back end meaning: definition, quotations

back end

nounalso spelled back-end

The rear, back, or unseen portion (of something).

The back end of the operation is kept out of sight of the customers.

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences That part of a hardware or software system that is farthest from the user; the internals rather than the user interface.

Together, the MathDocument and PaperController classes comprise the MathPaper application's front end, while the Evaluator makes up the application's back end. This technique of having separate front and back ends is a common […]2002, Simson Garfinkel, Michael K. Mahoney, Building Cocoa Applications: A Step-by-step Guide, "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", →ISBN, page 295:

Northern England, Scotland, UK, Dialectal The latter end of any given time, especially the latter part of the year; autumn; late autumn.

I'll see you on the back end of tomorrow.

Entertainment, Lifestyle Usually Money paid on a contingent deferred basis, for example, as a proportion of the profits or revenue of a work.

so-called “back end” deals is speculative at best. Ideally, the author or book publisher will secure a percentage of gross revenues rather than net profits, but such deals are rare indeed.1995, Jonathan Kirsch, Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law, page 212:
How does the taking of “back end” compensation affect the creative control asserted by an actor?2003, Melvin Simensky, Entertainment Law, page 1222:

2 more examples

That kind of money, he can get a piece of anybody's back end he wants." “It's an industry phrase. Means if the picture is a big hit, he gets a share of the profits, sometimes even a percentage of gross.2004, Dean Koontz, The Face, page 64:
[…] Miramax was going to buy out the U.S. and Canadian rights to the picture and terminate everyone else's participation for a payout that included a guaranteed amount for the back end, as well as bonuses if the film exceeded certain levels of U.S. box office performance.2013, Peter Biskind, Down and Dirty Pictures:

The processing of spent fuel from a nuclear reactor into reusable materials.

Derived terms: backendish, look like the back end of a bus
Related terms: front end

back-end

adj

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Relating to the back end part of a hardware or software system.

back-end database
back-end developer

1 more example

DOGE officials have been granted administrative access to CFPB systems, including content management system, back-end systems for the bureau’s website and the active directory of personnel, the source told CNN.2025 February 9, Matt Egan, “Consumer watchdog ordered to stop fighting financial abuse and to work from home as HQ temporarily shuts down”, in CNN: