might discover you’re passionate about JavaScript or Python.

Take as much time as you need before diving into a bootcamp. You never know what you might find along the way. 

Why Learn Back End Web Development?

Back end web development makes it possible for websites and apps to come to life. Without this part of web development, all pages would be static, unmoving, and—most importantly—unengaging. By using the back end of websites, you’ll be able to customize websites that can adapt to their user’s needs and retain important information that they’ll repeatedly access. 

For example, if your website is a forum like Reddit, the back end of websites can help store their login information so they can jump right into the website without needing to re-enter their password constantly. That tiny difference can drastically affect how much time a user spends on a platform. Even the most primitive back end programs can greatly impact how well a website runs, and it only takes JavaScript knowledge to get started. 

Read more about why you should learn back end web development. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

While back end web development is fairly accessible to new programmers, there are key concepts you’ll want to learn first. Most people who learn back end web development also take courses in front end web development because Full Stack Developers utilize both skills. This role is common in the web development industry, and you’ll be able to specialize in either front end or back end skills, depending on your preference. 

JavaScript is essential to back end web development programming; at minimum, you’ll want to learn JavaScript to perform most of your tasks. Python is also useful because it’s a gateway into more advanced skills such as machine learning. 

Read more about back end web development prerequisites.

Most of the costs associated with back end web development and its programming languages are related to classes. These topics are free and open-source, which means they are open to the public, and you can modify them without needing to contact their original creators. Costs also can come into play when you’re building your own website—although, if you’re working for a company, this step is completely optional.

Read more about costs associated with back end web development. 

Regarding overall difficulty, back end web development is relatively simple to learn because most of its concepts pull from the first few programming languages new programmers learn. If you have any experience with web development or JavaScript, you’ll have an easy time transitioning into these skills. You can successfully apply for jobs after taking a back end web development certificate program and then look into more advanced topics once you’re securely in the field.

Read more about how difficult it is to learn back end web development.

Learn Back End Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Learning back end web development is pretty straightforward, and the process can become easier when working with a well-prepared training facility. Noble Desktop has taught live online back end web development classes and other computer science subjects for over 30 years. They’re an excellent choice when you’re looking to expand your career or start a new one. 

Those fully invested in learning back end web development and related subjects will enjoy taking a Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. This program teaches both front end and back end principles, which will allow you to enter a wide variety of roles. You can also look into a JavaScript Programming Bootcamp since JavaScript is an important skill for back end web development and most other website-related fields. The more you know about these subjects, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

Key Insights

• In-person and live online courses are ideal for effectively learning back-end web development since an expert will teach you in real time. 
• In-person classes often allow you to network with peers who are also passionate about back end web development.
• Live online classes are best for those who want to skip the commute and learn back end web development from anywhere in the world. 
• On-demand courses are a good choice when you’re interested in learning the topic but aren’t able to adjust your schedule or budget to take a proper class yet.