Top 14 Back End Development Courses

Introduction

Web development as a career has witnessed staggering growth over the years. The demand continues to rise as businesses focus on reaping the benefits of the online platform to expand globally. The web developer roles are categorized into backend development and frontend development.  

Backend developers play a crucial role as they focus on vital tasks for the smooth functioning of the website. The tasks include creating and maintaining technology on the backend of the website, such as the server and the database. 

The frontend and backend developers work together to make the website fully functional. Typically, backend developers are associated with writing high-quality reusable codes to develop the web application, maintain them, assessment of the efficiency and speed of the applications, APIs, working on hosting environments, QA testing, implementing security and data protection solution, data storage solutions, and troubleshooting and debugging. 

In recent years, the continuous demand has outpaced the number of qualified professionals and organizations are on the lookout for professionals and aspirants with a desire to learn the new and updated technologies in web development. Therefore, professionals and aspirants need to opt for courses that provide up-to-date content to build their knowledge and programming skillset to land a career with exceptional growth potential and a lucrative pay structure.

Related reading: Top 14 Front End Web Development Courses

1. Server-side Development with NodeJS, Express, and MongoDB – Coursera

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offers this backend development online course on Coursera . The course is also applicable to the specialization courses on Full-Stack Development offered by the same University on this platform. In this course, the server-side is the focus area, and the learners will build essential development skills using the NodeJS platform.

The course begins with an overview of the web protocols and deep dives into the concepts of NodeJS and NodeJS modules for building web servers. On the database side, the learners will explore the concepts on CRUD operations, NoSQL databases, and MongoDB and Mongoose for accessing MongoDB from NodeJS.

Furthermore, the learners will understand the concepts of REST and the RESTful API, including authentication and security solutions for web applications. Finally, the backend concepts as a service (BaaS) and BaaS for mobile development, open-source and commercial BaaS services will be covered in detail. 

The course contents are:

• Introduction to Server-Side Development
• Data Storage and MongoDB
• RESTful API, Authentication, and JSON
• Backend as a Service

Instructor: Jogesh K. Muppala

Level: Intermediate

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: 4.7/5

Price: Free Enrollment (Additional charges for certification may apply)

2. IBM Full Stack Cloud Developer Professional Certificate – Coursera

The course is available on Coursera. This course emphasizes building the learners’ skillset with cutting-edge technologies for web and application development. The learners will master cloud-native and full-stack development with hands-on projects using technologies such HTML, JavaScript, NodeJs, Python, Django, Containers, and Microservices. Experts teach the course at IBM, and the learners will understand how to build cloud-based applications and practice with the technologies behind these applications.

This course comprises 10 modules with hands-on projects for each of the modules to upgrade the learners’ skills and help build a portfolio. There is no prior programming language required for this course as it is a beginner-centric course. The learners will understand how to build, deploy, test, run, and manage full-stack cloud-native applications.

Moreover, the applied learning project requires learners to develop various projects using technologies for Cloud object storage, AI programs using DevOps principles, CI/CD toolchains, NoSQL databases, and developing applications using NodeJs and React much more. In addition, the learners are required to publish these projects on their GitHub repository. 

The takeaways from the course include:

• Development skills with frontend development languages and tools using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and BootStrap.
• Deployment and scaling applications using Cloud Native methodologies and tools such as Containers, Kubernetes, Microservices, or Serverless Functions.
• Learn to program for applications using backend technologies and frameworks like Express, NodeJS, Python, and Django.
• Understanding how to use GitHub and building a GitHub portfolio, with multiple lab sessions, projects, and the capstone.

The course contents are:

• Introduction to Cloud Computing
• Introduction to Web Development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Developing Cloud-Native Applications
• Developing Cloud Apps with NodeJs and React
• Introduction to containers
• Python Data Science, AI, and Development
• Python Project for AI and Application Development
• Developing Applications with SQL Databases, and Django
• Application Development using Microservices and Serverless
• Full Stack Cloud Development Capstone Project

Instructor: Rav Ahuja, Upkar Lidder, Alex Parker, Joseph Santarcangelo, Ramesh Sannareddy, and Yan Luo

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: 4.5/5

Price: Free Enrollment (Additional charges for certification may apply)

3. Full Stack JavaScript Developer Nanodegree Program – Udacity

The course is available on Udacity. The course focuses on full-stack development with a strong emphasis on building the backend skills of the learners. The learners will build UI, UX, server-side logic, APIs, and the primary layer to store, process, and retrieve data.

