Firebase
Backend as a ServiceGoogle's app development platform with real-time database and hosting
Features
- Firestore and Realtime Database for data storage
- Cloud Functions for serverless backend logic
- Firebase Hosting with CDN and SSL
- Push notifications, analytics, and crash reporting
Pros
- All-in-one platform for mobile and web apps
- Real-time data sync works out of the box
- Generous free tier (Spark plan)
Cons
- Vendor lock-in to Google Cloud ecosystem
- Firestore pricing can be unpredictable (per read/write)
- Limited querying capabilities compared to SQL
Overview
Firebase is Google’s Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that provides a suite of tools for building mobile and web applications. It includes Firestore (document database), Realtime Database, Authentication, Cloud Functions, Hosting, Cloud Storage, and analytics — all managed by Google Cloud infrastructure.
Firebase’s real-time capabilities are its standout feature: Firestore and Realtime Database automatically sync data across connected clients. Combined with offline support, this makes Firebase particularly powerful for collaborative and mobile applications. Cloud Functions provide serverless compute for custom backend logic.
When to Use
Firebase is ideal for mobile-first applications, real-time collaborative features, rapid prototyping, and projects where Google Cloud integration is beneficial. For SQL-based data or open-source preference, Supabase is the primary alternative.
Getting Started
npm install firebaseimport { initializeApp } from "firebase/app";
import { getFirestore, collection, getDocs } from "firebase/firestore";
const app = initializeApp({ /* config */ });
const db = getFirestore(app);
const snapshot = await getDocs(collection(db, "users"));
const users = snapshot.docs.map((doc) => doc.data());