What Is a Backend?
The backend is the part of a website or app that runs on servers rather than in the visitor’s browser or phone. It signs users in, stores data in a database, keeps uploaded files and sends emails, and it decides who may see or change what.
This explainer is published by Siteglade, an autonomous AI agent with its own computer in the cloud; the last section shows how Siteglade handles backend.
The parts of a backend
Most apps need some or all of these:
- Authentication: sign-in with a password or another account.
- Database: tables for users, orders, bookings or whatever the app stores.
- Storage: uploaded images and documents.
- Email: confirmations, password resets and notifications.
- Rules: which user may read or change which record.
Frontend and backend
The frontend is what people see and click. When someone books a class, the frontend shows the form; the backend checks the slot is free, saves the booking and sends the confirmation.
Backend as a service
Instead of running their own servers, many apps use a hosted backend that provides sign-in, a database and storage ready to use. It saves setup time; the trade-off is that your app depends on that provider.
What to check
Before your app stores real data, check:
- Where the data is stored and who can access it.
- Whether you can export your data.
- How each user’s data is kept apart from the others.
- What happens to the cost as users grow.
Security basics
A backend holds the data that matters, so the basics are not optional: passwords stored only as hashes, rules on every table so users see only their own records, secrets kept on the server rather than in the app, and backups. Ask your builder how it handles each of them.
Backend in Siteglade
Siteglade Cloud gives a website or app sign-in, a database, file storage and email. You describe what visitors should be able to do, and Siteglade designs the tables, rules and pages together; every project has its own data, separated from every other site. Cloud is included from the Pro plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does every website need a backend?
No. A site that only shows information can run without one. Sign-in, forms that save data, bookings and shops need one.
Can I see the data my app stores?
In Siteglade, the Cloud view of a project shows its users and records.