Top 10 features of NodeJS for Web Developers

What is NodeJS?

NodeJS is an open-source, cross-platform tool, first developed in 2009 by Ryan Dahl, which basically creates a runtime environment for JavaScript to function outside the browser environment. It utilizes asynchronous programming.

Built on the JavaScript V8 engine, it can run in various browsers including Chrome or even function as a standalone tool. NodeJS can handle server requests seamlessly.

Basically, NodeJs widens the scope of JavaScript’s functionality. NodeJs helps to integrate coding languages with APIs, other languages, and several external libraries. It plays an exclusive role in web app development using the ‘JavaScript everywhere’ paradigm and can handle both server-side scripting and client-side programming.

Functions executed by NodeJS

Here is what NodeJS does:

• Collects form data
• Adds, deletes, and alters data in the database
• Generates dynamic page content
• Designs, reads, writes, deletes, and closes files on the server

List of global companies using NodeJS

Below is the list of global enterprises that have shifted their businesses to NodeJS:

• NASA
• LinkedIn
• eBay
• Netflix
• PayPal
• Yahoo
• Walmart
• Mozilla
• Yandex
• Citibank

10 Notable features of NodeJS

We have discussed here the 10 best features of NodeJS which make it significantly advantageous above other technologies for the purpose of back-end web app development.

1. Cross-platform compatibility

NodeJS is compatible with multiple platforms including Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, and mobile platforms. It can be bundled with the correct package into an executable that is entirely self-reliant.

2. The convenience of using one coding language

NodeJs can be learned quickly by those who are already well-versed with JavaScript. With NodeJs, developers can use the same coding language for both front-end and back-end development. Therefore, JavaScript is the most preferred language for full-stack development.

Thus, it offers convenience to programmers as they don’t need to switch between multiple coding languages and they also need to deal with fewer files.

3. V8 Engine

Originally developed for Chrome, V8 Engine has now been adapted to suit web app development purposes. The V8 Engine is one of the most superior engines that can translate JavaScript to general machine coding language with the help of C++. Thus, the V8 Engine is ultimately helpful for servers and all machine language-based products.

4. Facilitates quick deployment and microservice development

NodeJS is a lightweight tool that aids in the faster development and deployment of applications. This is preferred by most booming businesses these days as their products can be launched faster into the market.

It also assists in the development of microservices. This is because NodeJs is capable of fast data processing and provides non-locking algorithms which are extremely beneficial for the development of microservices.

Additionally, NodeJs can also handle concurrent requests simultaneously. This is ultimately crucial for microservices as they need to constantly and quickly communicate with each other.

5. Scalable

NodeJs solves one major problem of software development and that’s scalability issues. Most businesses nowadays prefer scalable software.

First of all, NodeJs takes care of concurrent requests. The second reason that makes NodeJs popular is that it has a cluster module that handles load balance for all running CPU cores. The best Node JS Development companies keep this feature in their priority while developing projects for their clients.

The third and most interesting feature of NodeJs is its ability to split software horizontally. It accomplishes this with the help of child processes. This means that businesses can present different app versions to different target audiences which helps them address the personalization preferences of customers.

6. Commendable data processing ability

NodeJs utilizes an asynchronous data processing structure. So, this helps in processing requests simultaneously. Next, NodeJs employs an event-based software development approach in which there is no defined output order and the output is delivered solely based upon the user’s inputs.

7. Active open-source community

Being an open-source solution, NodeJs offers an extensive global community. The advantage of having a larger community is that developers can seek help from community members to get responses for their queries instantly. Community members share tools, modules, packages, and frameworks among each other completely free of cost.

The NodeJs community actively interacts on GitHub, Reddit, and StackOverflow. NodeJs community has also played a vital role in developing top-notch frameworks like Derby, Meteor, Express.js, Koa.js, Hapi.js, and Sails.js.

8. Additional functionality of NPM

The official package ecosystem of NodeJs is the node package manager (NPM) with a dynamic repository of multiple tools and modules which are used by developers for app development. NPM is like a free marketplace for developers.

One example of a module offered by NPM is Socket.io that allows the server to send real-time updates to the client by facilitating uninterrupted client-side and server-side communication. More than 600,000 open source projects exist on NPM.

NPM can help in file upload management, download updates, and establish connectivity to MySQL databases.

9. Advanced hosting ability of NodeJs

Node deployments occur via PaaS (Platform as a Service) providers like Heroku and Modulus. Therefore, NodeJs reduces the number of servers needed to host the application and ultimately cuts down the page load time by 50%.

10. Fast data streaming

When data travels as different streams, processing them consumes a lot of time. So, NodeJS saves the time that goes into processing data by processing a file simultaneously while it is being uploaded. Therefore, NodeJs overall quickens data and video streaming speeds.

Concluding lines

So, now you know what makes NodeJS the best option for real-time web application development over other back-end development programs. It offers multiple advantages that help developers design various apps with cross-platform support. The most advantageous feature of NodeJs lies in its ability to work with JavaScript, which is why programmers find it convenient to use as they can stick to the same coding language for front and back-end development.