Why Are Developers Using Node.js?

Introduction

Node.js is an asynchronous event-driven JavaScript runtime environment, which has been built for scalable network apps. Its design is similar to and influenced by Python’s Twisted and Ruby’s Event Machine. It is free to use and utilizes the V8 engine from Google Chrome. This tool can act as a web server, aid in creating websites, and also in the creation of full-fledged web apps.

Due to this environment’s benefits, big firms have started to hire Node.js developers to create new applications for their customers. In simpler terms, Node.js can generate dynamic content on web pages, collect form data, modify or access files and data on the server/database.

Node.js, originally written by a software engineer named Ryan Dahl in the year 2009, shed light on the limited functionality of the prominent server. This JavaScript-based platform is primarily used to build web servers and is now supported across various desktop IDEs and cloud hosting platforms.

Benefits of Using Node.js

  • A solid suite of technological features: This JavaScript runtime has become a big name in the industry, with over 300 million downloads and 100s of new contributors adding to the project. One can benefit from the full suite of the latter’s feature set, which includes code-sharing, better efficiency, speed, and a large number of free tools. As the development team becomes more flexible, development is quicker, and the software thus developed is also reliable.
  • Shortened development time: Since this is an open-source platform, programmers can quickly develop the software within a short time, and the website will remain scalable in the future.
  • Very easy to adjust: Many coders and programmers around the world contribute to node.js evolution. The community plays a significant role in overcoming many of the challenges related to errors, ability to discuss ideas, lack of training, etc.
  • Caching improves speed: This JavaScript runtime can cache various modules. It means that various parts of the webpage are stored in memory and thus load faster.
  • Easily updated: js remains a very scalable piece of technology. It helps create applications that can easily be updated and keep the product in line with the latest technological advances.
  • It is swift: js can process requests without delay since it uses asynchronous request handling, in which requests can be run in parallel. This platform is so fast with the help of the V8 engine from Google Chrome. The company invests heavily into this product, which further keeps improving node.js. Services like Paypal, Walmart, and GoDaddy saw significant savings in operations cost and server response. Their websites were able to handle vast numbers of viewers without any form of performance hiccups.
  • Well-supported: In the year 2015, the Node.js Foundation had been established by founding members Microsoft, PayPal, IBM, Fidelity, and SAP to increase adoption and improve the development of this runtime environment. Over three hundred well-known companies now use this JavaScript runtime. The latter has received very strong support from corporates worldwide, despite being an open-source software kit.

Conclusion

Node.js is a versatile and powerful piece of software. With its rising popularity and adoption by the big companies and its rapid evolution, this JavaScript runtime paves the way forward for web servers and handling large traffic without facing issues. If you feel inspired, check out how node.js can make a big impact on your startup.