What is more important? Backend or Frontend?

Robbie · 03-07-06, 03:41 PM

Hello, I am just wondering what you guys think is more important for a website, backend or frontend? A good backend allows the content to be delivered and such, while a good frontend gives the end-user a good experience.

**Max** · 03-07-06, 03:44 PM

A frontend. You could have a ridiculously ugly and inefficient backend as long as it delivers a good user experience.

Super Mod · 03-07-06, 03:48 PM

I think in the long run the backend is more important than the frontend. However, for first time visitors the frontend is what will make or break your website. But if they're repeat visitors and you have a poor backend, they'll be gone. I think they're both about as important when you look at every factor.

03-07-06, 03:52 PM

Both are important.

No matter how perfect the backend is, a crappy frontend will turn users away. I can't think of a good example of this right now - but they are out there.

On the same token, a nice frontend with a bad backend won't fly. An example of this would be the Flashback product produced by Site5. It was a version-revision system for web hosting. Anyhow, their frontend was slick - it had the potential to be very useful. However, their backend was slow and made it impossible for them to push Flashback out to all of their servers. (They've revised the system, read more here and here.)

darren · 03-08-06, 08:12 AM

I would say that the front end is most important to your visitors and the back end is most important to yourself, so they are both equally important.

st@rsky · 03-08-06, 08:46 AM

I would agree and say the Front End is the most important. Ideally though both of them should be good..

Trish · 03-08-06, 11:37 AM

I guess the frontend is the most important, because that's what the user sees at first, but the backend is also very important. Imagine if there was no backend: the website wouldn't work!

anne · 03-12-06, 04:12 PM

I would say a simple, but useable front-end should be a priority for a high traffic site, then get your back-end up to scratch so that you can easily update, and so that it can handle all the traffic. THEN go for a fancy front end.

If your site is down because it can't handle the traffic that you are getting, then thats a big problem.