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11 Node.js Frameworks in 2023 That Are Here to Stay

Posted on by vcs_ver_2

Endless real-time web apps, including online games, messengers, and video platforms, are powered by Node.js – a popular JavaScript runtime environment. It is the most-preferred and widely-used framework, according to 42.65% of respondents to a 2023 survey. This promising framework helps speed up web page loading times by up to 59% and reduce development expenses by nearly 12%. Amazon, eBay, PayPal, Trello, Uber and Netflix are some of the well-known businesses using Node.js for their backend development. Businesses can excel in product development by hiring experienced Node.js developers adept in utilizing its various frameworks.

However, it will be wrong to consider it a complete framework by itself, since it is more like a platform that offers a low-level API for building web applications. Practically, you need to use additional frameworks that provide higher-level features and functionalities, such as routing, templating, authentication, testing, etc. There are many Node.js frameworks available on the market, of which the following are the top picks by our experts.

  1. Express. js. 
  2. Sails. js.  
  3. Adonis. js. 
  4. Koa. js.  
  5. Meteor. js.  
  6. Nest. js.  
  7. Hapi. js.  
  8. Feather.js
  9. Vue.js
  10. Derby.js
  11. LoopBack

In this article, we’ll dive into each framework’s unique strengths, use cases, and advantages, providing you with valuable insights to make informed decisions. From the classic contenders that have stood the test of time to the cutting-edge newcomers pushing the boundaries of innovation, we’ve got you covered.

Express.JS

Express.JS: Intended to create user-centric online applications and APIs, Express.js has countless features that make it one of the finest Node.js frameworks. It adheres to several web standards to produce the best results.  Indubitably, it is a top choice for Node.js engineers. 

Features:

  1. Express.js is an open-source (free), fast and adaptable MIT-licensed backend development framework. 
  2. It can be used to develop server-side tools and utilities. 
  3. This cut-above framework enables simple API integration while offering a superb line-up of middleware functions. 

Sails.js

Being an Express.js-based framework, Sails.js adheres to the “convention over configuration” approach.  Sails.js is front-end agnostic, which means you can use any front-end technology of your choice, such as Angular, React, or Vue.

Features:

  1. While supporting simple WebSocket integration, Sali.js allows you to connect with your customers in real-time. 
  2. It has blueprints that help you initiate your backend without writing any codes. (Wow!). As a result, with minimal keystrokes, you can construct REST APIs, CRUD actions, and relationships for your models.
  3. Waterline, a first-class ORM/ODM in Sails.js, works with SQL and NoSQL databases. Therefore, you can utilize various data stores in the same project.
  4. It permits the creation of schemas, validations, associations, and hooks.

Adonis.js

This framework, interestingly named after the Greek god of beauty and attraction, has some fascinating features that make it a favourite among Node.js engineers.  You can certainly rely on its robust collection of functionality for developing data-driven and dynamic online apps.

Features:

  1. Adonis.js supports route groups, subdomain routing, and resourceful routes, ensuring the complete organization of your route handlers in dedicated controller files. Therefore, your code is more readable and maintainable
  2. It includes its own template engine, Edge, that allows you to generate server-rendered web pages with dynamic content. 
  3. It comes with built-in support for managing file uploads, with options to stream, store, or validate files. 

Koa.js

This framework, built on ES6 specs, can streamline complicated application development.

Features:

  1. Compared to other Node.js frameworks, it has a lower footprint, because it doesn’t include any middleware in its core.
  2. Koa.js uses async functions to eliminate callbacks and improve error handling.
  3. It employs a context object to encapsulate the request and response objects. This is useful for common tasks.

Meteor.js

If you are looking for robust web or mobile app development, this framework is definitely your go-to.  

Features:

  1. It enables you to use sockets for real-time client communication.
  2. Its convenient blueprints help you launch your app’s backend without writing code.
  3. Working with databases is a cakewalk with Meteor.js thanks to Waterline, which supports both SQL and NoSQL databases.

Nest.js

As it combines contemporary JavaScript and TypeScript, Nest.js offers a higher degree of abstraction than popular Node.js frameworks like Fastify or Express.   

Features:

  1. It perfectly blends the elements of functional, reactive and object-oriented programming to make your code simultaneously expressive and fliexible.
  2. It features an active community and extensive documentation that may assist you in learning and troubleshooting.
  3. It supports a range of application types, including web sockets, microservices, REST APIs, and GraphQL APIs.
  4. Libraries and tools, such as Swagger, TypeORM, Passport and Jest, are easily integrated with it.

Hapi.js

Node.js professionals choose Hapi.js because it helps them write clean and manageable codes.  

Features:

  1. Rendering of server-side of web pages is a lot simpler with Hapi.js.
  2. Hapi.js offers security features including HTTP headers, encrypted cookies, and key rotation.
  3. It enables developers to modify its functionality using additional plugins.

💡Useful Link: Hapi.js crash course 

Feather.js

Developers choose Feather.js to build data-driven and dynamic online applications with high-end customer interactivity and responsiveness.

Features:

  1. One of the coolest features of Feather.js  is that you can effortlessly send and receive messages via sockets.  Broadcast events and subscribe to channels; take your customer interaction to the next level!
  2. It allows you to define schemas, validations, relationships, and hooks for your models.
  3. You can generate RESTful APIs, CRUD operations, and associations for your models with just a few commands.

Vue.js

It builds on top of standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

Features:

  1. User interfaces have different levels of complexity. Vue.js provides a sound, declarative and component-based programming model to efficiently develop any kind of interface.
  2. Its consistent modular architecture simplifies the process of testing and managing codes.
  3. It integrates well with Jest, Passport, Swagger, TypeORM and similar tools and libraries.

Derby.js

If you’re looking to create data-driven and dynamic web applications, Derby.js is your go-to. It is composed of several standard Node.js modules, including Browserify, Express, and Racer.

Features:

  1. Derby.js allows real-time data synchronization between clients and servers.
  2. Automated conflict resolution is made possible by ShareDB’s operational translation of text and JSON1. 
  3. You get options that enable conversation, gaming, and collaborative editing.
  4. Derby.js enables you to render your templates both on the server and in the browser, using the same code. This helps load pages faster.
  5. It provides complete search engine support. Popular template engines that work with Derby.js are Handlebars, EJS, and Pug2.

Loopback

With the help of this open-source Node.js framework, you can build trustworthy, dynamic, potent APIs and microservices.

Features:

  1. It works with TypeScript to make your code more dependable and maintainable.
  2. The connectors in Loopback facilitate interaction with many data sources, online services, and other platforms.
  3. It offers a modular and adaptable design, enabling you to modify and expand your framework using components, mixins, repositories, and more.
  4. It leverages the OpenAPI standard to specify your endpoints and schemas.

Conclusion:

Those were the top 11 frameworks that are trusted by Node.js professionals at Voyantt. It is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code on the server side, as well as on the client side. Node.js is fast, efficient, and suitable for real-time applications, as it uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. Node.js also has a large and active community that supports and contributes to its development and improvement. Stay hooked to read more such tech articles from our team.