What is node js?

To create the appropriate tech stack for a powerful, secure, and robust digital solution might be difficult. The efficiency of an application is influenced by a range of programming languages and frameworks. As a result, choosing the correct tech stack from the start of an app development project is critical.

Many software developers use Node js to create eCommerce sites, messengers, streaming services, and other applications. But why is Node.js regarded as one of the greatest platforms for developing such apps? In this post, we'll look at why software engineers’ favour Node.js for app development and what other digital solutions Node.js may help with.

What exactly is Node.js?

Node.js is an interesting junction of frontend and backend technologies in terms of application stacks. Node.js expands the capabilities of JavaScript, which is generally a frontend, client-side web scripting language, to run on the backend, server-side portion of a web application architecture, as well as for server less architecture.

• ?Download and install latest version of Node.js.

Angular require Node.js. You can download Node.js from official site i.e.

https://nodejs.org/en/download

and click on the windows installer.

You can see both the LTS (Long Term Support) and Current Version of the Node.js from where you can download the recommended version of current version.

?After installation the Node.js, open the command prompt window and type "node -v" to verify the installed version of the Node.js. This will help you to see the version of Node.js currently available on your system.

????????????> node -v

???????????Latest Version: v14.6.0

• NPM (Node Package Manager)

NPM (Node Package Manager) is a package manager for JavaScript programming language. It is the default package manager for the JavaScript runtime environment Node.js. Depending on your operating system, install the required package. Once Node.js is installed, npm will also be installed, it is not necessary to install it separately.

?Type "npm -v" in terminal window or command prompt window to verify if npm is installed or not. It will display the version of the NPM currently installed along with Node.js itself.

????????????> npm -v

????????????Latest Version: 6.14.6

Node.js Features

Node.js is a standalone application that can run on any machine. Node.js has the following features:

• A Non-Blocking Single-Threaded Input/Output

Instead of waiting for I/O operations to complete, this operating model allows you to execute actions asynchronously and move on to new requests. As a result, Node.js-based solutions have a better productive capacity and can manage more concurrent client requests than multi-threaded blocking-based programmes.

• Back-End Development using JavaScript

When software developers use JavaScript to design the front-end and back-end of an app, they may connect the two layers more easily and smoothly, with fewer merging problems between the programmes. Additionally, software developers can use a TypeScript package in Node.js to leverage this programming language.

• A Node.js Package Manager (npm)

More than 600,000 open-source and free packages, ranging from simple libraries to full-fledged frameworks, are available in the npm repository, which can greatly speed up application development. Apart from that, this package manager aids software developers in better organizing and structuring their code.

• Event-Driven Architecture and Sockets

A server or client can easily share and update data with other clients linked to a specific group by using the socket technique. This technology is commonly used to create chat rooms and streaming services. Meanwhile, the event-driven and non-blocking architecture simplifies Node.js socket operations, making it a simple and quick application development activity.

• ?A Wide Range of Tools for Creating a Wide Range of Apps

Software developers can use Node.js to create cross-platform mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as online and desktop applications. The most successful apps produced with this framework can be related to the diversity of Node.js-based apps. Mozilla, Groupon, GoDaddy, Slack, and many others are some of them.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Node.js

While Node.js is highly useful, it does have certain drawbacks. It's all about knowing when to utilise Node, as it is with so many other development principles. Here's a quick rundown of the benefits and drawbacks of Node.js.

?Benefits:

·???????Node.js has a strong performance for real-time applications.

·???????High scalability

·???????Support from a large number of people in the community

·???????Allows for cross-platform programmes to be developed.

·???????It is simple to learn

·???????App reaction times are faster.

·???????Faster loading times result from quick caching.

Drawbacks

·???????Node.js Heavy callbacks result from asynchronous programming.

·???????For CPU-intensive tasks, performance slows.

·???????Unstable API, which may lead to bugs and incompatibilities.

·???????There is a lack of library support.

·???????There aren't enough Node.js developers with enough experience.

Wrap Up:

Node.js is a popular back-end programming environment that allows large corporations, SMEs, and start-ups to create a wide range of applications. This sophisticated solution includes a comprehensive collection of development tools for building real-time apps, IoT apps, microservices-based apps, and serverless apps, among other things.