NodeJs Development

Node.Js is an extremely powerful open-source and cross-platform runtime environment to execute JavaScript code outside a browser. It’s a JavaScript-based platform to develop online video streaming websites, single-page applications, real-time apps, online chatting apps, and many other I/O-intensive web applications.

“NodeJs is neither a framework nor a programming language.”

Node.Js is used to build back-end services like APIs like Mobile apps or Web apps. It’s used by many large enterprises like Netflix, Walmart, PayPal, NASA, and Uber around the world.

As a NodeJs developer, you can build server-side and networking applications for your project. NodeJs applications are written in JavaScript and can be executed within the Node.Js runtime on various platforms like Windows, Linux, macOS.

Developed by Ryan Dahl in 2009, Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It offers a plethora of libraries for various JavaScript modules, simplifying the web app development process to a great extent.

Generally, Node.Js is referred to as a technology. However, it’s compatible everywhere with JavaScript on any browser. If we emphasize everywhere, it means the front-end, the middle-ware, and the back-end. Therefore, it’s mainly used for the back-end and can be used together with front-end JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, Angular, etc. In fact, Combining Node.js and React will help you build powerful and versatile web applications.

Node.js = Runtime Environment + JavaScript Library

Node.Js has numerous characteristics which makes it unique:

Chrome V8 JavaScript Engine: The runtime environment is built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It transforms the JavaScript code and makes it readable.

Modules/Packages: Node.Js consists of Node Package Manager (NPM), having more than 350,000 packages to make your app more efficient and robust.

Single-Threaded I/O Models: JavaScript depends upon user interactions or events for execution. Therefore, in many cases, code is executed synchronously. To handle these inputs and outputs, server requests and other asynchronous operations use a system of promise or async/await functions.

Node.Js application uses the “Single Threaded Event Loop Model” architecture, managing several concurrent clients. Node.Js Processing Models is based on the JavaScript event-based model and the JavaScript callback mechanism.

Having said this earlier, Node.Js uses “Single Threaded Event Loop Model” architecture.

In the software development industry, many web application technologies like HTML, Ajax, jQuery, MVC, ASP.Net use “Multi-Threaded Request-Response” architecture to handle multiple concurrent clients.

However, we have already heard the term “Multi-Threaded Request-Response” as many web app frameworks use it. So, now the question is, why does Node.Js use the other architecture model to develop web applications?

How does the single-threaded event loop model differ from the multi-threaded?

Here, a single main thread handles every client’s request. The event loop is the primary component, allowing Node.js to conduct blocking I/O operations in a non-blocking way. It constantly analyses the progress of asynchronous tasks and pushes them back to the execution queue when they are finished. It runs in the same thread.

Here, a developer can easily implement Node.Js in the application with a basic understanding. However, without getting into the NodeJs insight, we can’t design and develop Node.Js applications.

So, let’s understand the Node.Js architecture and a web server’s workflow.

Parts of the Node.Js Architecture

Requests: Incoming requests depend upon the user’s tasks they want to perform in a web application. It can be blocking (complex) or non-blocking (simple).

Node.Js Server: Here, the Node.Js server accepts user requests, processes them, and returns responses to the respective users. It’s a server-side platform.

Event Queue: Event Queue resides in a Node.Js server. It stores all the incoming user requests and forwards them one-by-one into the Event Loop.

Thread Pool: It has all the threads available to perform necessary tasks to fulfill client requests.

Event Loop: Event Loop accepts requests from clients, processes them, and returns the responses to the respected users.

External Resources: External resources block the client requests. These resources can be used for computation, data storage, etc.

Architecture Workflow

The actual workflow of Node.Js architecture looks like the diagram illustrated below. Let’s get into it.

Here, users/clients send requests to the server with the web application. Requests can be blocking or non-blocking:

• Querying for data
• Eliminating data
• Updating the data

The incoming requests are retrieved by Node.Js and added to the Event Queue. Then, requests are forwarded through the Event Loop one by one. It determines whether the requests are simple enough to not require any external resources.

Simple requests (non-blocking actions), like I/O Polling, are processed by Event Loop. Then, the responses are returned to the given clients.

Now, a single thread is assigned to a single complex request. And this thread is in charge of performing a specific blocking request by using external resources.

