How Good Is Node.js for Backend Development?

Millions of users can be accessing your web application from myriad corners of the world. As a business owner, one would always wish that their online systems work as smoothly as possible. Glitches in the online user experience can cause loss of potential customers.

JavaScript backend is widely used all over the world when it comes to web programming. Earlier, it was only considered a tool for front-end development. But now the same has become a major cross-platform tool for cross-platform techs such as PhoneGap, React Native, Native Script, and more. But there were a lot of problems when it came to back-end projects. Here’s where Node.js made the news.

This blog brings you essential insights into how Node.js serves you well with back-end programming. Read till the end if you’re looking for a tech to create a sturdy back-end for your next project.

What Is Node.js? How Is It Different From Web JavaScript?

Node.js is a back-end and open-source coding platform that allows you to write server-side enterprise-level too scripts. The platform is efficient and lightweight. In addition to this, it also allows developers to code both front and back-end, which acts as a boon for web development.

Apps created with Node.js are entirely different from the ones we run on browsers. Javascript is a common denominator while building web apps. It’s the Node.js environment that helps you exercise more control and convenience with the development process.

Why Should One Use Node.js?

Node.js is the best when it comes to server technology, as it offers the same tech for the front and back end. This feat is responsible for reducing your development cost. And due to the presence of Javascript, the application code is understood by all developers. It also adds to your development speed by allowing you to share and reuse code between the front and back ends of your app.

The platform has also managed to create a vast community that answers all your doubts and queries on numerous portals. So, there is sufficient knowledge that one can access if they get stuck with the development. The language also offers a Node.js package manager that stores different tools for quick app development. 

Here’s a list of important aspects that contribute to the high development standards of Node.js. 

Seamless Integration and Quick Development

One can achieve seamless integration between the back and front end of an app when coded using the same platform. This is an important feat for real-time and event-based apps. Node.js is extremely fast at converting Javascript code into machine code because it runs on Google’s V8 engine.

It uses an ‘event loop’ to encapsulate user requests in a single thread. This feature is useful when one has to process huge volumes of IO-bound requests. A feat that is highly used by Node.js web development companies while creating enterprise-level apps.

Perfect for Creating Single Page Applications

Apps that fit in a single web page are known as SPAs. The page does not load every time once the site has been loaded on the browser. These apps are created with the sole aim of lowering the page load time to offer a seamless user experience. And providing quick navigation to different pages such as desktop apps.

This is the reason why developers prefer using Node.js with React to develop SPAs. Using the same you can only make calls where you need to update or dynamically change the DOM while controlling the logic of the app.

Real-Time Apps

This platform has been used by online gaming, instant messaging, live-chatting, and many other collaborative apps such as Trello. These apps require immediate response and have to perform within a particular time frame. Node.js is the perfect platform to create such low latency apps.

Efficient Data Streaming

Node.js efficiently manages data streams with I/O bound apps. Though there are few options to choose from, data streaming is one of the most powerful implementations of Node.js. This can save a lot of time during processes as a majority of the data that enters the stream is in form of streams.

Easy Installation

Facilitating back-end operations smoothly is an important part of any framework. If it consumes too much installation time and effort, it beats the purpose. The support tool that comes with Node.js installation i.e. Node.js Package Manager provides ease for developers.

Microservice Architecture

This always happens when one tries developing a new application. As time passes you would notice that one part of your app functions better than another and the other part needs quick scaling.

Using microservice architecture with your Node.js is a great combination to work with. With this one can offer a microservice to each team. This would assist developers to create each section as required without compromising other components.

As a result, one can delocalize teams and hire only the necessary personnel for the project. It would also offer the convenience of providing the required updates every time you need to make one rather than rebooting the whole system. A feat that is extensively used by top web development services to develop quick online solutions.

Extensibility

One can customize and extend the functionality of their app as the platform is highly expandable. An aspect that is highly leveraged by Javascript development companies. Data exchange between the client and server can be done by making use of JSON. One can also create HTTP, DNS, and TCP servers by making use of built-in APIs.

Apps That Can Be Created Using Node.js

If the developer has a fair idea of how the framework works they can directly get started with developing diverse solutions. Here’s a list of solutions that can be created using NJS.

Chat Systems

This online solution is the strength of this framework. If created using the appropriate web sockets, the most active chats can be created as imagined. They will be proficient with handling huge chunks of traffic and offer high delivery speed.

Streaming Services

Node.js is best suitable for streaming services as it uses the input/output model. Due to the preceding users can use active connections with simultaneous upload and downloading of data.

Online Games

Only a few runtime environments are capable of handling a large number of connections that have to be managed with online games. To its advantage, this platform has been created to handle such situations. The platform allows quick synchronization between client and server data and allows players to play multiplayer games. 

REST APIs

REST APIs i.e., representation state transfer are essential to make microservices work and are used in server-side architecture. If you wish to develop efficient, lightweight, and responsive APIs you should combine Node.js with another Javascript framework named ExpressJS.

Single Page Applications (SPAs)

Developing SPAs along with NJS is a great combination. This is because with SPAs pages can be loaded in the server before it’s presented on the browser. Due to the same, content can be shown faster to the user. This advantage is always compared to the features offered by Angular and React.

Conclusion 

Node.js backend development has observed impeccable success with a horizon of online and desktop applications in the last decade. This change in the landscape also fosters the requirement to hire NodeJS developers on the team.

Are you planning to create an app using NodeJS? What are your thoughts on NodeJS as a back-end development framework? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments. 

Thank you for reading.