API Gateways are a practical solution when you have third-party tools that can handle both protocol variations and workflows between different frontends. Instead of developing a custom BFF, you can leverage pre-built frameworks that simplify integration and allow you to manage the diversity of access in a centralized manner.
These tools are responsible for receiving requests from various frontends, adapting them as needed, and directing them to the appropriate services on the backend. API Gateways are especially useful for teams that prefer to delegate the complexity of access management, protocols, and authentication to tried-and-true external solutions.
A common example is the use of tools like Kong , AWS API Gateway , germany telegram data and API Platform , which act as a single entry point for requests from web, mobile, or even third-party systems. These gateways can unify different access methods, such as REST or GraphQL, and enforce consistent authentication and authorization policies.
In short, API Gateways are an efficient option for teams looking to simplify access and workflow management, relying on external tools that offer flexibility and robustness without the need to develop solutions from scratch.
5. Event Mediators
Event Mediators are ideal for Event -Driven Architectures , where the system logic is organized around mediating events between backend services and frontends. These mediators function as endpoints that distribute, transform, and process events according to the specific needs of each frontend or flow.
This approach splits the codebase, allowing for better event handling and greater system stability. Each mediator can focus on the specifics of a frontend or group of frontends, handling events in isolation and reducing the complexity of shared logic.
A practical example would be a system that handles real-time orders and notifications . You could have one mediator for back-ends, responsible for notifying changes to orders, and another for administrators, handling events related to inventory management and reporting. This separation ensures that each type of frontend receives only the events relevant to its needs, keeping the system modular and efficient.
In short, Event Mediators are a powerful solution for event-driven systems, offering flexibility and stability by dividing responsibilities according to the specific flows of each frontend.
Benefits of Backends for Frontends (BFF)
1. Frontend isolation
Each backend can be customized to meet the specific needs of a frontend type, resulting in a more tailored and efficient user experience. This approach ensures that differences between devices, roles, or protocols are managed independently, without affecting other frontends.
2. Decentralization
By assigning a dedicated backend to each frontend, teams can work autonomously on their own solution. This allows them to use the technologies and methodologies most suited to their case, speeding up development and reducing dependencies between teams.
3. Reduction of complexity
Encapsulating variations in BFFs simplifies the core services layer, making the system more manageable and modular. Underlying services do not need to worry about differences between frontends, as this is resolved in the BFF layer.
When to avoid Backends for Frontends (BFF)
While BFFs are useful in many scenarios, they are not always the best option. Some instances where they might not be suitable include:
When frontends are similar: If different frontends share a lot of logic or functionality, BFFs can introduce redundancy, make code reuse difficult, and increase maintenance effort.
When there are no clear teams for each frontend: The lack of defined ownership over the backends can lead to disorganization in the management and development of the BFFs, causing more problems than solutions.