Several programming languages are out there that are being used by software solution providers to create websites. Different languages are most suitable for different projects, depending on the type of software development and other factors. In this blog, we discuss why we use Node JS in the website development process and why node JS developers are becoming extremely popular in the industry. But, first, let’s take a look at what is node.JS to understand its usability and importance better.
What is Node.JS?
Node.js is an open-source server-side implementation of V8 used for building fast and scalable server applications. It comes with a library of common APIs that are generally useful when developing servers like database access, file system operations, stream handling, etc.
NodeJS is not meant to be the primary language you will use daily. But, it should be used as a secondary language for specific situations where performance or concurrency is essential.
Why Use Node.Js for Website Development?
Given below are some of the points why you should choose node js for website development instead of others:
Single Thread Performance
Single thread performance is something that we mostly ignore while talking about scalability. It is a significant flaw in the design of other programming languages. But in the case of Node.js, it’s different. It uses a single thread per process, can handle thousands of concurrent requests, and is very much scalable.
This factor also adds to the simplicity of Node.js as it doesn’t require any other design compromises for scalability. It just works for all usual use cases.
Lightning Fast In Terms Of Speed
Speed and scalability can be a double-edged sword because if the server is not architected correctly, these two factors can be its biggest downfall. When we talk about Node.js, its speed is unmatched.
Given the fact that it is highly scalable, it’s no surprise that Node.js is the preferred language for implementing real-time server applications and creating large-scale websites. Given that Node.js has been built with scalability and speed in mind, it follows that it would be incredibly fast. And, indeed, it is.
Async Programming is the Norm
When you start developing in Node.js, you will realize that most of the code uses the asynchronous programming model. It is because Node.js was designed to be highly concurrent and scalable. Node.js uses a single thread, so it’s essential to use asynchronous programming to avoid blocking the thread.
Asynchronous programming can improve the performance of a Node.js application since operations that take a long time to complete can be executed in the background without blocking the thread and ultimately without blocking other operations. As Node.js was designed to be highly concurrent and scalable, it follows that asynchronous programming would be the norm. And, indeed, it is.
Npm Has Thousands Of Javascript Libraries
When it comes to Node.js, the primary benefit that comes to mind is the availability of a mega library of JavaScript libraries for almost any task that you can think of.
You can find almost everything you need to create a fully functional website with a rich user experience. Given that Node.js was created to execute JavaScript on a server, it’s no surprise that it would have a significant assortment of JavaScript libraries available. And, indeed, it does.
Provides A Solid Foundation For Web Apps
Given that Node.js was designed to be lightweight and can be used to create both Web and non-web apps, it follows that it would be a solid foundation for Web Apps. And, indeed, it is. Node.js is free to use because it is open source. Plus, it has a significant community of developers, which means you can ask any question related to Node.js, and you will get an answer.
A Better Choice For Asynchronicity
Many modern websites use a push notification system that allows for greater engagement and higher revenues for the website owners. Node.js uses asynchronous programming so it would be a better choice for asynchronicity. And, indeed, it is.
Asynchronous programming is when a program performs a task, but does not wait for the task to finish before proceeding with the rest of the program. When you use asynchronous programming, you can handle multiple tasks at a time, which means your program can finish faster and you can more efficiently use the computer.
Build Websites with ReactJS or Angular
ReactJS is a library created by Facebook to help developers create websites that can scale. In other words, it is a JavaScript library that makes it easier to create scalable websites. Node.js is a good fit for ReactJS.
Building websites with ReactJS and Node.js can be a very smooth and enjoyable experience because both technologies can be used in a production environment. The other technology that can be used for building websites with Node.js is Angular, which is a popular JavaScript framework created by Google. Node.js and Angular are both open-source technologies so it is easy to integrate them and develop scalable rich websites that can handle the high traffic volume.
Conclusion
By now, you probably understand why we use node.js over any other language for website development. Node.js is scalable, so it can handle massive amounts of traffic while maintaining a high level of performance. Also, we can use it to create both web and non-web apps which makes it a very versatile language. Additionally, Node.js has a mega library of JavaScript libraries that you can use to create almost any type of application. With so many advantages, it’s no surprise that node.js is one of the most popular languages for website development.