Now the response is forwarded to the Event Loop once the task is completed. As a result, it sends a response back to the client.

Node.Js offers various features, allowing you to create highly scalable data-intensive applications. In recent times, Node.Js launched its new version - Node 20. Furthermore, Node.js 20 will enter long-term support (LTS) in October 2023 and be ready for full production deployments.

The latest version of Node.Js offers an experimental Permission Model, synchronous import.meta.resolve, a stable test_runner module, updates of the V8 JavaScript engine to 11.3, single executable apps, Ada to 2.0, and more.

So, before you hire a Node.js web development company for your project, check out the main features of Node.js:

NPM

NPM stands for Node Package Manager. It’s a default package manager for the JavaScript programming language. It has become the world’s largest software registry with over 1.3M packages and 75B downloads a month. Furthermore, it has around 50,000 to 80,000 packages in its repository, which is publically available.

In fact, NPM gets installed automatically when you install Node.js. The local dependent packages and global JavaScript tools can be managed.

AbortController

The latest version of Node.Js – 14 has offered an AbortController, which is an experimental implementation. It’s a utility class, allowing developers to abort multiple Web requests as and when required. It gives a cancelation signal in selected promise-based APIs.

Single Threaded

NodeJs is a “Single Threaded Event Loop Model” architecture which works on a single thread. This allows the NodeJS application to handle multiple requests from the client. A single thread executes the primary event loop. However, the I/O work is executed on separate threads in the background. As we know, I/O operation is a non-blocking design to accommodate the Event Loop.

This makes the NodeJs application more scalable.

No Buffering

Node.Js applications give an output data in blocks as it provides callback function. As a result, the data is received very easily by the user as they don’t have to wait for the entire operation to finish. It reduces the amount of time it takes to process data. Therefore, no data is buffered.

A callback function is a function that is passed as an argument to another function. The first parameter passed to a callback function is err, which is checked when something goes wrong, and the second parameter is used to pass data. Moreover, to pass the data to the callback function, additional parameters can be passed.

Faster Code Execution

Node.Js uses Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript runtime engine. This allows faster code execution. The JavaScript runtime engine compiles the code into machine code, making the runtime engine much faster to implement effectively.

Asynchronous

Node.Js executes a non-blocking method. It means a single thread handles the requests when a server accepts requests from a client. Furthermore, it also checks whether there is any database interaction exists or not. If no, then it passes the request further and the server sends back the response to the client.

Event Driven

The event-driven concept is the same as a callback function. The only difference is that when the asynchronous function provides its result, the callback function executes. Also, events are generated on the appropriate event handler.

Node comes with an "Event" module that has an "EventEmitter" class. It allows us to create event-driven programming. An event handler function is invoked when a specific event occurs.

Caching

Caching is one of the unique features that NodeJs offers. It allows modules to be cached. Node.Js module is cached into the application memory when it’s requested for the first time. So, there won’t be required to re-execute the codes since caching helps applications to load web pages faster and reply to the user more quickly.

Node.Js has been a knight in shining armor, offering seamless and robust web and mobile application development services. It provides a powerful and flexible personality in the JavaScript realm. Thus, we have noted down the top benefits of NodeJS for product development services for better project outcomes.

Easy Scalability

Node.Js has turned out to be a viable solution for scalable app development. A cluster module in the cross-platform runtime environment helps load balancing. Furthermore, Node.js provides a non-blocking event loop architecture that allows servers to operate without interruption.

Node.js is the ideal choice for building modern apps that work as per the requirements. Furthermore, it improves the entire app performance while using fewer resources.

Node.js allows you to add extra resources to single nodes during the vertical scaling of your web application. These additional resources are solely added to the current system.

Easy Learning Curve

Since JavaScript is the first choice for app development, many front-end developers have a good command on it. Therefore, any developer having a basic understanding of JavaScript development can easily learn Node.js in less time. Hence, it requires less time and effort to learn NodeJs, even for a beginner.

That’s the reason around 36.42% of professional developers prefer to use popular Node JS frameworks, libraries, tools, and IDEs for app development.

JSON Support

Node.Js, unlike PHP and Ruby on Rails, does not convert binary models to JSON format to communicate further. Well, this functionality becomes beneficial when developers need to create RESTful APIs for NoSQL database support.

