5 Reasons Why Node.js is So Popular

You must be asking at this point why node.js is so well-liked. In this post, we'll look deeper at all that and more. Node.js is reportedly the most used web framework among developers globally (47.12%), according to Statista Reports 2022. 

Before understanding why, let’s take a look at the companies using Node.js.

Which Companies Use Node.js?

Node.js is used for numerous types of development by well-known organizations, including:

Since its initial release in 2009, node.js, the JavaScript runtime environment has gained significant popularity, and this pattern appears to continue.

Why is Node.js So Popular?

JavaScript runs on the application's server-side using the open-source node.js framework. The server technology has features in common with web application development frameworks like Ruby on Rails, Spring Framework, and ASP.NET. Here are 5 reasons why developers favour node.js: 

1. Light and Fast

Node.js can slash the loading time by 50%-60%. In fact, With node.js, PayPal and Netflix trim their loading times from more than 40 minutes to less than a minute.

Node.js primarily uses Google's V8 JavaScript engine, built in C++. V8 has the ability to compile and execute JavaScript at lightning speed as it enables the compilation of JavaScript using a just-in-time (JIT) compiler before its execution. 

Node.js executes in an event-driven architecture as each operation performed is a series of asynchronous call-backs. Due to this, node.js runs on a single thread, unlike other web technologies that create a new thread for every request. 

This functionality not only makes node.js lightweight but also builds the foundation of Node's non-blocking I/O feature. 

PayPal is one of the examples when it comes to success stories that embraced node.js. PayPal switched to node.js servers from its own servers to decrease the response time and increase the number of requests per second. 

The results proved fruitful for the company as they could serve double requests simultaneously, and their response time was reduced to 200 milliseconds.

2. JavaScript as its Main Language

Node.js libraries, frameworks, and tools are employed by 36.42% of professional developers. 

One of the main reasons behind the popularity of node.js is the extensive use of JavaScript as its primary language. JavaScript is one of the most used languages among developers to build web applications. With the emergence of node.js, continuous evolution has been observed in JavaScript. 

Most developers get familiar with JavaScript at some point while transitioning from web technology to JavaScript, known as a cakewalk.  

3. High Performance

Multiple tasks can be handled concurrently using node.js due to its high performance. 

There are many success stories of companies that have embraced node.js. One such company is Walmart, the US-based online retailer that had a fantastic experience with node.js in 2013.

Walmart navigated all its mobile-based traffic on node.js during the year's busiest shopping day, i.e., the Black Friday Sale. The company noticed that none of their node servers went down despite having 500 million page views. 

Even though 55% of traffic on their website went to the node server, it still didn't go over a mere 1% of CPU utilization. Such high performance made Walmart sell items worth $1.50 Billion, which would not be possible any other way. 

Not just the above ones, but many such reasons make node.js one of the primary choices of developers to create web applications. 

4. Better Scalability

Node.js has scalability built right into its foundation. It is one of the fundamental advantages of node.js for startups that intend to expand over time.

App-based startups use it because it makes it simple to add new modules to already-existing systems while also enabling the development of light, quick systems with a solid real-time response that can be scaled up later.

The load balancing and capacity to manage many concurrent connections allow Node to scale. Additionally, Node.js-based apps enable both horizontal and vertical scaling.

Microservices design works well with node.js, which is excellent for applications that will scale and expand in the future. Additionally, it is feasible to split any functionality into its own microservice and scale it independently of the other components.

5. Highly Extensible and Multiple Hosting

85% of JavaScript learners enjoy the outstanding accessibility of node.js. 

By removing the requirement for developers to desire everything at once, node.js makes their work easier. Instead, it gradually adds or alters what you need over time. As a result, unused libraries are not used.

Here, developers may use Node Package Manager to easily download and browse more than a million open-source modules (Npm). Project dependencies can be found and installed using the default package manager.

Due to its recent exponential growth, numerous hosting companies for node.js are now available. Node-based web applications can be hosted on various cloud-based web servers and hosting platforms. Applications created with node.js can easily be updated and maintained without modifying the source code.

The Bottomline

In comparison to other web technologies, node.js has enabled security, scalability, and long-term support, which has dramatically improved problem-solving. Numerous industries have benefited from the special combination of JavaScript and node.js in the era of constant technological advancement.

Without question, it has emerged as the go-to technology for business entities interested in exhibiting compelling, real-time apps to satisfy end users' needs.

Remember to read similar posts on Amplifyre to learn more about the usability and popularity of node.js.