Any software performing either the final stage in a process, or a task not appareNT to the user. A common usage is in a compiler. A compiler' s back-end generates machine language and performs optimisations specific to the machine' s architecture. The term can also be used in the coNText of network applications. E.g. "The back-end of the system handles socket protocols". CoNTrast froNT end. (1996-04-09)