Recent years have seen programming frameworks and computer software make progress by leaps and bounds. Companies usually have different programming teams for frontend and backend development; full-stack developers used to be rare because of the different programming languages and frameworks required in both types of development.
The efficient functionality of these frameworks relied on their specificity, but they made training and re-training new developers very difficult. Node.js has changed that aspect in the technological world. JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages for frontend development, and Node.js runs on the same syntax.
Are you interested in learning about the growing popularity of Node.js in backend development? This article will explain the benefits of using Node.js in backend APIs, why developers like Cincinnati Centogram use it, and the reasons for its growing popularity. 2021’s StackOverflow developer survey recorded Node.js at the sixth position with JavaScript in the lead. Let’s start by understanding what Node.js is because it is not technically a framework.
Node.js
Brushing up on your JavaScript history will involve a complicated tale about a language that dominated client-side frontend development but could never come up with web solutions for backend development. Traditionally, JavaScript was not popular in other areas of application nor offered distinctive platforms.
However, recent events have allowed JavaScript to regain technological superiority in providing web solutions. Node.js was developed in 2009 by esteemed software engineer Ryan Dahl. It is an open-source JavaScript runtime environment built on libuv and Google’s V8 JavaScript engine.
Consequently, this allows Node.js users to execute JavaScript code on the server-side, either frontend or backend. Initially, it was based on the idea to facilitate real-time websites with push capability, but it has successively extended the limits of JavaScript.
Today, many multinational companies like Netflix, Trello, and LinkedIn use Node.js in their applications due to its non-blocking I/O paradigm that offers highly scalable app solutions, all the while ensuring they remain fast and lightweight.
So why is it ideal for backend APIs? What sets Node.js apart from other services, or what benefits of using Node.js make it a much-required tool in the sphere of development? Does it provide unique APIs to backend developers, or is it the syntax that provides efficient solutions? Let’s take a look.
Benefits of Using Node.js for Backend Development
Perhaps the single most useful thing Node.js brings to the table is its unique set of APIs. Web browsers also have a variety of DOM/ Web APIs that help you interact with the UI, except that they are not revolutionary for real-time possibilities.
Traditional web-serving methods take a toll on a system’s RAM by spawning new threads for every new connection made, whereas Node.js runs on a single-threaded event loop that saves RAM, offers speedy data processing, and event-driven two-way connections between the client and server. It has revolutionized client-server interactions and increased the functionality for real-time websites to have push capability.
Let’s look at how Node.js can benefit app development and why it is ideal for backend APIs. Knowing the different ways will help you better use this runtime environment on different projects!
Cross-Functionality
One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish for a development team is to seamlessly weave cross-functionality into the core of all processes. When you have frontend/ backend experts working in combination together, it boosts productivity and allows for increased understanding through every step of the process.
With JavaScript being the most popular frontend development language, nearly all developers are familiar with the syntax. Similarly, Node.js runs on the same language, making switching to it at the backend hassle-free work.
As a result, a company can save time on training and re-training a team since Node.js can be picked up quickly by even a junior certified JavaScript programmer. Look at it this way, with both front and backend developers familiar with the universal language, you have a collective team that is better at working with each other, every member can contribute to the initial code, and deployment becomes much more time-efficient.
Full Stack JavaScript
The increasing popularity of Node.js has made full-stack development a real possibility. Now, rather than hiring separate teams for front and backend development, it is possible to hire JavaScript programmers who can write both the backend and frontend of web applications and make Node app deployment easier and more efficient.
Scalable Environment
Node.js’ single-thread event loop has made the environment easily scalable. It makes the system fast as well as lightweight, allowing it to handle multiple concurrent connections. Scalability facilitates applications to grow with the business.
As computer processes continue to become more complex, applications developed using Node.js can be scaled horizontally and vertically, while Cluster modules can help developers balance loads across multiple computers!
Simultaneous Request Handling
A system running on Node.js is better adapted for handling simultaneous connections than Python or Ruby. It provides a non-blocking I/O paradigm that reduces response time between the client and web server, making it an optimal fit for real-time web applications that concern heavy processing on the client’s side.
Moreover, Node.js is also very popular in single-page application development where rendering occurs on a client’s side while the backend provides a JSON API. Node.js helps reduce the load put on a system’s RAM by handling incoming requests in a sequential manner. The requests are automatically queued up and executed in a set sequence, which helps the app scale easily and performs in a time-efficient manner.
Therefore, it allows for better simultaneous request handling where a single instance is able to handle and execute more requests without clogging up the system compared to other full-stack frameworks like Rails.
Real-Time Applications
Since we have established the benefits of using Node.js in handling multiple client requests, it comes as no surprise that it is well-suited for applications that require low latency in processing a high volume of messages, such as real-time applications as well as those using AI.
One of the biggest advantages is that Node.js can quickly sync server and client data while also handling multiple client requests. It also allows sharing and reusing packages of library code which makes it the top choice for RTAs, such as live chat or instant messaging apps, and applications where users can observe editing changes in real-time (Google Docs).
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Node.js provides a framework that allows for more creative freedom and the chance to start every process from scratch. For ease of understanding, consider Ruby on Rails, a popular framework that provides a set of rules to develop a software or program in a specific way. While this allows for more efficient app development, it also strips the developer of the freedom to do things differently.
In contrast, Node.js does not restrict developers; rather, it allows them to build applications that can run smoothly across different platforms and operating systems using the same language. Therefore, without knowledge of additional programming languages, backend developers can use Node.js to keep their algorithms streamlined while continuously benefiting from tools, such as the Google Chrome Developer Tools.
Node Package Manager
NPM enhances the user experience by providing them with a set of readily available public components that help solve common or niche problems. The number of modules created by third-party developers has already exceeded one million! Not only this, but the Node.js developer community is very active in providing reliable software solutions, codes in GitHub, and further adding to the knowledge of fellow software developers.
In addition to NPM, the NPM CLI tool already comes installed with Node.js. At the same time, for big organizations concerned about network security, NPM has also released an “Enterprise” version that runs behind the company’s firewall and provides users with advanced security features such as those that detect discrepancies and vulnerabilities in code.
Is Node.js the Answer to Optimal Backend Development?
To sum it up, Node.js fills a niche in the market by offering faster and smoother front and backend development. As a result, it offers event-driven two-way connections between client and server to enable communication and data exchange from both ends. Not only this, but thanks to its unique non-blocking I/O model, it saves RAM and excels at highly scalable and real-time app development.
In conclusion, it is ideal to use Node.jsfor backend development because of the numerous benefits it provides to developers, its user-friendly APIs and resources such as YARN and NPM, and a very active and growing online community. We hope this article was able to highlight Node.js’ immense benefits not only for backend APIs but for a general transition towards full-stack development. Node.js is completely open-source and free to download, so try using it and decide for yourself!