When thinking about your company’s need for a mobile application, your team is probably envisioning the actual app that is installed on smartphones or tablets. The part your employees or customers will tangibly interact with.
Think of the app like the tip of the iceberg that peaks up above the surface of the water.
Like an iceberg, there’s a whole lot going on under the surface.
In the software world we call this the “back end“. The back end is comprised of all the components your app requires to function…mainly, the databases and software hosted on your servers. They are part of the overall mobile development project, but not technically part of the app installed on the device.
For example, if your mobile app requires your users to login, they will only see a login screen. The tip of the iceberg. The necessary back end components include:
- The database(s) that store all your usernames, passwords and account information
- The secure, online admin website to manage accounts (create, suspend, approve, view, etc.)
- The application that facilitates secure communication back and forth between the app installed on the phone, and the above-mentioned databases and software hosted on your servers.
Pretty much every app has a back end of some kind. Exceptions would be simple apps such as calculators or notepads that only save your notes to the phone you’re using.
During our initial meeting to discuss your project we’ll explain this and ensure these necessary components are included in any estimates we provide. Your mobile app will either integrate with an existing back end that you already have, or it will be designed and built from scratch.