The course’s prerequisite includes the fundamental understanding of programming concepts, OOP programming features, basics of HTML and CSS, and the basic skills to write simple programs using loops, syntax, and conditionals. The learners will also be provided with project reviews from experienced reviewers from the industry and technical mentor support. 

The course curriculum includes:

Backend Development with NodeJs

This module introduces the fundamental concepts on the tools required for building a scalable and maintainable API. In addition, the concepts on NodeJs and the core areas such as writing TypeScript for minimizing developer errors and unit testing in a Test Driven development environment are covered in-depth. In addition, the learners will also understand how Express as a framework is used for building APIs.

Creating an API with PostgreSQL and Express

In this module, the learners will acquire the essential API development skills and build RESTful JSON API using Node and PostgreSQL. Along the way, the learners will explore the concepts of database, querying, API architecture, database migrations, REST, CRUD, and understanding the testing environment.

Finally, the learners will understand how to create a secure environment using password hashing and route authorization. At the end of the module, the learners will master developing and organizing an API from scratch.

Angular Fundamentals

In this section, the learners will learn the fundamental skills for building single-page applications and understand their architecture. The learners will cover the concepts of retrieving data throughout an application and how scalability is achieved while maintaining the application’s performance. The learners will build new and extend Angular applications with new features and components and develop an Angular application with the best practices. Finally, the learners will explore the concepts of creating and using dependencies and third-party libraries to enrich the application.

Deployment Process

The final module covers how to deploy the application and the necessary knowledge required to understand the production environment. The users will be able to create their production environment and automate the deployment process. In addition, the learners will understand the uses of an automated pipeline and scripts that allow to create automated deployment in companies and provide customer-centric features in these applications.

Instructor: Rachel Manning, Alyssa Hope, Andrew Wong, and Guillaume Bibeau

Level: Intermediate

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: Monthly Access: $308.7 and 4-Month Access: $1049.6 (Approximately)

4. Become a Back-End Web Developer – LinkedIn Learning

This course is available on LinkedIn Learning. The course focuses on building the foundational skills of backend skills useful for the web development environment. The program covers the concepts of server-side programming using the backend programming languages such as NodeJs and working with the databases.

In addition, the learners will understand how to perform coding testing, write reusable codes and understand the uses of RESTful API. Furthermore, the learners will cover in-depth concepts on security for applications and data protection. The course is ideal for learners familiar with programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. For complete beginners, learners can complete the web developer learning path before deep diving into this course. 

The course curriculum includes:

• NodeJs Essential Training
• Programming Foundations: Test-Driven Development
• NodeJs: Testing and Code Quality
• Programming Foundations: Databases
• Databases for NodeJs Developers
• Building RESTful APIs with NodeJs and Express
• Express Essential Training
• Programming Foundations: Web Security
• NodeJS: Securing RESTful API
• HTTP Essential Training

Instructor: Alex Banks, Neelam Dwivedi, Jon Peck, Scott Simpson, Daniel Khan, Kesha Williams, Emmanuel Henri, Kevin Skoglund, Morten Rand-Hendriksen

Level: Intermediate

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: One-Month Free Trial (Charges Apply after Trial Period)

5. Complete Backend Development 2022 Bundle – Udemy

This course is offered on Udemy. In this course, the learners explore the essential technologies for backend development and programming. The learners will cover each concept with a project-building approach to building a more robust programming skillset. At the end of the course, the learners will be able to write clean codes, handle errors and exceptions with Python, implement CRUD functionalities, and learn GitHub.

In addition, the learners will build their repositories on GitHub with the projects completed during the course. The learners will also be introduced to OOP programming, Django apps, templates, models, MVT web apps, and manage and update files with Git. 

The course contents are:

• Introduction
• Installation
• Python Programs
• Datatypes and Operators in Python
• Input and Output
• IDE
• Control Statements/Loops/ Strings and Characters
• Lists/Tuples, Dictionaries/Functions
• OOP
• Errors and Exception/ Python I/O
• Project
• Django Module
• Core Django
• Templates
• Model and Migration
• Fetch Data and Display on Template
• Django Forms/Messages
• CSS, BootStrap
• CRUD Functionality
• Pagination, Designing Task Page, Designing Home Page using BootStrap
• Accounts and Authentication
• Registration/ Logins/Restrictions/Relationship between Task and User/Securing the Application
• Deployment/ Django Environment Variable
• GitHub
• Projects

Instructor: Shubham Sarda

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Video Lectures: 176

User Review: 4.6/5

Price: $7.09 (Prices may vary according to the region)

6. Back-End Engineer Certificate Course – Codecademy

The course is offered on Codeacademy. In this course, the learners will build a strong foundation for backend development. The learners will explore the concepts beginning with programming servers and developing client-side interfaces. Furthermore, the learners will cover the concepts of designing a database.

