Developing modern software applications is important for every growing business. Since you’re reading this, you must know that Javascript is the most used backend technology. 

Javascript is a programming language that has a massive impact on web development, and programmers have been using it since 1995. Since it has been around for a long time and has many libraries and frameworks, it never had a backend platform competing with other languages. So to resolve this issue, Node.js came into the picture in 2009, and its popularity has been increasing since then. Node.js is an event-driven JavaScript runtime used to build scalable network applications. 

Javascript can be run outside the web browser with the help of Nodes.js. Studies show that 49.9% of developers use Nodes.js for their backend applications.

What is Node.js?

what is node.js?
What is Node.js?

Node.js is a JavaScript-free and open-source cross-platform for server-side programming that allows programmers to build network applications quickly. This popular server platform is built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It is asynchronous and single-threaded, so it does not waste time waiting for IOs requests. That means you can easily send emails, read files, and do many things simultaneously.

Big companies like LinkedIn, Netflix, Trello, PayPal, NASA, Medium, etc., use Node.js.

companies that use Node.js
companies that use Node.js

I know you must be curious after reading this. So, without further ado, let’s discuss other topics of Node.js.

Advantages of using Node.Js

Now you must be thinking about why you should use Node.js and what is so special about node js? Relax, we are here to help you. Here we mentioned a few points you should read before starting your journey with Node.js.

Scalability

Due to the scalability of node.js, it can handle many concurrent requests simultaneously without stressing the server. It only works when needed; otherwise, it goes offline and prevents unnecessary wastage of RAM.

Mobile-friendly, Cross-platform, and Dev-Friendly

Node.js helps the applications run smoothly on Windows, OS, or Linux. In the past few years, the development of cross-platform apps has been raised. The fear of not running apps on the operating system is not anymore- the credit goes to node.js. It helps developers build apps that run on different platforms by minor modifications.

Light and fast

The execution speed of node.js is fast, so any input-output operation does not block other functions. You can also send emails, queries to the database, etc., at the same time.

The virtual machine in node.js consists of JIT compilation which can take source code to compile it into machine code at runtime.

Its super-fast characteristic enables enterprises to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) to experiment with Node.js project ideas on the market.

Highly extensible

Node.js has a default package manager Node Package Manager (NPM), by which you can download millions of open source packages.

Caching ability

The cache is hardware or software that stores data for future requests. Node.js can cache a single module. When a module request is made, it is collected from the cache instead of the primary servers. Thus, the application loads faster and responds quicker.

Easy to learn

Node.js is pretty much popular among developers due to its simplicity. Anyone can learn node.js in a few weeks, but you have to learn Javascript first. Without the knowledge of Javascript, learning node.js would be difficult and take more time to learn. Hence node.js is easy to learn.

Best Uses for Node.js

Best Uses for Node.js
Best Uses for Node.js

There are several app projects that Node.js technology makes the best choice for:

Chat servers

Node.js is used to build a real-time chat application that sends and shows messages to a recipient without any page refresh.

Video conference apps

Projects that require intense data streaming for audio and video files make the best use of node.js.

API

It is a most popular application; nearly all apps use some kind of backend technique to communicate with other databases. Thanks to node.js, you can easily find libraries to create GraphQL or REST API.

Server-side applications

By being an event-driven programming model, the flow is determined by messages, user actions, and other specific events of this kind.

Command Line Tools

With the help of available NPM, you can easily create advanced and straightforward command-line tools according to your requirements.

Comparing Node.js to Other Backend Technologies

comparing node.js to other backend technologies
comparing node.js to other backend technologies

Since every project needs different technology to code it, you must choose the correct code.

Python vs. Node.js

Node.js executes code outside the web browser, so the application uses resources more efficiently and effectively. The execution of the V8 engine and the non-blocking nature of node.js makes it even faster. Therefore, Node.js is the most preferred choice for real-time web apps.

The speed of Python is not as good as node.js because Python is an interpreted language which means it does not convert directly to machine code which results in longer runtime.

Node.js vs. Java

The execution speed has to do with how both tools process input/output requests. Node.js processes IOs in a non-blocking manner, meaning that its single thread can manage several IO requests simultaneously. There is no need to wait to complete one request to process the others.

Java uses both blocking and non-blocking IOs- Blocking IO means that a given thread cannot do anything until the first IO is fully received. So the speed is reduced automatically as the application needs to wait until the thread processes requests one by one. Adding threads can increase the speed, but that option is a little bit expensive.

