What is Baas (Backend as a services) API

What is BaaS:

Backend as a Service (BaaS) sometimes referred to as Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS)  is a cloud computing category that consists of companies that make it easier for developers to set up, use and operate a cloud backend for their mobile, tablet and web apps.
 
Backend as a Service provides web and mobile app developers with a way to link their applications to backend cloud storage while also providing features such as user management, push notifications, and integration with social networking services. These services are provided through customized Software Development Kits (SDKs) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Need of BaaS or MBaaS:

In today's world, we all are heavily dependent on mobile and web apps for various online work or for a specific need. These all apps whether it is a web app or a mobile app, these apps require a set of features that is similar on the backend, which includes its integration with social media networks, notification service, and cloud storage. All these features have their own API which is separately added to the app. This process can be time-taking and complicated for app developers. So, to solve this problem BaaS providers have formed a bridge between the frontend of an application and various cloud-based backends through a unified API and SDK.

If an app developer will have a consistent way to manage backend data, then they can save time and money, and there will be no need to redevelop the backend for each of the services that apps need to access. BaaS is distinct from other cloud-computing business models such as SaaS (Software as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and PaaS (Platform as a Service). BaaS is especially handling the cloud-computing requirements of the mobile and web app developers by providing a unified means of connecting their apps to cloud services.

There are many BaaS provider, who offers a different-different set of backends tool and resources, although the differences between these are not huge. Here are some most common service providers are – file storage and sharing, integration with social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, Location Services, Notification Services, Database persistence and queries, messaging and chat functions, running business logic, user management and user analysis tool etc. BaaS providers cover many platforms for providing SDKs and APIs such as iOS, Android, HTML5, Blackberry etc.

Benefits of MBaaS:

One can have many benefits by using an MBaaS platform and its services for backend development. The main benefit we can get from MBaaS services is we can save money and time. Using MBaaS services a developing team will spend less time in the development of the APIs, database management, server management and that time can be used to develop new functions to make the user experience better.
MBaaS really useful to save time for those who have limited resources to develop the backend. Using MBaaS the user can share API with his team and can set up a centralised database management system. So broadly we can say that MBaaS allows the developer to focus on the user experience rather than inner working on the app.

Services offered by MBaaS:

Here are some important services offered by the MBaaS-

MBaaS and API Management:

MBaas can handle the API Building and its management in numerous ways. A developer builds an API and tests it on their local system and later they can import these services on the MBaaS platform. Some major MBaaS service provider gives the services like a test, tools to build an API, and launch the API within the MBaaS platform. These MBaaS services allow the developer to import APIs from other sources and let them code or build APIs using a codeless builder.
A codeless API building allows the developer or a user to build API freely. A user can build logic using various logical components. When a user finished building it, then these MBaaS platform changes the logic into a code automatically.

Cloud Computing:

As soon as Backend receives the data or requests for the data then it starts to perform some logic relating to the data. If a mobile application is capable to perform the computation on the backend then it will be able to free up some memory and computing resources on the client's side.
Cloud computing has the capability to save processing time compared to a smartphone. So this will result in a better user experience. Cloud computing also helps the developer to build the Cloud Code. Some functions like timers and event handlers can be built without ann code and can be run on the backend 

Cloud Storage:

Most of the MBaaS services facilitates developers with cloud storage. This service helps the developer to save some money and also avoid the need for purchasing any internal servers while making the backend for any application. The backend allows the developer or a user to store the images and files which are big in size or used by the team most of the time for the application. Storing these files on cloud storage, MBaaS allows users to have easy access and sharing option. These files can easily be accessed from cloud storage using an API or an MBaas User Interface. All MBaaS service providers use cloud storage hosting for all the backend files, databases and APIs by default to follow the serverless model. 

Data Morphing:

Not all MBaaS Service providers allow the users the ability to morph data for cross-platform delivery. Data Morphing is an important capability. When an MBaaS platform allows the user to receive data from the other platform then it will receive data in different-different formats from every platform. Most of the MBaaS service providers deliver the data to the client applications in JASON, leaving it up to the developer to change the data into the appropriate class. 
Similarly, the foremost versatile MBaaS platforms will offer SDKs for all of the foremost common frontend languages, like iOS/Swift, Android/Java, and JavaScript, to form connecting your application’s frontend and backend easier. Backendless goes one step further, including .NET also as Flutter SDKs.

Database Management:

Some MBaaS service providers give database management services whereas some do not. Most of the MBaaS service providers is capable to interact with a user's database but not allows the developer or a user to establish the database within the platform. It is not necessary that MBaaS services providers will include database management.

How These BaaS Providers Generate Revenue:

These BaaS providers have different ways of generating revenue. First, they use a free model in which developers have a limited number of active users or API calls free per month, then the developer has to pay these BaaS providers based on each API call or active user. There are also some prepaid plans as per the requirements of the developers.

Here are TOP BaaS Provider in 2021

• 8Base
• Kumulos
• Kuzzle
• Apache Usergrid
• AWS Amplify
• Back4App
• Firebase
• Windows Azure Mobile Services
• Kii
• MongoDB Stitch
• ParseBackendless
• built.io Backend
• Couchbase