At the end of the course, the learners will understand the application architecture, designing and building APIs, navigating the backend using JavaScript tools to build interactive web applications, managing accounts, and authentication to ensure personalization and security for end-users of the web apps. 

The course contents are:

• Setting up Dev Environment
• JavaScript
• GitHub
• Fundamentals of Operating Systems
• Web Development Fundamentals
• Basics of Backend Development
• Backend with Node/Express.js
• Test-Driven Development with JavaScript
• Building Interactive Website with JavaScript
• Async JavaScript and HTTP Requests
• Node/Express API Portfolio Project
• SQL for Backend Development
• PostgreSQL Database
• Designing Relational Databases
• Advanced PostgreSQL
• Connecting Database to a Server
• Deployment
• OOP/ Design Patterns/ Software Architectural Patterns
• Security/Web Security/ Securing the Server/Database Security
• Introduction to Enterprise Development/ Agile Methodologies
• DevOps Strategies/Containerization with Docker
• Projects

Instructor: Industry Experts

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: Free Trial (Pricing information available after sign-up)

7. Complete Backend Development with NodeJs with Projects – Udemy

The course is available on Udemy. This course provides the fundamental concepts of backend development using JavaScript, followed by the concepts on Express for routing and request types. Furthermore, the learners will explore the tools and technologies for working with the webserver and how to fetch information from the backend. In addition, the learners will explore the concepts of authentication and the REST API. The course provides multiple projects for the learners in each module to strengthen their programming skills. 

The course curriculum includes:

• JavaScript from Scratch to Advanced
• Introduction and Tools Setup
• Web Server
• Learn Express/ Body Parser/Middleware/ View Engines
• Authentication
• Big Stack Project
• MongoDB/ Login Routes/ Tokens/User Profiles
• Usernames and Work Role Routes
• Routes and Challenges

Instructor: Igneus Technologies

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: 118

User Review: 4.3/5

Price: $7.09 (Prices may vary according to the region)

8. Ruby on Rails for Web Application Development by Microsoft – Alison

This course is offered on the Alison platform. The course emphasizes Ruby on Rails which is one of the most popular backend languages. In this course, the learners will explore the concepts of the Ruby on Rails web app framework and its uses for the development of web applications.

The learners will extend their knowledge of the libraries and develop with fewer codes and bugs. The course also explores the concepts on the methods, syntax, and loops associated with Ruby on Rails and gain knowledge of the MVC architecture concepts.

Moreover, the hands-on session will equip learners to create a robust web application and understand the differences of the logical components: the method, view, and the controller. The prerequisite includes a basic understanding of HTML5 and CSS3 concepts. 

The course contents are:

• Introduction to Ruby and Rails
• Objects and Classes
• Ruby Syntax
• The Rails Framework
• Course Assessment

Instructor: Industry Professionals

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: 5/5

Price: Free (Charges may apply for certification)

9. Full Stack Developer Masters Course – Edureka

The course is offered on the Edureka platform. It focuses on building the full stack developmental skills for the learners. The learners will understand how to build interactive and responsive web applications using frontend and backend technologies. The learners will master their programming skills to build web applications using JavaScript and jQuery and build an excellent user interface using Angular and React.

The learners will also explore how to build scalable backend applications using Express and NodeJs and manage data using MongoDB. The learners will be required to complete a capstone project using MEAN/Full Stack application alongside MVC architecture, and the final result will be a RESTful web service. 

The course contents are:

• Web Development Certification Training Module
• jQuery UI Development
• Angular
• ReactJs
• NodeJS
• MongoDB

Instructor: Industry Professionals

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: $608 (Approximately)

10. Full Stack Development for Beginners – Simplilearn

This is a free full stack development course offered on Simplilearn. The course covers the essentials of full-stack development and is ideal for absolute beginners. It includes the basics and advanced concepts on frontend and backend technologies. At the end of the course, the learners will gain comprehensive knowledge about technologies such as Git command, Angular, NodeJs, Maven, Jenkins, Selenium, and Docker. 

