Request for Backend Component & API Integration Support

Hi Base44 Support Team,

I have a few questions regarding backend capabilities and API integration:

1. Backend Component Support – Is there an option to create a small backend component using Node.js? Currently, the access code is limited to frontend/React without a backend, and I’d like to confirm if there’s a way to implement a minimal backend.

2. External API Integration – How can I securely integrate with an external API while ensuring:
   • The user is authenticated before making API requests.
   • The user is authorized to access specific endpoints or perform certain actions.

Would appreciate any guidance or best practices on handling authentication & authorization in this setup.

Thanks, Yakir