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Why are this app and web service created on a single app platform instance?

Posted on January 15, 2026

Why are the app and web service created on a single App Platform instance even though I have separate frontend and backend apps?

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These answers are provided by our Community. If you find them useful, show some love by clicking the heart. If you run into issues leave a comment, or add your own answer to help others.

Bobby

January 17, 2026

Hi there,

An App is just the wrapper. Components do the work.

Inside an App you can have Web Services (APIs/backends), Static Sites (frontend builds), Workers, Scheduled Jobs, and Functions. The App groups them together for networking, env vars, deploys, and billing.

You always create an App, then add the components you need.

Make sure to check out the docs here:

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/manage-components/

alexdo

January 19, 2026

Heya,

On App Platform, an “App” is basically a container for one or more components. If you add both your frontend and backend under the same App (same app spec / same create flow), it will show them as a single App Platform “instance” with two components (often a Static Site + a Web Service). That’s normal and usually recommended because deployments, domains, env vars, and internal routing are easier to manage together.

Regards

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