--- title: Adding backend functionality description: Learn how to use B12's Backends feature to securely store secrets and run backend logic with edge functions. --- [Skip to content](https://support.b12.io/en/v3/adding-backend-functionality#main-content) ![b12 logo](https://support.b12.io/hubfs/b12%20logo.svg) - [Help Center](https://support.b12.io/) - [B12 Website](https://www.b12.io/) - [AI Website Prompts](https://www.b12.io/ai-website-prompt-gallery) - [Resources](https://www.b12.io/resource-center/) - [Pricing](https://www.b12.io/pricing/) - [Log in](https://b12.io/dashboard/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Help Center](https://support.b12.io/) - [B12 Website](https://www.b12.io/) - [AI Website Prompts](https://www.b12.io/ai-website-prompt-gallery) - [Resources](https://www.b12.io/resource-center/) - [Pricing](https://www.b12.io/pricing/) - [Log in](https://b12.io/dashboard/) - [Start for free](https://b12.io/signup/) [Start for free](https://b12.io/signup/) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [B12 Help Center](https://support.b12.io/en?hsLang=en) 2. [Built-in features](https://support.b12.io/en/built-in-features?hsLang=en) 3. [Data & users (Backends)](https://support.b12.io/en/built-in-features?hsLang=en#data-users-backends) # Adding backend functionality ## Learn how to add backend features like databases, user logins, and file storage to your B12 website with Backends. | ![ronnel](https://support.b12.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Ronnel%20DG.png?width=60&height=60&name=Ronnel%20DG.png) Written by: Ronnel DG Last updated: 13 Oct., 2026 | | --- | Simple websites use frontend code to display content in a visitor's browser. For more complex websites and web applications, you may need to store data, authenticate user identities, or run additional server-side logic that doesn't happen in the browser. EnablingBackends adds backend support to your B12 site, powered by [Supabase](https://supabase.com/). This lets you build websites with databases, user authentication, secrets, edge functions, real-time features, and more. ### Enabling Backends with the AI Agent The AI Agent can detect when a feature you're asking for requires backend support. When it does, it shows an inline card in the chat with `Enable` and `Decline` buttons. 1. Ask the AI Agent for something that requires a backend. 2. When the Agent detects that your request requires backend support, it shows a Backends card directly in the chat. 3. Click `Enable`. Backends will be set up automatically, and the Agent immediately continues building your feature. **Sample prompt:** > Add a login page that lets users sign up with their email and password. ### Building with the AI Agent Once Backends is enabled, the AI Agent can manage your Supabase backend directly and write both the frontend and backend code needed to bring a feature to life. You describe what you want in plain language, and the Agent handles the technical implementation. Here's what the Agent can build for you: - **User accounts and login:** Set up email and password sign-up, email verification, password reset flows, and members-only pages that redirect unauthenticated visitors. - **Database management:** Create and manage database tables, define relationships between them, and set access rules so users only see data they're allowed to see. - **Third-party API connections:** Connect external services via edge functions. Store your API keys securely as Secrets, and the Agent will reference them in the code it writes. - **Real-time features:** Build pages that update automatically when new data comes in, without requiring a page refresh. **Example prompts to try:** ``` Add a login page with email and password sign-up, and send a confirmation email when someone registers. ``` ``` Add a chatbot that uses my OpenAI API key to answer questions about my business. ``` **Tip:** Describe the outcome you want rather than the technical steps. "Let users log in with Google" works better than "implement OAuth." ### Secrets and edge functions Secrets and edge functions work together to keep sensitive information secure while allowing your website to communicate with external services. #### Secrets Secrets are a secure place to store sensitive information your website needs (like API keys) without exposing that information in your code. When you save a secret, it's encrypted and stored securely. Your edge functions can access it by referencing its name rather than its actual value. **Example:** Instead of writing openai\_key = "sk-abc123..." directly in your code — where anyone with access could see it — you store that value as a secret and reference it as process.env.OPENAI\_KEY. **Note:** Secrets are only accessible by your edge functions. They can't be read by visitors to your website. #### Edge functions Edge functions run code on your backend to keep secrets secure and handle tasks that can't be completed in the browser. An edge function may respond to a specific trigger ( like a form submission or an incoming request from another service) and can help you incorporate third-party tools into your workflows **Tip:** Edge functions can access your saved secrets, so you can safely call external services without exposing sensitive credentials in your code. Common uses for secrets and edge functions together include: - Calling third-party APIs, such as sending transactional emails or processing payments - Receiving data from external services (also called webhooks) - Validating or transforming data before it's saved **Example:** When a customer places an order through your website, an edge function can automatically send them a confirmation email in the background using your email provider's API key stored as a secret. **Caution:** Deleting a secret or edge function that is currently in use will break the features that depend on it. ### Getting help with backend errors If something isn't working: - Describe the error to the AI Agent one step at a time, and paste the exact message. - Check `Backends`, then `Logs`. If you see `Try AI fix`, click it. - If the AI Agent says it needs terminal access, a JWT, or special tool permissions, it doesn't. Ask it to test the live endpoint itself instead. ### Enabling Backends manually 1. In the left sidebar, click `Backends`. 2. Click `Enable Backends`. 3. Wait 1–2 minutes while the feature is set up. Backends is free on all plans. 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