We must first understand and appreciate the back-end to reap the benefits of Node.js. Web development is often the end of the road for those who are only interested in seeing websites running.
When we view a webpage in a browser, we actually send a request to another computer, called a Web Server, which then sends back the exact same page in the form a respective reply.
To show us a page, the server uses both server-side and client-side software. This code helps to process network requests and interacts with databases.
Node.js lets developers use JavaScript to create server side code. This is a change from the traditional way JavaScript was used to develop client-side software. It is easier to create web servers by combining both sides of the code in one environment. This is why Node.js has become so popular as a useful tool for writing server-side code.
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What is Node.js?
Node.js, as we have already mentioned, is a platform that handles JavaScript via the V8 engine on a client-side. The V8 is an open-source JavaScript engine which powers Google Chrome and other similar browsers. It provides the necessary runtime environment. JavaScript works on the client-side while Node.js scalable architecture runs on a server. This allows developers to create full-fledged apps.
Node.js provides everything you need for executing a JS program. This open-source framework is able to work with many external libraries, call commands using JavaScript code, as well as act like a web server.
Node.js does not represent a programming language like Java, but a technology that aids JavaScript in creating server code. Let’s take a quick trip down to the past and find out more about Node.js, its history and how it got started.
It was created by Ryan Dahl, an engineer, and Joyent later made it possible thanks to their sponsorship. Node.js is only 12 years old and has already proven itself to be a valuable tool in server-side programming. Its core engine, Chrome V8 JavaScript, was first to be included in the platform. This was followed by a low-level I/O API model that is non-blocking and an event loop.
Timing, precision, innovation were the key ingredients that lead to Node.js’s success. JavaScript, which is twice as old as it was when it got there, underwent numerous upgrades to improve its speed and performance on both the client and server side.
Statistic
There is nothing better than old-fashioned statistics to help you understand this technology and show Node.js’ popularity:
Node.js is a great tool for new businesses. It can improve the efficiency of their applications by 50%, reduce development costs up to 60%, and lower wait times by 35%.
Three years ago, Node.js had its first billion downloads.
This technology is used by more than 30 million websites, which accounts for approximately 1.6% percent of all sites that have identifiable web servers.
Node.js is already being used by a number of innovative companies like Netflix, Amazon, and PayPal. PayPal has reported that their response time increased by 200ms.
This comprehensive report contains data from US companies indicating a 68% increase of developer productivity since switching over to Node.js.
What are you able to do with Node.js
Node.js is best for these projects (with examples)
Apps that work in real-time. Node.js’s potential is unleashed by online publishing sites such as Medium and remote collaboration solutions such as Trello.
Apps and websites for e-learning. Quizlet is a great example of Node.js’ ability to increase responsiveness and speed up platform development.
E-commerce and online payment tools — both require high-level functionality. Think eBay and PayPal.
Chats and messaging apps. These multi-user, real-time applications are ideal for Node.js because they are lightweight, can handle high traffic and are data-rich. This tutorial shows you how to use ExpressJS, Socket.io and NodeJS for real-time chat.
Internet of Things devices that can handle a lot of requests, sensors and wearable solutions. Here is a code to create a Node.js car controlling IoT solution with your smartphone and WiFi.
Social media. Node.js can be used in social media apps. They must be lightweight, secure, and flexible and constantly updated. LinkedIn and Twitter are two of the most well-known examples.
The platform’s fast response time makes it easier for games and virtual emulators to communicate with large numbers of players and execute multiple scenarios. Below are some examples from Medium.
Based on the task at hand, when to use Node.js
To create a streaming collaboration solution
You want your app to be able to handle heavy traffic and/or video buffering.
To create multiple non-concurrent app functions, which don’t require connections to the CPU
To develop an efficient single-page application, like Gmail
You may require a solution that has higher scalability.
Remote presentations or video chats
You can build and deploy microservices.
Node.js is not recommended.
Despite the many things you can do using Node.js there are still some areas where it isn’t a good choice.
Server-side heavy-duty processing Node.js does not support CPU-intensive programming. This is due to its non-blocking input/output models that will block any incoming requests.
Apps that are already well-structured and only have a few functions. Technically, Node.js is possible, but it would not be a good idea. It would do no harm and it wouldn’t make any difference. You’d be better off using something simpler.
Applications that require relational data access. Node.js lacks the ability to run backend computations properly, so it is not suitable for backend database requirements.
The pros and cons of Node.js Development
Node.js is like any other technology. It has its pros and cons depending on your project, resources used, and other preferences. Consider the following list to determine if Node.js is right for you.
Advantages of Node.js
This backend platform has many advantages:
Simplicity and efficiency. A single language is used by both the client and server side. This reduces the need for clients to switch between front-end and back-end. It also means that you don’t have to hire multiple people for one project.
The possibility of sharing and reusing code, JSON support and various free tools makes development faster. Also, the files required to complete the application are smaller.
Scalability is often cited as the No.1 Node.js benefit. This is because load balancing, the tool’s ability to handle multiple parallel connections and vertical and horizontal scaling support are all great assets for businesses looking to scale quickly and grow.
An event-based model allows for quick synchronization. It provides real-time updates and simultaneously performs secondary tasks in background.
A vibrant community. You’re not only supported by JavaScript but also Node.js. You don’t have to be an expert to solve any problem. There are plenty of feedback and other internet resources available.
Increased adaptability due to a faster and easier learning curve, particularly for JavaScript users. It also makes customizations much easier due to its built in API.
A direct caching module also helps to reduce loading times.
Rapider development of minimum viable products (MVP). While not fully functional, it is a solution that has enough functionality to be easily presented on the marketplace.
Node.js allows developers to break down their projects into smaller, more manageable pieces by using microservices. It also helps to efficiently distribute tasks among team members.
This helps to form a cross-functional team that is more productive and communicates internally.
Potential drawbacks and disadvantages
There are a few drawbacks to Node.js despite its many benefits.
Inadequate stability of the Application Programming Interface. It sometimes forces developers to change accessible codebases to blend with the latest API version when it suddenly changes at rapid intervals and is also backward-incompatible.
Sometimes, performance flow can be obstructed by heavy CPU-based computing. This is due to Node.js being single threaded and something that even special worker threads modules cannot fully fix.
Asynchronicity in Node.js causes developers to rely upon callbacks which then causes them to stack nested structures within another callback, making it difficult to understand and maintain the code.
There is a gap between current demand and actual number of Node.js professionals. Also, despite popular belief not all JavaScript developers have sufficient server-side knowledge to master back-end quickly.
Node.js development trends and prospects
Node.js is expected to grow in popularity based on market trends and reports. Modern Node.js projects are about static typing and design patterns such as dependency injection. A JavaScript project will soon be replaced with the simplicity and ease of Node.js and its support for large projects.
Node.js has grown significantly over the past few years. Along with the growing expertise and community, solid tools were developed for debugging, tracking and identifying other issues. Microservices are a way to compensate for the absence of static typing and reduce its complexity.
Node.js is a highly-respected backend framework and has a bright future. It still has a lot of potential and fewer questions about why Node.js is so popular are being asked in the media.
Why use Node.js development?
This question is no longer necessary to know when and how to use Node.js. According to the third annual Node.js User Survey Report, respondents mentioned the following effects on their businesses:
Enhanced developer productivity
Improved developer satisfaction
Development costs reduced
Performance of your application is increased
Increased time
Recommendations to help recruit developers and increase customer satisfaction
Increased customer engagement