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Back-End Developer

Build the servers, APIs, and databases that power apps behind the scenes.

backendprogrammingdatabasessql
Start with: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill StackTake the career survey

Career facts

Preparation
Considerable preparation needed · most need a bachelor's degree
Ways in
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Industry certification
  • Portfolio of projects
Field
Software, data & cyber

About this career

Back-end developers write the code users never see: the APIs that apps call, the business logic that runs on servers, and the databases that keep everything consistent. They think about correctness, security, and what happens when thousands of requests arrive at once. A great fit if you enjoy logic and data more than visual design, and like knowing exactly why something works.

Learning path

Take these courses in order, from beginner to mid-level.

  1. Step 1: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill Stack

    The shared base every STEM career uses: working with numbers and units, testing ideas fairly, handling data and code, and explaining your work.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 34 other careers

  2. Step 2: Digital Literacy for Tech & STEM Work

    The everyday computer, internet, safety and AI skills every tech and STEM job assumes you already have.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 6h 8mAlso used in 34 other careers

  3. Step 3: HTML & CSS Foundations

    Learn how the web works and build, style and publish your own responsive website with semantic HTML and modern CSS.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 14 lessons · 11h 9mAlso used in 8 other careers

  4. Step 4: JavaScript Essentials

    The programming language of the web: variables, functions, the DOM, arrays and objects, and fetching data from APIs.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 13 lessons · 8h 16mAlso used in 7 other careers

  5. Step 5: Professional Communication & Teamwork

    Write clear emails and documents, present and run meetings, work well on teams, and navigate résumés, interviews and networking.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 24mAlso used in 34 other careers

  6. Step 6: Math for Tech & STEM

    The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 7h 32mAlso used in 34 other careers

  7. Step 7: Git & the Command Line

    Use the terminal with confidence, track your work with Git, and collaborate on GitHub with pull requests.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 5h 57mAlso used in 15 other careers

  8. Step 8: Python Fundamentals

    Learn to program in Python from zero: values, decisions, loops, functions, data structures, files, modules and a small data project.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 9h 53mAlso used in 22 other careers

  9. Step 9: SQL Fundamentals

    Query, summarise, join and change data in a relational database with SQL, practised in your browser.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 5h 44mAlso used in 11 other careers

  10. Step 10: Networking Fundamentals

    Learn how data moves between computers: layers, IP addresses and subnets, ports, DNS, DHCP, HTTPS, and the tools to troubleshoot it.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 5h 11mAlso used in 8 other careers

  11. Step 11: Foundations for Software, Data, Design & Tech Education Careers

    Understand tech roles and career ladders, pick a realistic learning route, build portfolio evidence, and navigate postings, interviews and your first 90 days.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 7h 22mAlso used in 20 other careers

  12. Step 12: Data Structures & Algorithms

    Measure efficiency with Big-O, then use searching, sorting, hash maps, stacks, linked lists, trees, graphs and dynamic programming in Python.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 37mAlso used in 7 other careers

  13. Step 13: Back-End Web APIs

    Design REST routes, validate JSON, build Node and Express APIs on a SQL database, secure them, test them and ship them.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 11mAlso used in 4 other careers

  14. Step 14: SQL for Analysis

    Go beyond the basics with subqueries, CTEs, window functions and the analytics patterns analysts use every day, practised in your browser.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 5 other careers

  15. Step 15: Software Engineering Practices

    Design, test, refactor, review, estimate and run software the way professional teams do.

    Level: Mid-level4 modules · 12 lessons · 9h 45mAlso used in 3 other careers

Skills you'll build

Node.js

A JavaScript runtime for building servers, APIs, and tools outside the browser.

JavaScript

The programming language of the web. Runs in browsers and on servers (via Node.js).

Python

A beginner-friendly, general-purpose language popular in data, AI, and scripting.

SQL

The language for asking questions of relational databases. Used everywhere.

Git

The version-control tool every software team uses to track and merge changes.

Data Structures

How data is organized in memory — lists, trees, graphs, hash maps. Underpins everything.

Docker

Containerization tool that packages applications so they run the same everywhere.

Security Fundamentals

Authentication, authorization, encryption, common attack patterns. Defense in depth.

Free resources to get started

Hand-picked courses and reading from trusted free providers.

  • TypeScript
    Trustedarticle

    The TypeScript Handbook

    The official guide to TypeScript's type system, from everyday types to generics and narrowing.

  • Git SCM
    Trustedbook

    Pro Git

    The free official Git book: first commits, branching, remotes, and how Git works under the hood.

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