Nowadays, there seems to be an "as a service" for everything.

There's infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), software as a service (SaaS)… even anything as a service (XaaS).

A lesser-known variant of the "aaS" model is backend as a service (BaaS), targeted at mobile and web app developers. Like other "aaS" models, it relies on cloud computing services to deliver its features and benefits.

In this post, we'll unpick the intricacies of BaaS, as well as its mobile-oriented cousin, MBaaS.

What is BaaS/MBaaS?

BaaS and MBaaS are cloud technologies that are designed to make life easier for web and mobile app developers and speed up time to market for software.

Essentially, BaaS/MBaaS delivers a cloud-based backend for mobile and web apps. A backend is the "data access layer" of a piece of software – the part that deals with essential behind-the-scenes stuff like accessing data and performing actions on a server.

A BaaS is a reusable backend that's preconfigured for web or mobile apps and delivered as a service in the cloud. With BaaS in their back pockets, developers no longer have to create a new backend for each new app they develop.

How does BaaS work?

Through the use of uniform application programming interfaces (APIs) and specialised software development kits, BaaS serves as a bridge between the user-facing frontend of an application and its cloud-based backend.

BaaS enables quick and easy access to ready-made services, which may be used to automate routine activities. It's the ideal blueprint for connecting applications to various services like cloud storage and APIs.

When it comes to delivering their services, MBaaS providers rely on bespoke SDKs. This facilitates the linking of API backends to frontend clients written in a diverse range of programming languages. Owners of apps are spared the hassle of managing infrastructure tasks like version control, backups and scalability.

BaaS provides mobile apps with "ready-to-use" events on the server side. The offered services may be readily integrated into mobile applications using no-code (or low-code) development practices. When working with an MBaaS provider, developers may devote their time entirely to creating the app's user interface (UI), freeing them from the burden of handling the backend administration.

When was BaaS invented?

In cloud computing years, BaaS is a veritable dinosaur. In real terms, however, it's a fairly recent development – most BaaS vendors emerged in the early 2010s.

Its birth was predicated – and likely spurred – by the increasing number of HTML5-based web applications and the booming popularity of smart devices. After all, by 2011, more than 80% of 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK already owned a smartphone.

Mobile apps have infamously short development windows – as little as three months in some instances. With this in mind, it's no wonder companies sprang up to offer BaaS and MBaaS solutions. After all, anything that could speed up time to market and simplify app development was sure to be well received by nascent mobile developers.

Nowadays, there's a whole movement dedicated to no-backend app development. It's called, unsurprisingly, noBackend.

What are the benefits of BaaS?

Here are the main benefits of BaaS in a handy list:

(1) It makes life easier for developers

Much of the time spent on app development focuses on backend-related tasks like database management, API development and server administration. With BaaS, much of this hard work is already completed – and packaged as a handy, reusable service that can be deployed across multiple apps.

This means that instead of worrying about infrastructure maintenance, developers can concentrate on frontend-related tasks like adding new features and enhancing the user interface.

(2) It speeds up app development

More time spent on backend development means a longer time to market. With BaaS, companies can save time and gain a competitive edge by focusing their engineers' efforts on where they'll have the most impact.

(3) It boosts developers' overall productivity

With BaaS, developers can do more in less time. They can tackle tasks more quickly since they don't have to bother with the backend operations. This means their time can be devoted to increasing the commercial value they provide to their clients. All of the server management and app-specific code is taken care of by the backend technology.

(3) It can save money

Using BaaS may cut down on expenses, making the whole process of creating a mobile app more budget-friendly. Savings on the project may be seen immediately when time is cut down by increasing efficiency. Having to pay less per developer means less money out of a company's pocket.

(4) It's simpler to scale

BaaS provides resources that enable scalability, performance maintenance, user experience assurance, extra load management and expansion. There's no longer any need to do a comprehensive backend rebuild to accommodate an app's growth and inevitable variations.

BaaS vs MBaaS

The acronyms "MBaaS" and "BaaS" are often used interchangeably. After all, they provide comparable services – both contribute to cloud-based infrastructure for app creation.

However, they're not exactly the same. BaaS is typically used for web-based applications, while MBaaS is focused entirely on mobile app development. If your business exclusively develops mobile software, you'd probably choose MBaaS because of this narrower focus.

Beyond this, the differences are mostly academic. Both services involve outsourcing server management and upkeep to a third party so developers can concentrate on the app's user interface and other front-end features.

Ascend Cloud Solutions is a trusted cloud consultancy and migration firm, specialising in VMware-based clouds. We've carried out more than 400 migrations for clients of all sizes, so we know the process like the backs of our hands. Want to speak with one of our experts? Please don't hesitate to get in touch.