Why is it worth choosing Node.js? What are its strong points? In what cases should it be used?
Table of Contents
Node.js: the high-performance platform for web servers and more
Node.js has become one of the most popular JavaScript tools. Why switch to Node now? Anyone who now decides to invest in development with Node.js is in the best company of major brands such as PayPal, Yahoo, eBay, and Netflix. Let’s take a look at the reasons that have helped Node.js attract the attention of the developer community and made it one of the most sought-after back-end technologies today, with lots of applications built with Node.js.
Node.js: the essence
Node.js is a JavaScript-based platform for network applications. The special thing about it is that it acts on the server side and is based on the high-performance V8 runtime environment. Originally designed for the increasingly popular browser project Chrome, it offers a resource-saving architecture that, in contrast to thread-based structures (blocking I/O model), reacts event-controlled (non-blocking I/O model) and thus uses valuable memory sparingly. This behavior is an ideal basis for processing many simultaneous, asynchronous connections. As a result, the platform is predestined, for example, for data-intensive use as a web server or for bidirectional web socket connections. But other network applications can also be optimally implemented with Node.js.
The core: V8 power
V8 was developed by Google in C++ based on the ECMAScript specification “ECMA-262” and supports the most common operating systems and ARM architectures. The engine can be used completely independently or as an embedded component of a C++ application. V8 is translated into machine code at runtime via a JIT compiler.
Threads v. EVENTS
Conventional server structures usually work thread-based. This means that incoming inquiries are processed sequentially. Requests will only be served once the respective predecessor has been supplied with regard to his request.
In the event-controlled approach, the requests are processed almost in parallel, there is no thread queue, and subsequent requests are not blocked. In this way, a “deadlock” as a worst case is also prevented. Especially for many data-intensive requests on multi-frequency web servers, this circumstance is one of the most significant advantages of Node.js.
Node Package Manager
The “Node Package Manager” provides a variety of ready-made and freely usable packages – so-called modules – for Node.js. These can be conveniently installed via the command line. With these modules, the application radius of Node.js can often be extended many times over.
CLI
The “Command Line Interface” represents one of the main input and output interfaces next to the browser window for displaying the web applications running on the Node.js web server. For example, status messages are output, or user input is expected.
Who can use Node.js?
A sensible minimum requirement for the successful use of Node.js consists of a (virtual) server system with underlying root permissions. Finally, a console is sometimes needed, for example, to receive system feedback or to install an npm package.
Top advantages: let’s summarize
Let’s summarize some of the main advantages of Node.js.
- Node.js is an excellent choice for Rest APIs. Rest APIs are used for data exchanges between servers and clients. One of the advantages of Node.js technology is the ability to execute several requests to the server simultaneously because it is a non-blocking “single thread” system. So, Node.js can handle a multitude of requests without waiting for the previously launched request to be completed (we have already mentioned it).
- Excellent performance. With the advantage of processing a multitude of operations in its event loop, Node.js offers incredible performance. In addition, Node.js is lightweight, and the technology is based on Google Chrome’s very powerful V8 engine, which offers incredible performance to web applications that have to search for information and execute a multitude of requests.
- A lot of flexibility. A large ecosystem of open-source libraries allows developers to add the necessary modules for a Node.js web application. A developer who masters JavaScript can design the back-end and front-end of a web application. The very large JavaScript community (the most used programming language on the web) is constantly working on the creation of new modules. Companies such as Netflix, PayPal, and IBM use Node.js technology.
- Node.js is very scalable. An application can be decomposed, so it is possible to quickly add a new architecture without affecting all your services. This facilitates updates and possible evolutions on your web application.
- A good technical stack. Using server-side JavaScript in the back-end and front-end interface side with different front-end frameworks such as React.js, Next.js, Vue.Js, or Angular.js, your web application uses JavaScript everywhere.
Conclusion
Node.js has become one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks, and its benefits are constantly growing.
With the services of an experienced Node.js development company, you, too, can make the most of the powerful features of this technology to achieve your web development goals. Contact professionals from SECL Group, and you will be surprised by the quality of services provided. These guys know how to deliver the best solutions to suit each client’s needs and requirements.
