Node.js was invented to provide a different way of handling client-server I/O (input/output).
Node.js is an event-driven JavaScript run time environment and development framework built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. The inventor of Node.js discovered that its I/O handling capabilities (or lack of them), and some of its other characteristics, made it ideal for writing an environment capable of asynchronous, event-driven I/O.
Server-Side Applications
Node.js can be used to build server-side web applications, and its architecture allows for massive scalability.
In most conventional web server environments, requests are handled as single, discreet events: a request is made to the server, the server does something, and a response is sent back.
Getting Server Feedback
This makes it difficult to get ongoing feedback, such as a file upload progress bar, or any kind of push notification.
The usual way these things were done was essentially a hack: by sending a series of frequent requests over and over to check on the progress of the process.
JavaScript was originally designed as a scripting language for web browsers. It provides a way to add logic and computation to what is otherwise a document-reading application.
Javascript is a fully-featured programming language and can be used in other contexts as well.
To start, we worked through hosts that support Node.js. We sorted hosting plans, selecting those that offered a wide range of developer tools and technical support.
We prioritized hosts that made it easy to deploy, manage and scale your Node.js apps, integrating with Git and Heroku. We scaled down this list, vetting it against customer reviews.
When selecting the best hosts, we stayed with and chose from a list consisting of more traditional web hosting providers. In addition, to support Node.js, hosts may offer:
Event driven architecture is a way of orchestrating the way software components interact with each other and their environment.
Non-Event Driven Coding
In a conventional, non-event-driven approach, if you want one action to cause another action, you usually would have to write an explicit connection between those two actions. This had to be done inside the causal agent.
In other words: if I want A to trigger B, I have to add some code to A.
Event-Driven Coding
Event-driven architecture abstracts this to an environment that contains triggers and listeners.
You can add event triggers to any action (even if you do not know yet that it will be meaningful later) and add listeners to components (even if there is nothing yet to trigger them). Listeners wait for triggers and then launch an action.
Event-Driven Coding for UI
Event-driven programming is typically used in user-interface situations: The system listens for events such as mouse-clicks or keystrokes.
JavaScript already had easy support for event-driven architecture because of its in-browser event-listening usage.
Node.js took advantage of this built-in characteristic to create an event-driven development framework for creating applications.
In Node.JS, I/O operations do not block other I/O operations, allowing multiple connections to be made simultaneously without disruption.
Communications Operate on a Single Thread
All connections operate in a single thread, so there is no performance lag between multiple concurrent processes.
Concurrent Applications
Because of these characteristics, Node.js is highly useful for highly-concurrent, real-time applications, such as gaming.
In April 2019, the most recent major release of Node.js (version 12) was shipped. Some of the updates and upgrades included in this release include:
The fact that there is a huge talent pool helps you in a couple of ways
Given that there are many talented node.js developers, you can easily find one if you want to outsource the job.
On the other hand, if you plan to do the coding yourself, you’ll find a lot of mpde.js developers who are eager to answer your questions. (Programmers are like that.)
The fact that Node.js is a very fast language is no secret.
Since it is built on Google’s V8 JavaScript engine you know that you can depend on it and that it will only get faster over time.
If you want to be an efficient coder, you need to learn to use the code that others have already created.
The Node Package Manager (NPM) is the world’s largest source of open-source libraries. It makes installations a piece of cake.
Often complex projects require using several different languages like C, Assembly, and PHP. Node.js is not that way.
With JavaScript/Node.js, you can write an entire application from client to the server to database in one programming language. And that’s a huge help.
If you are going to be writing a gaming or chat application, Node.js is the language for you.
This is thanks to the event loop and its support for multiple, concurrent connections.
Node.js is really fast at handling I/O. Unfortunately, it is designed to do one thing at a time (though the asynchronous, non-blocking nature means that there aren’t many slowdowns).
As a result, it is not very efficient for heavy data computation and processing. Furthermore, Node.js is lagging in terms of data science and other helpful packages.
Here are the 8 features that stand out to most people.
| Plan | Transfer |
|---|---|
| Professionally managed administration | Administrator takes care of basic server administration tasks |
| Other programming languages like PHP, Perl or Python | Can be used for creating dynamic websites |
| Database (usually MySQL) | Handles data storage |
Node.js is still relatively new, so most web hosts do not support it yet.
