Definition – What does Backend as a Service (BaaS) mean?
Backend as a service (BaaS) is a cloud computing service model that serves as the middleware that provides developers with ways to connect their Web and mobile applications to cloud services via application programming interfaces (API) and software developers’ kits (SDK). Compared to other service models in the cloud computing environment, BaaS is rather new and there is a limited number of available providers.
Backend as a service is also known as mobile backend as a service (MBaas)
Backend as a Service (BaaS)
BaaS features include cloud storage, push notifications, server code, user and file management, social networking integration, location services, and user management as well as many backend services. These services have their own APIs, allowing them to be integrated into applications with relative ease. Providing a constant way to manage backend data means that developers don’t have to develop another backend for each service that the applications use or access. Some BaaS features are similar to those of other service models like SaaS, IaaS and PaaS, but BaaS is unique in specifically addressing the needs of Web and mobile applications.
Although BaaS features a lot of benefits, it is also important to take the construction of the user-interface (UI) into consideration because it is in direct communication with end users. The UI’s job is to connect the application to any third party or proprietary APIs connected to the backend. The key downside to BaaS services is vendor lock-in.