Why using Node.js for backend ?

JavaScript has been one of the most popular programming languages to code in at the client-side. It has provided many important frameworks and tools to the developers such as ReactJS, Vue.js, and Angular. These tools have allowed the language to make its mark as the developers’ favorite!

However, when it comes to server-side development, the progress had been very little from its side; until Node.js for backend came under the spotlight.

The choice of backend technology can ultimately affect how efficient any project is as a whole, how long it will take to be completed, how it will perform at the market, how much it will cost, and how extensive its maintenance will have to be.

Hence, when Node.js came under the radar of the corporations as a viable technology that can rival its competitors, people were quick to implement complete applications with JavaScript as its sole/major language.

What is Node.js?

NodeJS is a technology built on the Google V8 JavaScript engine as a runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside the browser.

In traditional web response programs, the client-side was always the one that initiates the communication.

How Node.js is helping the developers ?

But because of Node.js, the developers now have a technology that can help them work in an asynchronous, event-driven I/O paradigm with real-time, two-way connections.
It allows us to create web-based applications where exists real-time data exchange capabilities between the client and server sides, which both of them can initiate as well.

Node.js has become very critical in the technical stacks of many large-scale industries due to the advantages that it offers.

Working of Node.js:

The main purpose behind the creation of Node.js was to build a well-structured and light-lift technology in terms of processing power.

1. To achieve this purpose, it uses non-blocking, event-driven I/O. This lets Node.js outshine its competitors that were heavy-lift when it comes to real-time applications. It occupies this particular niche when it comes it its usages due to its capabilities in building fast, scalable network applications.
2. Node.js consists of a single thread that uses asynchronous I/O calls. This allows it to support a huge number of connections at the same time in a node event-loop. This beats the traditional methods that create a new thread to serve every new request from the client, which keeps on using the system RAM, ultimately using up all of it that is available.

This, of course, means that the single thread that Node.js uses is shared by all the client’s requests. If we were to perform heavy computations within those requests, it will easily get choked up.

This in turn could mean that any more of the incoming requests will get blocked by the CPU. Hence, it should be kept in mind that Node.js is not to be used in heavy computational tasks.

Another thing that should be kept in mind is that no exception should be left in the node event loop. This can be achieved by following a technique of not throwing the errors, but instead parsing them back to the caller as its parameters.

Failure to do so might cause the instance to terminate and the application to crash.

What are the advantages of Node.js for Backend?

One of the biggest advantages of using Node.js due to its functionality and the way it operates is speed…

Whether it be the speed of client-server communication, data processing, and transfer, or the speed of development, Node.js shines in each category. Its unique I/O model provides exactly what is required from the web servers by modern applications.

Its ability to process every request in a single thread keeps the application running smoothly until the computations are not too intensive.

The following are some of the key advantages that can be gained from programming your backend in Node.js;

• Node.js is good for the handling of large-sized data/information.
• It makes the visualization of the said data easier and efficient.
• It provides concise development.
• Storing the data in native JSON makes Node.js fast.
• The community surrounding Node.js is huge, since JavaScript is loved by the developers as a programming language. Hence, there are continuous updates and improvements for this project.
• It does not depend on the underlying operating system and can be used for development on any platform, let it be Windows, Linux, or macOS.
• It offers applications that perform well and can be scaled as well.
• The language is easy to learn and get a grip on for programmers, making it easier for the companies to find and hire resources to develop in Node.js.
• There is much less restriction when it comes to Node.js, allowing the developers to work on web and desktop-based applications at the same time. Their programming remains unobtrusive and simplified.
• Node.js offers runtime flexibility and responsiveness to modern web applications, which becomes a major factor for efficiency when the number of users keeps on growing.
• For backend development, JavaScript programming is a very handy and easy programming language. It inspires developers to avoid complicated and bulky operations and guarantees that the built application will not go out of date for many years to come. Moreover, it makes it easy for other developers to comprehend and reuse your code.
• JS is an open-source technology that does not require costly licensing.

Node.js has entered a stable mature state where it has constructed a sturdy and ever-developing community & atmosphere around itself. In fact, its package manager, npm, is now the biggest software program registry on the web.

Tools like TypeScript and Flow emerged to provide a kind of language security. The async/await feature of Node.js completely changed the way asynchronous code is written, almost making it look and behave like a synchronous piece of code.

Uses of Node.js:

Node.js creates a runtime environment that is most suitable for developing real-time applications that process tens of thousands of online requests on the client side.

These are the requests that are not heavy in computation, neither do they require advanced security features.

Due to the ability of Node.js to simultaneously handle multiple requests from the client-side, and respond quickly, it can be used to build a more client-focused web app.

This includes live chats, instant messengers, online games, video conferencing and e-commerce services, and collaborative platforms for multiple users (Google Docs, Trello, Dropbox, etc.)

Big Role of Node.js in Full Stack JavaScript:

Before Node.js, JavaScript was only used for client-side development. You had to hire a separate team for backend and for frontend development. However, things have changed with the introduction of Node.js.

With its growing popularity, full-stack development in JavaScript is now a possibility. Software developers working on full-stack can now write both the frontend and backend of web applications in JavaScript using its available frameworks like express node.js, nest etc.

Such kind of web applications can render both on the browser and the server seamlessly. This makes Node app deployment much easier and more efficient. Due to this creation of JavaScript full-stack, Node.js not only revolutionized backend web development, but also contributed to bringing performance to the frontend.

It brought serious engineering to the client side and also played a part in the expansion of the overall JavaScript ecosystem.

JavaScript is Now Frontend and Backend

With the help of code sharing between the frontend and backend, the development process has been greatly accelerated. Because of this, many modern JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React or Vue have seen significant improvements as well.

The requirements for skills for programmers have been greatly reduced with the introduction of Node.js as a comprehensive solution for full-stack development, and the need to learn additional technologies has been eliminated.

Since JavaScript becomes a language that is spoken by both frontend and backend developers, the working environment becomes much more effective and better coordinated.

Small projects can be handled by a single full-stack team, saving both time and money.

Final Notes:

Node.js is a fast developing and promising technology that possesses the ability to resolve any hurdles that your app development may encounter.

Its importance will only continue to shine among the developers and the software industries alike.

Many companies have already started seeing positive results after successfully switching over to the JavaScript full-stack after introducing Node.js into the system. Onebyte is one of them that follows the industry trends and all the updated technologies to help his clients meet the new challenges.

With the ever-growing community showing love for this programming language, and its reputation continuously increasing, Node.js will certainly continue to provide benefits to the software industry that will exceed your expectations.