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Node.js is one of the most popular tools to build web services and solutions, it is described as a run-time platform which allows it to be used in a variety of situations. In comparison with other web frameworks it allow experts to design platform-independent apps and is not purely a Javascript-based solution. Node.js is flexible solution used to create much more than platforms that are done by comparable solutions. Node.js is now being adopted as the technology of choice for many projects — from small sites to large enterprise solutions.
What Is Node.Js
Node.js is one of the most popular web development technologies and in comparison with other similar platforms is not a framework, but rather a run-time environment. This technology enables developers to create a wide range of web sites — from personal sites to large-scale enterprise platforms which can be used by thousands of users. A distinct advantage is that Node.js is not limited only just to sites — it can be used to power all kind of services including solution implementations in robots, microcontrollers and event processors. The Node.js is built around a customizable server engine that will process the input JavaScript code into machine language that will run inside the environment. Any code which is run inside it will be optimized having better performance than traditional web server execution.
Node.js projects are much more versatile than traditional JavaScript-contained projects as they can integrate various technologies than the original programming language implementation. One of the greater benefits of Node.js is that it improves the performance of the sites by using a much more optimized event-loop processing algorithm. Node.js sites feature asynchronous data processing which does not depend on constant memory and file requests which are done by the traditional buffer.
Advantages of Using Node.Js
Node.js implementations has distinct advantages over competing technologies including web frameworks and software solutions that are widely used to build websites. Programmers often choose to use it as both a dynamic site’s front and back end can be created using a single programming language. When large sites are planned and launched using it the programmers will not have to worry about the data and memory requests. It is proven that when Node.js is implemented the performance of the sites are heavily optimized — the memory footprint and processor requirements will be much smaller when implemented in such an environment. Fast execution is guaranteed as Node.js includes a V8 execution which is supported in most modern web browsers.
Node.js includes modules support which means that the deployed implementations can be further extended with other features and custom performance optimizations. There is also a very rich ecosystem of development tools that allows developers to create web apps and sites much faster.
Node.js Use Cases
There are some distinct advantages when using Node.js in specific project implementations. The virtual environment is widely used in single-page apps which allocate the entire application in a single page. This is a web design trend which is used for a lot of dynamic and interactive services — from online data manipulation tools to social networks and etc.
A related web service which is often designed with Node.js code is the so-called real-time app — these are usually collaborative productivity tools that are deployed on scalable infrastructure. The advantage of using Node.js in them is related to the way the virtual environment handles data loading — the users will notice that data updates and loading times to be significantly faster when a proper Node.js setup is available. Examples include chat rooms, interactive browser games and streaming services.
Non-web examples where Node.js can be used in include server-side apps which will perform certain backend functionality, as well as command line scripts. This is useful for system administrators as JavaScript is a flexible language that is very convenient for setting up common tasks such as cron jobs (scheduled tasks). The JavaScript code when run through the Node.js environment can be used to control and program IoT devices — robots, drones, embedded devices and smart home appliances. The advantage of using it is that the functions will be executed on a system that is optimized and easy to maintain and set up.
Where To Host Node.js Sites
There are several main types of hosting that can be used for Node.js projects. The preferred way to deploy such sites would be to use an optimized service — the so-called “zero configuration” options which allow site administrators to merely upload the content and it will start working. Some of the advantages of using them are the following:
- No need to configure or enable Node.js
- The option of deploying and working with several Node.js projects at once
- Most of the sites offer advanced cloud hosting features — the ability to choose at which location the Node.js site will be hosted
Practically all major cloud hosting solutions offered by Google, Amazon and Microsoft support Node.js projects. There is also the option of uploading the files to VPS or shared hosting providers where the environment is supported in the chosen hosting plan. Check with your hosting provider if you are unsure whether or not Node.js is supported.