Word-Usage – Correct Term: ‘Back-End’, ‘Back End’ or ‘Backend’?

compoundshyphensword-usage

I have a question.

What's the correct term?

Back-end, Back end or Backend

  • I'm a software back-end developer
  • I'm a software back end developer
  • I'm a software backend developer

Best Answer

I don't think you're going to be corrected or admonished for using any of these three. Google understands you perfectly no matter how you type it. Wikipedia features all three as well.

Personally, I'd write it as 'backend' or 'back end' as I'm not a fan of over-hyphenating (excuse my hypocrisy) unnecessarily.

(NGram removed)

The NGram essentially supports the argument that you'll find all three in a lot of places, and when I was Googling to test my own theories, a number of large tech sites appeared in each variation of spelling I searched for, leading me back to my first point:

Any of these is acceptable. Choose one you like and get coding.

EDIT: The NGram was misleading. Thanks for pointing that out in the comments.