Best Backends to Build an API for your Mobile App

This article will provide an overview of APIs, Mobile Backend as a Service and list the best backend services to create an API for a mobile application.

Mobile applications are getting more feature demanding over time. It is because mobile phones are getting powerful and letting us deal with most of our tasks. However, it’s making things easier for the users, but it’s making things difficult for the developers at the same time.

They have to implement features in different applications, which takes a lot of time. However, one thing that is very helpful in this scenario is an API. So, here we will discuss what an API and its purpose in mobile application development are.

What is an API?

Have you ever heard of a middle man? If we discuss simple words, then API ^[1] is the middle man for the software and applications. It is an application programming interface that helps the developers connect the front end and its back end. It is a very crucial part of any mobile application.

It is because programming an application without an API will take a lot of time and coding. On the other hand, when API is under use for a feature, the development time is saved. In this case, the developers only have to work on the user interface if they use managed backend or Mobile Backend as a Service.

What is Mobile Backend as a Service

A Mobile Backend as a Service delivers ready to use building like databases, APIs, authentication, notifications, and storage.

As time is passing, users are demanding more features from their applications. However, one thing is that most of the applications require similar building blocks. In this case, it gets very time taking and an in-efficient way to code an application where the same elements are needed to get in use to an application’s backend.

1. An easy solution to this problem is the usage of Mobile Backend as a Service.
2. Here the developers get a backend that is managed by the service provider.
3. It not only provides a lot of benefits, but it also reduces the development time required for developing an application.

When MBaaS is under use to develop an application, only the user interface needs proper work. The service provider provides all the features, and the connection work is through using the ready to use APIs. Mobile Backend as a Service comes with a lot of features and benefits. Here we will discuss some of them.

Features of MBaaS you need to know about:

The following are the features of Mobile Backend as a Service.

Social integration

One of the most important features of any application these days is social integration. It is because there are some platforms like Facebook that almost everyone uses. So, integrating with these platforms provides a lot of feature-rich applications and makes it easy for the users to socialize with their friends and contacts on the same application.

User authentication

One of the most important features of an application is security. However, when MBaaS is under use for application development, there is no need to worry. When you use the managed backend services, the user integration feature is provided by them. You will not need to do any coding or server management to add the user authentication feature to your application.

Notifications

There are different types of notifications that are required to be in an application. There push-notifications, email notifications, and many more. However, when MBaaS is used to develop an application, you can easily get all the notification types up and running just by using the ready to use API.

Database optimization

Another fascinating thing for the developers is that their need for data management in the form of a database for an application is no longer needed. It is because, with all the managed backend services, database optimization is also a service. So, when MBaaS is used to develop an application, you can add the database optimization feature readily to the application.

File storage system

Sometimes an application needs to save the device’s data instead of storing it on the servers or the internet. IT is a major issue because of the difference in devices and the operating systems running on it. However, you can fix this issue by using MBaaS for the development of an application.

Mobile Backend API Services

Many platforms provide their managed backend services, but only some have API for the ease of developers. Here we have sorted out some of the best platforms to get managed backend services and ready to use APIs.

1.    Back4App

It is an open-source platform that you can use for mobile application development. The best part is that it provides ready to use APIs (REST and GraphQL) that you can use with the managed backend services. It significantly reduces the mobile backend development time of an application.

2.    Backendless

If you are looking to develop an application without writing code, then this is one of the best platforms for you. It is because of their pre-written scripts, API, and managed backend services.

3.    Firebase

It is a platform provided by Google, and it helps develop high-quality applications with all the necessary features integrated with them.

4.    AWS Amplify

Although most of the platforms only provide backend services, this platform from Amazon provides you with the perfect set of tools that you can use for backend development of an application and integration with other AWS services.

5.    Kinvey

Server integration and set-up process is a very time taking process for the developers. So, Kinvey is the platform that can you can use for fast and error-free mobile application development. It is because of their managed backend services.

Conclusion

Mobile application development is going on at a very fast pace. It is all because of the efficient development techniques used by the developers. Using ready to use API and managed backend is one of the most popular techniques. We discussed some platforms that provide these services, and we also discussed all the APIs and MBaaS.

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