Daily Life of a Back End Developer

If you’re interested in becoming a Back End Developer, you might be curious about what this job entails. Web development is often seen as a profession that involves sitting at your computer all day, however, it actually involves a wide variety of other activities including working with a development team. Keep reading for more information about what a typical day might look like for a Back End Developer.

What is a Back End Developer?

Every website has both a front end and a back end. The front end is made up of all the elements that website users see and interact with. The back end is those things that users don’t see, but are essential to the function of the site. Back End Developers are responsible for building and maintaining the back end. They work with the server, databases, architecture, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Their job includes coding, designing, testing, debugging, and ensuring that the sites they create are secure.

While the work that a Back End Developer does is not visible, it is a crucial part of the online user experience. Some people call the back end the engine that makes the website run. It processes the requests that are made by users, and generates responses that it sends back to the front end. For instance, when a user adds items to a shopping cart, the back end makes calculations about the cost of the item, tax, and the shipping cost, and then sends that information to the front end where it is viewed by the user. A Back End Developer is responsible for making sure that all of these behind-the-scenes actions happen quickly and seamlessly. 

People have been working in back end web development since the creation of the very first website, which went live in 1993. Their jobs have continued to evolve over time in response to the continual evolution of web technology. For example, as mobile devices have become an increasingly popular way to access websites, the concept of responsive design has become important, where websites need to adapt to a variety of screen sizes and orientations.

Back End Developer Specializations

Some Back End Developers specialize in specific languages or in particular aspects of the back end development process. For example, an SQL Developer uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to design, build, and maintain applications and databases. They work in industries where SQL is commonly used, including business, finance, and IT. SQL Developers need experience with databases and proficiency with SQL. They need to be good at problem-solving and logical thinking. Another specialization is that of a Java Developer, who designs and maintains websites and applications, with a focus on using the Java language. They need many similar skills to Back End Developers, including strong coding skills. Back End Developers are typically proficient in Java too, however, this language is not usually their primary focus. Other things that a Back End Developer might develop special skills in include proficiency with cloud computing, APIs, and security.

In an article titled “How Can You Choose the Right Back-End Development Specialization?” LinkedIn discusses specializing and advises, “One of the first things to consider is the demand and popularity of different back-end technologies and platforms. You want to choose a specialization that has a high market value, a large and active community, and a lot of resources and support.” It says, “Some of the most popular back-end technologies include PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, Node.js, .NET, and Go. You can research the trends, statistics, and job opportunities for each of these options to get a sense of their current and future prospects.”

Starting Your Day

Starting the day means something slightly different for everyone since Back End Developers work in a variety of different settings. Some work in an office, and for them, starting the day entails a commute to their workspace, which may be an office or a cubicle. It is also common for people in this profession to work remotely or as a freelancer, which often means working from home. For Back End Engineers who work from home, most of their communication with clients and co-workers is likely to be virtual, while in-office workers will have more face-to-face interactions. 

9 AM:

Many Back End Developers say that they start their day by checking their calendar and email so that they can get a good understanding of what needs to be accomplished for the day. They might also meet with team members in order to discuss current projects, talking about things like what they are working on, and any problems they are facing. Back End Developers often work as part of a team, which can include Front End Developers, Project Managers, Designers, and other stakeholders. They need to engage in regular communication with that team, including providing updates and sharing feedback.

11 AM:

Back End End Developers spend a lot of time working on projects. The main focus of this position is creating websites. This might include coding, building APIs and databases, and working with servers. Another important--and often time-consuming--part of the process is testing everything and fixing any problems that are found. In addition, Back End Developers are responsible for maintenance, which includes optimizing and updating existing systems. They are also responsible for creating and updating documentation. 

2 PM:

Some Back End Developers find that they are more productive overall if they step away from their projects for a little while. One way to take a break is to spend some time learning about new trends or skills. Technology in the field of back end development is constantly changing, and it’s important to keep up-to-date on new trends, understand best practices, and learn new skills like new programming languages. 

5 PM:

For most Back End Developers, the end of the day is a time to finish anything that needs to be completed that day and to get ready for the next day. This might mean checking email and calendar one last time in order to get an idea of upcoming tasks and deadlines.

After Work

Most Back End Developers work a regular work week, however, if there is something urgent that needs to be done, they might put in overtime. Many people say that they like to find an activity that can help them wind down at the end of the work day, like exercise or a hobby. Web Developer Emily Stevens writes about a typical day on CareerFoundry. She explains that it can be difficult to walk away from her work at the end of the day. She says, “I don’t have my work email or calendar on my phone, as I prefer to have some separation and try to leave my work in the office as much as I can.” But she also says, “Generally, I try to take a break from programming—however, ideas often come to me as I’m in bed falling asleep, so I grab my phone, type out a quick email to myself and send it to my work address.”

Learn the Skills to Become a Back End Developer at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a number of different classes designed for aspiring Back End Developers. Its course options include in-person and live online classes, in addition to a variety of flexible scheduling options such as part-time programs and courses that run on weeknights and weekends. All classes come with a certificate of completion and the option of a free retake within a year. Noble Desktop is based in New York City, and is licensed by the New York State Education Department.

• The Full-Stack Web Development Certificate is a popular Noble Desktop offering. It covers both front end and back end web development. In this class, you’ll learn to code with HTML and CSS, in addition to learning JavaScript. The course also covers Node.js for web apps, MongoDB for working with databases, and Express.js for API development. Learning is project-based, and by the end of the course, you will have developed a portfolio of working web applications. The course comes with ten one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used for career support or extra help with challenging concepts. In 2024 it was awarded Best Full-Stack Developer Bootcamp by Forbes Advisor. 

• The Python Developer Certificate covers all the skills that you’ll need to become a Python Developer. In 2024, it was awarded Best Python Bootcamp by Forbes Advisor. You’ll learn the fundamentals of Python, and you’ll also learn web development with Django and Django REST. In addition, you’ll learn about object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and how to use Git and SQL. You’ll also work on a portfolio of projects and receive guidance from the lead instructor. This class comes with four one-on-one mentoring sessions. Students should have basic HTML and CSS skills.

• In the JavaScript Development Certificate, you’ll gain a variety of in-demand skills that will prepare you to work in web development with JavaScript. In addition to learning JavaScript, you’ll learn how to create web applications with React and Node.js, how to work with APIs, and how to incorporate third-party frameworks and libraries. You’ll also create a portfolio of projects. In order to take this class, you should have basic HTML and CSS skills. The class includes eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.

• Another Noble option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.

Noble Desktop also offers a number of shorter classes that only take a day or two to complete, where you can learn a smaller set of skills. For example, if you’re looking to improve your coding skills, Noble offers a short beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.