What You Need to Know About Backend Development for Mobile Apps
The emergence and evolution of smartphones and tablets has revolutionized the way we live and communicate. Almost every household today has at least one mobile phone that helps them in their daily lives in different ways. Businesses are focused on creating robust mobile applications, which makes our everyday lives more convenient and provides us with real-time data.
Creating and deploying these mobile applications requires expert app backend developers who have hands-on technical expertise and understand user-experience. In this blog, we will be knowing more about the prerequisites of app backend for mobile and its processes.
Introduction
Mobile application development is a cumulative process that involves processing data, business logic, and security of an application. Developing backend for mobile apps includes middleware, servers and databases that are accessible via an Application Programming Interface (API).
A mobile application’s backend ensures the following key functionalities:
- Data process and storing for smartphone devices
- Streamlining and sharing data across multiple devices and platforms
- Content update with the mobile application
- Business logic management of a mobile app
- Authentication and authorization of data’s control access
To ensure that mobile app development is smooth and functional, mobile app developers must also understand the backend of mobile app development. It is important to note that a mobile backend runs on remote servers. This is used as a means of communication between the machines and the servers. Mobile app backend process also includes certain tasks that are meant to improve the front-end experience, which is easily accessible through APIs.
Types of App Backends for Mobile
There are various types of app backends depending on the type of mobile app, customer demands and business logics. Here we will be discussing the top three types of app backends for mobile.
1. Third-Party SaaS
For certain mobile application developments, the backend model is already created and available for purchase online. The mobile app backend developers are only required to use plug-and-play solutions for such apps. Here, they are required to plug in their front-end part of the mobile app to their backend on a subscription fee model and release their app. This type of mobile app backend architecture is known as third-party mobile app backend or SaaS solutions.
2. MBaaS Solutions
It is essential for mobile app backend developers to store required user data and offer advanced features to their end-users. Developers can either develop an app that serves as a backend, or they can make use of existing Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS). This helps save time and reduce mobile app backend cost.
3. Custom Backend
Those mobile app backend developers who are looking for full flexibility and optimization are required to build the backend from scratch. This helps them offer custom features to their end-users. Additionally, businesses looking for customization must also be willing to pay a hefty amount for the same. If the performance and security of the app are in your mind, then you need to build a custom backend using the right tech stack.
Choosing the Right Technology for Mobile App Backend
It is imperative that mobile app backend developers choose the right technology for their processes. Mobile app development tech stack includes programming languages, frameworks, and tools.
Top 10 Mobile App Development Frameworks in 2024
- Flutter
- React Native
- Swiftic
- Kotlin
- Ionic
- Xamarin
- Corona SDK
- Titanium SDK
- Native Script
- JQuery Mobile
Mobile app backend developers must ensure that they pick the right technology stack depending on their business needs. Every project is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach for the same.
Essential Components of Mobile App Backend Development
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Server Infrastructure
It is essential to choose the right server infrastructure for a scalable and reliable backend development for mobile application. The mobile app backend developers can handle varying app loads with flexibility and scalability using cloud-based solutions like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
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APIs
The communication between a mobile application’s front end and back end is enabled with the help of APIs. It is essential to design and develop robust APIs that ensure smooth data exchange. This allows the app to fetch and send information securely.
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Databases
One of the most critical aspects of mobile app backend architecture is storing and managing data. Mobile app backend development team must choose the appropriate database type (like SQL or NoSQL), depending on various factors like scalability, data structure, and performance.
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User Management
App security is paramount, and every mobile app backend development company should ensure secure access to various app features. Developers can make use of techniques like OAuth or JWT (JSON Web Tokens) to ensure permissions management and authentications.
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Push Notifications
Providing end users with real-time updates and engagement features is a key requirement. Services like Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) or Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) facilitate push notifications across different platforms.
Implementing User Authentication and Data Security
Mobile devices are widely used across the globe, hence, developing secure mobile applications must be a key priority. Additionally, building safe and secure apps requires data authentication. To ensure authentication and data security of mobile app backend framework, the following pointers must be taken into consideration:
- Source Code Encryption
- Perform Penetration Tests
- Secure Data-in-transit
- Secure Backend Systems
- Implement Secure Authentication
- Secure Data Storage
- Regularly Update Dependencies
- Educate Users on App Security
Optimizing Performance for Backend Development
A mobile application’s effectiveness is influenced by various factors including the app size and overall performance that impacts the user experience and downloads. Mobile app backend developers must ensure the following to optimize the performance of backend development.
