Understanding Google Firebase and Google Firebase Console

Google Firebase and Google Firebase Console

Firebase is Google’s mobile platform that helps you quickly develop high-quality apps and grow your business. That’s what Google says but if we go into specifics then it is much more than that.

What can i do on Google Firebase Console?

Authetication – You can add sign in providers for your web or mobile application through google firebase console. Types of Sign in Providers available – Email/Password, Phone, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Github, Anonymous etc. It can be done easily with minimum code.

Database – Yes you use a realtime database for your application. You can simply add a database by clicking on database option in google firebase console. You have two options:

1.  Firebase Cloud Firestore which is suitable for large scale applications

2. Firebase Realtime database suitable for quick start with less complex database.

Both the database is realtime where whatever changes that happen on database will immediately reflect on application. Firebase Database is suitable for Chat applications as well.


Host your web or mobile application – Go to the hosting option on google firebase console to explore steps to host your mobile and websites. Steps to host are very simple and you have option to add analytics as well. Mind that these projects are linked to your google cloud hosting so if you have exhausted that limit then you have to pay for it. Google Firebase hosting is very reliable and fast hosting.

Storage – You can use firebase storage for storing large data like images. Again the steps are very simple and more can be explored on storage section in google firebase console.

Functions: Functions for Firebase is a framework that lets you automatically run backend code in response to events triggered by Firebase features and HTTPS requests. It is a serverless architecture which basically means that you can run backend code without managing backend servers. Explore more on google firebase console.

ML Kit: Firebase ML Kit brings Google ML expertise to IOS and Android apps with easy to use functionality. I haven’t used this so i will keep it short. You can read the docs on google firebase console. 

Is Firebase paid or Free?

Good news is that you can start with all the firebase features for free and there on it’s pay as you go. So you don’t need a credit card at first. Signup to Firebase and start using it, if you get more usage then buy the plan. Google firebase console does provide you an option to choose between free and blaze(pay as you go plan) Signing up to firebase is fairly easy: Visit https://firebase.google.com/ 

What else can i do on google firebase console?

Well, you can do a bunch of other things on google firebase console like checking crash analytics, performance, entire usage analytics of your application, testing etc. Login to your https://console.firebase.google.com/ to explore options

What applications can i host on Firebase?

While in Firebase docs it says that it mainly focuses on mobile apps but  you can host a website on firebase as well. How to do that? It is given in the docs but i will write another blog post on that if you guys want it. Let me know in comment section. Google firebase console  has an hosting option where you can go through the steps to host a website on firebase. I have hosted a couple of web application that i created for fun. Check this number memory game https://designlabsapps.firebaseapp.com/

What extensions are provided via google firebase console?

1. Resize Image
2. Shorten Url
3. Export collections to big query
4. Translate text
5. Sync Email with Mailchimp
6. Send email

I hope, i cleared all your doubts regarding firebase and firebase console. I will really encourage you to kick start your projects using firebase. If you are javascript developer, be it any js framework, you can use firebase without worrying about backend service. If you are preparing for javascript interviews then it will be awesome if you have one or two javacript project in your kitty. Use firebase for your such javascript projects. 

Check out my other posts for Javascript concepts if you are preparing for Javascript Interview or you are a JS programmer. 

Do comment if you have any questions related to Google firebase or google firebase console.