Node.js is an open-source server-side runtime environment built on the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine. It offers an event-driven, cross-platform runtime environment and non-blocking Input or Output for building a highly scalable server-side application using JavaScript.
Node.js can be used to build different types of applications such as web application, command-line application, real-time chat application, and REST API server. Moreover, it is mainly used to build network programs similar to PHP, ASP.NET, or Java. Node.js was written and introduced in 2009 by Ryan Dahl.
Some of the advantages of Node.js
Let’s get down to the major advantages of using Node.js as server-side programming:
1. Node.js offers an Easy Scalability
One of the major advantages of Node.js is that developers find it easy to scale the applications in horizontal as well as vertical directions. The applications can be scaled in a horizontal manner by the addition of additional nodes to the existing system.
Moreover, Node.js also provides you with the option of adding extra resources to the single nodes during the vertical scaling of the application. So, it is highly scalable and provides a better option than other JavaScript servers.
2. Easy to Learn
Since JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages, most of the front end developers have a good grasp over it.
It becomes much easier for them to start using the Node.js at the backend. It is easier to learn Node.js and consumes less time to work with it.
3. Node.js is used as a Single Programming Language
Node.js offers developers the luxury of writing the server side applications in the JavaScript. This allows the Node.js developers to write both the front end as well as back end web application in the JavaScript using a runtime environment.
And they don’t need to use any other server-side programming language. It also makes the deployment of the web applications simpler because almost all the web browsers support JavaScript.
4. The Benefit of Fullstack JS
Node.js has been regarded as a full-stack JavaScript for serving both the server and client-side applications.
Therefore, the advantage is that you don’t have to hire separate developers for backend as well as the front end development. It saves both your valuable time and money.