- Analyzing User Behavior
- Code Optimization
- Regular Performance Monitoring
The above pointers are just the basics of ensuring and optimizing the performance of a mobile app. Other key factors include memory usage optimization, making use of caching techniques, eliminating network requests and so on.
The Essential Do’s and Don’ts of Mobile App Development
When developing a mobile app, developers must take into account the essential do’s and don’ts. This is to ensure that their mobile application development process is seamless and offers a premium experience to end-users.
Do’s
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Prioritize user experience
End-user is a key priority of any mobile application development backend. User experience varies from person to person and device to device. Mobile app developers must ensure that they do not simply import an existing desktop app to mobile. Instead, they should ensure that they implement varying mechanisms to suit different mobile devices. This provides the user the required information real fast irrespective of the device they are using.
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Ensure compatibility across devices
Mobile app development team should build an app that is compatible with different mobile devices. They must ensure that the mobile app is fully functional across various devices, while also maintaining the look and feel of the same.
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Usability of real time data
Depending on the features of the mobile app, developers must ensure that the data they provide is accurate to the best of their knowledge. They must infuse real time data in the mobile app backend architecture to keep their end-users updated with the latest information.
Don’ts
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Don’t build just because you can
It is extremely essential for mobile app backend developers to understand their users’ needs when creating an app. The mobile app backend developers should conduct polls, surveys and so on to understand the user intent and requirements. They must consider the mobile app’s relevance and benefits for the end users.
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Don’t ignore security
Security is paramount when creating a mobile app. A user will always go through the essential details of a mobile application and its security’s robustness before downloading the app. Hence, mobile app backend development team must prioritize security of the user data, protecting it from any form of theft.
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Don’t limit innovation
There are millions of mobile applications on the play store, both android and iOS. In this competitive environment, it is essential for mobile app developers to create an app that’s innovative and stands out. They must focus on creating simpler easy to use mobile applications, while also providing top-notch features and usability to the end-user.
Mobile Applications are Reshaping the Industry: Statistics on Growth
- Revenue Growth: The global mobile app development market size was valued at USD 197.2 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach around USD 583.03 billion growing at a CAGR of 12.8% during the forecast period (2022–2030). (Source: Straits Research)
- Users: According to one research, the number of smartphone users has increased by 0.3–0.6 billion every year since the invention of the device. In 2022, there were 6.6 billion smartphone subscriptions, and by 2027, it is predicted that there will be 7.7 billion subscribers. (Source: Vlinkinfo)
- Technology Trends: As of 2022, JavaScript and HTML/CSS were the most commonly used programming languages among software developers around the world, with more than 65 percent of respondents stating that they used JavaScript and around 55 percent using HTML/CSS. (Source: Statista.com)
Summing Up!
Mobile app backend development services is a crucial process and developers must ensure that they are vigilant and precise on every stage of development. They should make use of the right technology and best practices to ensure a seamlessly functioning mobile app.
If you are looking for the best mobile app backend development services company, GKM IT is your one stop solution. We enable clients to build robust backend for mobile apps. Our team of expert mobile app developers make use of the best backend app technologies for your mobile app development project.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Among the most popular backend frameworks for mobile app development is NodeJS. A cross-platform, NodeJS works on server-side JavaScript environments. Mobile app backend developers can use NodeJS to build scalable and high-performance web applications.
Simple and limited functionality mobile apps do not require a complex mobile app backend architecture. However, if you are creating a mobile app that stores critical data, handles user authentication, or provides real-time updates, you need to have a robust backend for mobile app development.
Mobile apps definitely need an API. Most mobile apps need to communicate with backend services and databases for user authentication, data processing, and file storage. An API fosters communication between the backend systems and mobile apps.
Go (also known as GoLang) is considered to be one of the fastest backend languages for beginners to understand the working of applications. Developers can use Golang for web backends, microservices, containerization tools, cloud applications, APIs and even simple data processing.
If you are looking for the best app backend development company for mobile then GKM IT is your one stop solution. With 11+ years of experience in app backend development, the backend engineers at GKM IT are well equipped in handling all the complications of your app development practice.