On the other hand, it is also very trendy, so there are a number of specialized web hosting providers that are well-optimized for Node.js applications.
Here are some reasons to use Node.js:
Node.js is not a “fix-all” development framework. There are certainly some applications where it is not the best option.
Here are some reasons not to use Node.js:
Be sure to compare hosting options in detail before committing to one.
You want to look past the usual considerations when selecting a web host provider — things such as resource allocation and the inclusion of bonus features.
There are other things you need to keep in mind when selecting the option that is the best for your needs.
Here are some of the factors you should consider:
With that said, what are some specifics that you should consider when looking for a Node.js hosting plan? Well, we think the following are important:
Major releases of Node.js ship every six months, with even-numbered versions shipping in April and odd-numbered versions shipping in October.
Whenever an odd-numbered version ships, the most recent even-numbered version transitions to the status of Long-Term Support (LTS), which means the version gets active support for the next 18 months. Afterward, it will get 12 months of maintenance support.
Actively supported versions receive non-breaking backports of changes a couple of weeks after the current version receives them, while maintenance releases only include critical fixes and the applicable documentation updates.
What this means is that the version you are using will get some type of support for the next two and a half years or so It is up to you to upgrade your applications appropriately.
When it comes to web hosting, you will need your provider to update its environment as well.
Obviously, this is not a problem if you have purchased a dedicated server (since you have full control over your environment), but for those with VPS or shared hosting plans, it is important to check on the hosts’ upgrade policy before signing on the dotted line.
In addition, to support for Node.js, you will want to see what the host offers in terms of developer tools.
The specifics will vary from user to user, so it is best to take stock of what you need and then find a host that meets your requirements.
For example, many hosts offer MySQL databases and SQL Server instances, but what if you are looking for MongoDB so that you can implement a full-stack JavaScript application?
Can you use Redis, a NoSQL data store?
Can you easily integrate with Heroku for things like application build previews, GitHub for version control, or Jenkins for continuous integration?
Does the host offer WebSocket support or offer load balancing?
These are all questions you may want to ask.
Essentially, you must consider whether your host treats Node.js as a first-class citizen or not.
We do not think you should completely disregard a provider if it doesn’t prioritize Node.js, but we do think you should do your research to ensure that support goes further than “we know you can install Node.js and run your app.”
The web host gets bonus points if it has experience integrating Node.js apps with things like Git and Heroku for continuous deployment or with cloud-vendors.
There are a lot of web hosting providers whose software supports Node.js, but they then state explicitly that all Node.js code and related issues are unsupported.
In some cases, this may be okay, especially if you have an in-house technical team. However, if you think you might need assistance in this area, be sure to check the fine print to see if you will get support for issues that pop up as a result of your Node.js use.
Perhaps you are interested in Node.js hosting but don’t yet have the skills to tackle Node.js head-on? If so, here are some great places to study Node.js online.
| Method: | Best for: |
|---|---|
| Nodeschool.io | Intermediate Learners |
| Rithm School | Beginners |
| Colt Steele’s Advanced Web Developer Bootcamp (on Udemy) | Advanced Learners |
In addition to the more popular web hosting options, we suggest you consider players like Heroku, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services and Digital Ocean when purchasing a Node.js hosting package.
There is also Nodejitsu, which is the leading pure-play Node.js hosting provider.
Most of these options are cloud-based providers, so by opting for one of these, you will get all the benefits typically associated with cloud-based hosting: easy scalability, redundancy, and support for failover.
With the exception of Nodejitsu, such options tend to support multiple languages. If you need a “polyglot” web hosting service, this might be the way to go for you.
The caveats, however, are that these tend to be developer-oriented options and may come with a steep learning curve, as well as a larger hosting bill.
Cloud-based options typically cost more than more traditional hosting options.
Node.js is an event-driven JavaScript runtime environment built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine designed for speed and flexibility.
Node.js brings JavaScript to the back-end, allowing the rise of what are called “full-stack JavaScript applications.”
While there are plenty of upsides to using Node.js, it can be challenging to find a web hosting provider that supports full-stack JavaScript applications, especially if you are on a budget.
Regardless, there are certainly options, both traditional and cloud-based, even if you are more limited than if you had chosen, say PHP, instead.
Some of the most commonly used Node.js developer tools include:
Need a great web host? Want to save some time? This shortlist is your best place to begin:
