Custom back-end functionality in an online web site building environment

1. An online website building system configured to permit website builders to add back-end functionality to a centrally hosted website, the centrally hosted website including web pages indexable by a search engine, the system comprising:

an online database configured to:

store a library of website building elements for configuring a front-end of an indexable web page; and

at least one processor configured to:

transmit first instructions to a client, the first instructions permitting the client to access the stored library via a unified interface displayable by the client, and to permit the user to select a website building element from the stored library for constructing the front-end of the indexable webpage, wherein the unified interface provides the user access to both the website building elements from the stored library and dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the indexable webpage;

automatically access, based on rules stored in the online database, code associated with the selected website building element, and make available the code to the client;

enable, via the unified interface, the user to configure a programmable event for activating user-editable code providing dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the indexable webpage;

store the user-editable code in a code storage system in communication with the online database; and

in response to a trigger associated with the programmable event, execute the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality.

2. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the execution of the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality occurs based on a hook that causes the execution of the user-editable code.

3. The online website building system of claim 2 , wherein the hook is at least one of a web hook, a data hook, or a data-binding router hook.

4. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the automatically accessed code includes a function associated with the website building element selected by the user and a snippet of code associated with the function.

5. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the unified interface displayable by the client includes a front-end website editing window and a customized back-end editing window.

6. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes at least one of:

data activity involving a particular data set that is associated with the dynamic customized back-end functionality;

an update entered on the indexable web page;

a page transition on the indexable web page; or

a defined interaction between the user and the indexable web page.

7. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the trigger associated with the programmable event, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the user-editable code to implement a plurality of dynamic customized back-end functionalities.

8. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein in response to a plurality of triggers associated with a plurality of programmable events, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the user-editable code to implement the dynamic customized back-end functionality.

9. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the code storage system is configured to store code for a software-based router that handles incoming client requests to the indexable web page.

10. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the code storage system and the online database are the same storage system.

11. The online website building system of claim 1 , wherein the client is operating on at least one of: a personal computer, a mobile device, or a tablet device.

12. A computer-implemented method for online website building using customized back-end functionality, the method comprising:

maintaining an online database configured to store a library of website building elements for configuring a front-end of an indexable web page;

transmitting first instructions to a client, the first instructions permitting the client to access the stored library via a unified interface displayable by the client, and to permit the user to select a website building element from the stored library for constructing the front-end of the indexable webpage, wherein the unified interface provides the user access to both the website building elements from the stored library and dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the indexable webpage;

automatically accessing, based on rules stored in the online database, code associated with the selected website building element, and making available the code to the client;

enabling, via the unified interface, the user to configure a programmable event for activating user-editable code providing dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the indexable webpage;

storing the user-editable code in a code storage system in communication with the online database; and

in response to a trigger associated with the programmable event, executing the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising, in response to the trigger, obtaining data external to the online database and external to the client for using in the executing of the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein at least some portions of the user-editable code are made accessible for editing to the user in the form of selectable segments of code.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the execution of the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality occurs based on a hook that causes the execution of the user-editable code.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the hook is at least one of a web hook, a data hook, or a data-binding router hook.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the automatically accessed code includes a function associated with the website building element selected by the user and a snippet of code associated with that function.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the unified interface displayable by the client includes a front-end website editing window and a customized back-end editing window.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the trigger includes at least one of:

data activity involving a particular data set that is associated with the dynamic customized back-end functionality;

an update entered on the indexable web page;

a page transition on the indexable web page; or

a defined interaction between the user and the indexable web page.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the indexable webpage is a dynamic webpage which changes appearance based on the dynamic customized backend functionality.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the client is operating on at least one of: a personal computer, a mobile device, or a tablet device.

22. An online website building system configured to permit website builders to add back-end functionality to a centrally hosted website, the centrally hosted website including web pages indexable by a search engine, the system comprising:

an online database configured to:

store a library of website building elements for configuring a front-end of an indexable web page; and

at least one processor configured to:

receive a selection, from a user, of a website building element for constructing the front-end of the indexable webpage;

automatically access, based on rules stored in the online database, code associated with the website building element selected by the user, and transmit the code to the user;

receive, from the user, a programmable event configured by the user for activating user-editable code, wherein the user-editable code is configured to provide dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the indexable webpage;

receive user edits to the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality associated with the programmable event;

store the user-editable code in a code storage system in communication with the online database; and

in response to a trigger associated with the programmable event, execute the user-editable code for implementing the dynamic customized back-end functionality.