The course contents are:

• Introduction
• What is Full Stack Development?
• Git Command Tutorial
• What is Angular?
• Angular Project
• NodeJs Tutorial
• MySQL Basics
• Maven Tutorial
• Jenkins
• Selenium Webdriver
• Docker

Instructor: Industry Professionals

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: Free

11. Introduction to Backend – Udacity

This course is available on Udacity. In this course, the learners will be presented with an overview of a wide range of web development and backend topics such as handling user input, producing template output, storage, databases, and data stores, and building a secure application for securing systems and user accounts.

At the end of the course, the learners will understand the concepts related to forms and inputs, templates, databases, and maintaining the security of user accounts and cookie management. The prerequisite of the course includes basic working knowledge of the Python programming language. The learners will also be able to get the essential hands-on experience to develop web services.

Instructor: Steve Huffman

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: Free

12. Designing RESTful APIs – Udacity

This course is available on Udacity. This course is focused on providing the essential programming skills for writing secure and developer-friendly APIs that will provide enriched features to the users. Furthermore, the learners will understand the crucial endpoints when building the communication between the application and the developer community. At the end of the course, the learners will build and secure a backend API server. The hands-on experience in this course will allow learners to create a backend for a social application. The course’s prerequisite includes the understanding of Flask web development framework, SQLAlchemy, and the basics of OAuth 2.0. 

The course contents are:

• What and Why’s of API
• Accessing Published API
• Creating your API Endpoints
• Securing the API
• Developer Friendly APIs

Instructor: Lorenzo Brown

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: NA

User Review: NA

Price: Free

13. Django 3: Python Backend Web Development for Beginner – Udemy

The course is offered on Udemy. This course will introduce learners to Python and Django, and other relevant technologies to build websites. Furthermore, the learners will gain knowledge on how to build the Django project from scratch. The course covers the fundamentals for Django and provides hands-on sessions for learners to understand how to create dynamic websites with HTML templates. Furthermore, the learners will explore the concepts on CRUD and MySQL, implement Django-based user authentication and work on various industry-relevant projects to gain more experience. 

The course contents are:

• Introduction
• Setup and Installation
• Django Fundamentals
• Django Project and Application
• Views, URLs, and Templates
• Django Models
• Django Forms
• Template Filter and Inheritance
• CRUD using MySQL
• User Authentication
• Class-Based View
• Developing Projects

Instructor: Kazi Ariyan

Level: Beginner

Video Lectures: 180

User Review: 4.5/5

Price: $7.09 (Prices may vary according to the region)

14. Node, SQL, and PostgreSQL- Mastering Backend Web Development – Udemy

This course is offered on the Udemy platform. The course covers essential concepts on Node, SQL, and PostgreSQL for mastering backend development. It also provides the learners with an understanding of the various frameworks for backend development.

In this course, the learners will explore a project-based course wherein the learners will build Node, SQL, and PostgreSQL-based applications in the form of three significant projects. The learners will cover notable libraries such as Express. At first, the learners will cover the native Node modules required to build a server, followed by building a more in-depth application using Node and Express.

In addition, the learners will understand how to build APIs with several HTTP request methods. Finally, the course will deep dive into SQL and PostgreSQL and build a solid foundation for the learners. The learners will understand how to combine all the concepts covered in the previous modules and create Node apps that can work with advanced databases. The course is suitable for learners with prior experience in JavaScript. 

The course curriculum includes:

• Introduction
• Node Essentials
• Node and Express
• SQL/ Databases/ and PostgreSQL
• Node and PostgreSQL App
• Conclusion

Instructor: David Joseph Katz

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Video Lectures: 46

User Review: 4.5/5

Price: $7.09 (Prices may vary according to the region)

Conclusion

Backend developers have career opportunities in a wide range of industries. Therefore, beginning a career as a backend developer requires understanding various aspects of server-side programming language and gaining hands-on experience with the latest tools and technologies.

Whether it is for an entry-level position or a senior backend developer role, the organizations tend to hire developers with a mix of theoretical understanding and practical experience with the technologies and industry-relevant projects. Therefore, for those aiming for a fruitful career as a backend developer, it is vital to opt for industry-recognized courses and provide sufficient practical experience over several projects to build a strong portfolio.

Considering the specific requirements, this article highlights some of the top courses for backend development on the online platform.