The non-blocking flow in Java is a bit more complex than in node.js because non-blocking IO has been accepted as a standard in Java. Non-blocking IO processing makes Node.js the tool suitable for creating applications that involve massive reading and writing operations, such as logging, data acquisition, backup, transaction processing, and real-time apps.

When Node.js Backend is Not the Best Choice

  • Okay, Node.js is not the solution for all problems. When the load on the CPU increases, the efficiency of Node.js decreases. When you have to process a lot of data, you consider using more stable and flexible technology.
  • Applications built on Node.js have difficulty handling complex operations, blocking incoming requests, and reducing response speed. 
  • The APIs provided in Node.js are excess for developing simplistic CRUD and HTML apps that transfer data directly from the server. Using them only complicates things. 

Node.js Frameworks or Approaches

We mentioned the list of 5 Best Node.js Frameworks, popular npm modules, which are currently redefining the application development field.

Hapi.js

Hapi.js is a robust Node.js framework for building APIs and other applications. This framework has a strong plugin system and features like input validation, implement caching, error detection, etc.

Hapi.js is used for designing practical applications, like Postmile, a collaborative list-making tool. 

Express.js

This framework is used for building a host of applications. Express powers applications like Yummly, Klout, MySpace.js. Express.js offers various features, like template engines, simplified multiple routing, database integration, and more. 

Meteor

It is an open-source, model-view-controller (MVC) framework for building websites and applications. Meteor’s inbuilt set of pre-written, self-contained components makes writing application codes. Further, its reactive programming model enables the creation of applications using lesser JavaScript code.

Redis

Redis client library that includes features like Blocking Commands, Auto-Pipelining, Clustering, etc.

Koa.js

It is a robust server framework for Node.js to build efficient web applications and APIs. Koa.js uses generators to deal with callbacks and increase error-handling capabilities efficiently. This also improves the readability of the application.

Related:- Top mobile app development frameworks

How to Get Started With Node.js

How to Get Started With Node.js
How to Get Started With Node.js

Node.js is one of the most popular technologies globally, especially in the USA. It is an excellent skill to have on your resume if you are a developer, and it gives you more excellent job opportunities. You can develop cool applications like real-time video, messaging apps, social media apps, and more!

Installation of NodeJS is simple; let’s find out how to start with Node.js!

Step 1: Download Node.js Installer

Open the web browser and search https://nodejs.org/en/download/. Then click on the windows installer to download the latest version. The Node.js installer has the NPM package manager.

Step 2: Install Node.js and NPM from Browser

1. After finishing downloading, Open downloads and double click on the file to launch it.

2. Then click on the Run to run the software.

3. Now you see Node.js Setup Wizard, click Next.

4. Review license agreement. Click Next after accepting the T&C.

5. Install the software and set location, then click Next.

6. Finally, click Install to run the installer, then click Finish.

Step 3: Verify Installation

Click on the command prompt, and enter node -v.

Resources to Learn Node.js

We have listed several helpful resources by which you can learn Node.js.

  • Courses – There are several online courses available to learn Node.js. You can learn from Udemy, Coursera, etc.
  • Videos – learning from books can be typical for you when you are new to Node, so finding videos to learn is a better way to start!
  • Ebooks – A good open source ebook can be a good resource to learn Node
  • Tutorials – There are several free tutorials available online for Node.js.
  • Blogs – Blogs can help you learn Node.js and stay tuned with changes. 

Related:- Top Online Learning Platforms in 2022

node.js FAQs
node.js FAQs

One of the biggest reasons Node.js is so popular is because it uses JavaScript as its primary language to build applications. And to be honest, JavaScript is now the only choice to develop web applications in the web browser. Numerous companies have trusted Node.js to produce their applications.

Why use node.js as a backend?

Node.js backend development is brief, as it provides many features that can be impossible to have with an event-based environment. It is supported by a large community of developers who constantly improve it.

What are the two types of API functions in Node.js?

The two types of API functions in Node.js are:

  • Asynchronous
  • Synchronous

What are the best uses for node.js?

Node.js is used for Data Streaming, hardware programming, online gaming, real-time web applications, REST APIs, and more.

Wrapping Up

Kudos! You have got the complete information about Node.js. You can go further and start exploring other features of Node.js. If you want to learn the essential elements of Node.js, give Express.js a try. I’m sure you would love that. 

If you are looking for quick Project delivery, Invedus is here to help you. Vetted & handpicked Node.js Developers with $0 Recruiting fee. Contact us to Outsource Nodejs development work from India. 

Happy Coding!