One of the great examples of this feature is MongoDB in MEAN Stack.

Node.Js also facilitates seamless connectivity with the major data transmission standards due to its JSON support. This is considered as one of the most significant benefits of NodeJS.

Fullstack JS

Before the development of NodeJs, JavaScript was only used to develop client-side applications. But with the existence of NodeJs, a developer can write both front-end and back-end of web applications in JavaScript. Therefore, NodeJs is considered as a full-stack JavaScript. It serves both the client and server-side applications.

Fullstack JS has become one of the major advantages of NodeJs technology. It helps you save development time and cost as well.

Offers a Strong Community Support

With the rapid growth of NodeJs, it has gained huge followers from the developers. It has an active team of developers who constantly contribute towards the betterment of the development.

NodeJs is backed by JavaScript developers offering easy and prompt solutions and codes in GitHub. It’s even expected that the community will go the extra mile to offer the best and reliable solutions.

Freedom to Develop Apps

Another benefit that NodeJs offers is, allowing developers the freedom to develop apps and software.

If we consider the Ruby on Rails framework, it imposes certain rules of software development. These criteria and guidelines are absent in NodeJs app development. It allows developers enough space and freedom to develop an application in their own way. Developers can initiate the development from scratch.

Concurrent Request Handling

NodeJs can handle multiple requests at one time. This advantage allows developers to develop complex and large enterprise applications with huge numbers of visitors. Additionally, it’s minimal overhead on a single process while handling the requests in NodeJS.

Microservices

NodeJs is suitable for microservices architecture-driven development. This divides the NodeJs application into various modules with specific code logic. So, it allows you to integrate the new elements easily into an app. It enables great flexibility and scalability for the betterment of the app.

NodeJs is not a complete package of solutions for everything. Along with its advantages, it’s also important to know its drawbacks as well. Let’s understand each in detail.

Reduces Performance for Heavy Computing Tasks

The major drawback of using NodeJs is that it fails to perform well for heavy computation tasks. Despite having a single-threaded model, NodeJs doesn’t execute for a CPU-bound task.

Let’s consider an example here. Whenever NodeJs receives heavy requests, it passes them further and responds to the requests. This entire process slows down the system, which causes a delay in the event loop. That’s why NodeJs is not suitable for heavy computation tasks.

Unstable API

One of the major drawbacks that the developers face is, the API doesn’t remain stable. The Application Programming Interface (API) keeps on changing on a frequent basis. These newly changed APIs are backwardly incompatible. This forces developers to make changes in the codebase to match and sustain that compatibility with the latest version of NodeJs API.

Lack of Library Support

When we compare JavaScript with other programming languages, it doesn’t offer a well-equipped and feature-rich library system. As a result, developers have to choose a common library for various tasks execution, such as Object-Relational Mapping (ORM), image processing, XML parsing, and many more.

Callback hell Issue

Because of the asynchronous nature of NodeJs, it is reliant on callbacks. Generally, this function works once the task is complete. If there are many tasks (with callback) running in the background, it might cause callback hell, an unwieldy number of nested “if” statements or functions. It slows down performance and degrades code quality.

Immature Tools

The NodeJs modules are mature and have a stable nature. But there are some tools in the NPM registry that don’t have good quality. Furthermore, the NPM registry is not well-organized to provide tools depending on their quality and ranking.

Since NodeJs is open-source, it plays a significant role in determining the tool’s quality. Besides, the contributors such as Joyent, closely monitors the quality of NodeJs technology. Now, there’s a high chance that the rest of the tools will be of poor quality.

Shortage of Experienced NodeJs Developers

With the rapid popularity of NodeJS development services & solutions, you will not find experienced NodeJs developers available in the market. Moreover, many organizations fail to understand that every JavaScript developer is not a NodeJs developer. Because to be well-equipped with JavaScript, a developer should have good knowledge about back-end development.

Thus, despite having a pool of talented JavaScript developers, it’s not easy to hire experienced Node.Js developers. That’s why organizations choose to outsource their requirements to a renowned JavaScript development company that is equipped with experienced NodeJs developers.

The various features of NodeJs allows developers to develop a faster and robust application. So, if you are tempted by the above-mentioned features, advantages, and case studies, it’s the right time for you to adopt NodeJs app development for your next project.

The following reasons will help you make your mind to hire a Node development company and adopt this technology:

• Enhanced performance
• Better scalability and versatility
• Faster development process
• Proxy server ability
• Efficient use of the code
• Removed need for different languages
• Non-blocking I/O paradigm
• JSON format support
• Smooth implementation of changes
• Incredible processing speed
• Data streaming (HTTP requests and responses as a single event)
• Capable of developing front-end and back-end of an app
• The app and the server are always connected
• The app can handle the increasing number of connections
• Possibilities of the giant open-source community and NPM repository (over 60.000 modules)

NodeJs is the full-stack JavaScript development platform, offering many advantages in web and mobile app development. It doesn’t change but gets updated with time. It’s a lightweight and flexible JavaScript programming language that works both on the client and server sides.

With the constant advancements in the IT industry, many businesses are seeking an opportunity to adopt the recent web development tools and technologies for the NodeJS web development. NodeJs is considered as one of the results of such a development in the industry.

The continuous evolution of NodeJs has attracted many industries and enterprises. The functionalities and features NodeJs offer that help to deliver efficient and lightweight applications. It has become a leading JavaScript platform to develop an eCommerce website on the server-side in real-time.

Therefore, NodeJs stands by the name “Future Platform” with the support of its prominent features.

So, now you have a question of choosing the right programming language while developing an application. Since each project has unique needs and features, you should opt for the right technology for the development.

So, here, we are going for a head-to-head comparison between different technologies with NodeJs. I am sure the detailed comparison will clear your mind and help you choose the right fit for your clients.

Let’s go ahead!

The Difference Between NodeJs vs. AngularJs

NodeJs and AngularJs are open-source JavaScript-based technologies, which have gained huge popularity in the developer’s community.

When we talk about Node.Js, it’s a cross-platform runtime environment whereas, AngularJs is a JavaScript framework. Using NodeJs, developers can easily develop scalable server-side applications with JavaScript as a server-side programming language. On the other hand, AngularJs developers can develop dynamic web applications based on MVC architectural model and use HTML as a template language. It’s a client-side JavaScript framework.

This actually defines the basic difference between NodeJs and Angular in terms of functionality, performance, architecture, and usage.

Let’s compare them both in every angle in the below comparison table.

Both NodeJs and Python have been rapidly growing in the software development industry. When putting these technologies at the same level in the StackOverflow, it says Python is one of the most used programming languages, while NodeJs is the best for server-side development.

With its comparison, Python is a programming language whereas, NodeJs is a runtime environment for JavaScript. Well, let’s look at the comparison table of NodeJs vs. Python with its main characteristics.

NodeJs and PHP are server-side scripting languages. Thus, the have turned against each other as a competitor. However, NodeJs is a JavaScript-based runtime environment. On the other hand, PHP is an open-source, popular JavaScript programming language.

Here is the detailed comparison table between NodeJs and PHP. So, let’s understand and make the right decision between these two giants.

NodeJs is a popular JavaScript runtime environment to develop complex web applications, real-time chat apps, collaborative tools and many other things. Besides, Java is a platform-independent, object-oriented programming language. It is used in a distributed environment on the internet.

So, if you are stuck between NodeJs and Java, here are the main factors NodeJs and Java are good at actually.

When you look for a NodeJs developer for your project, you need to critically evaluate the domain skillsets against your requirements to get the right executional support with optimal quality, zero errors, and 2x returns. The key to hiring NodeJS development team with the best set of skilled developers involve asking the right questions that practically helps identify the knowledge, experience, and expertise of the developers.

The primary responsibility of NodeJS developers is to develop and implement a web-based server-side programming application. A NodeJs developer should possess a strong knowledge of various JavaScript server-side programming languages such as Express.js, StrongLoop, and more.

As we know, NodeJs is a part of back-end development, which allows developers to integrate third-party web services and assist the front-end developers in executing the entire application development process. So, hire NodeJs developers from Radixweb, who ensure you that your project is in safe hands. Our experienced and professional NodeJs developers are well-versed in delivering customer-driven solutions integrating with popular JavaScript frameworks and libraries like Passport, Babel, Express.js, and server technologies like AWS, Jenkins, etc.

So, what are you waiting for? Build robust, scalable, and secure real-time web applications to unlock a wealth of gains for your business.