Top 7 Node JS Frameworks for Web Development in 2024 and Coming Years

Summary

Node JS is an open-source, cross-platform runtime JS environment that can run on multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, MacOS, and more). While Javascript was primarily used for client-side scripting, Node JS became one of the few technologies that leveraged JS for running server-side scripts and producing dynamic webpage content. 

Various Node.js frameworks further supported the use of the templating engine, middleware, simplified routing, error handling, and so on. In this blog post, we will explore the various Node JS frameworks that make backend development easier for you. 

What Are Node JS Frameworks?

As mentioned, Node JS is a runtime environment that facilitates server-side scripting. However, it is often confused and even alternatively called to be a framework (though it’s not). 

In this blog post, whenever we are speaking of top Node.js frameworks, we are referring to the various Javascript frameworks that make development with Node easier, faster, and more efficient. These frameworks are either developed solely for working with Node or can be used with other technologies as well. 

These JS frameworks typically fall under categories like web app, full-stack, real-time, and Rest API frameworks. By using these Node.js frameworks,

• you can speed up the development process, 
• get access to tools that help build scalable applications, 
• improve the security of your application with built-in security features, 
• you can benefit from a plethora of resources and a huge community of developers. 

To be precise, you have access to the latest tools, resources, and community support that helps with the development of unique web applications that meet modern-day demands. 

Types of Node JS Frameworks

Node.js development frameworks are typically divided into three categories: 

I. MVC Frameworks 

These frameworks adhere to the MVC architecture pattern, splitting the app logic into three essential parts – Models, Views, and Controllers. It separates the data layer from the presentation layer and controls logic, helping you develop more effortlessly. Frameworks falling under this category make the most scalable applications. 

Examples: Express.js, Feather.js, Koa.js 

II. Full-Stack MVC Frameworks 

Besides following the MVC architecture, these frameworks offer extended capabilities of templating engines, libraries, and scaffolding to help with frontend and backend development. Leverage the full-stack frameworks to build real-time web applications. 

Examples: Meteor.js, Total.js, Sails.js, Adonis.js, Derby.js 

III. REST API Frameworks 

Focused on creating RESTful web services, these frameworks provide tools for building APIs that allow web services to communicate over HTTP, with support for CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE). They are ideal for web and mobile app development (backend) that interact with a server via RESTful APIs.

Examples: Loopback, Hapi.js, Nest.js 

Top 7 Node JS Frameworks in 2024 and Beyond

Here’s a list of popular Javascript frameworks that help with the seamless development of your Node application. Explore the various frameworks, their features, and appropriate uses to see which one will be a better fit for your web app development needs. 

1. Express.js 

Express of Express.js is amongst the most popular backend frameworks developed for building Restful APIs in Node.js. Developed under the MIT license, it is an open-source technology that makes development with Node easier and faster. 

Features of Express.js: 

• MVC architectural pattern helps with code management and scalability. 
• The sophisticated router in Express helps define endpoints where requests are made and perform HTTP requests. 
• The use of asynchronous programming in Express helps with the execution of multiple operations independently, thereby elevating performance. 
• Rapid server-side programming packages speed up the development process. 
• The dedicated debug module in Express maximizes the testability of your web application. 
• Express has a vast community with a wealth of resources, tutorials, and videos to help with the development. 

Limitations of Express.js: 

• Since Express is unopinionated, developers are completely responsible for the organization of web apps, including the use of third-party libraries. 
• Apps developed in Node may not be suited for performing CPU-intensive tasks. 
• Though Express is minimalistic, beginners may find it challenging to structure large applications in Express. 

When to Use Express.js: 

• Rapid web app development 
• For creating Restful APIs for your frontend 
• Single page applications 
• Prototyping and small applications (especially for beginners) 

When Not to Use Express.js: 

• If you need a Node.js MVC framework that is opinionated and gives you many tools and features out of the box, Express might not be the best choice for you. 
• You should avoid using Node and Express together for CPU-intensive applications because of Node’s single-threaded nature.

2. Koa.js 

The next-gen web framework for Node.js, Koa.js is designed by the creators of Express. The motto behind developing Koa.js was to bring a smaller, more expressive, and more robust foundation for developing web applications and APIs. Since it doesn’t use any middleware like ‘bodyparser’ in its core, it is lightweight and its asynchronous nature helps with improved error-handling capabilities. 

Features of Koa.js: 

• Koa supports exceptional error handling for your web applications. 
• Koa’s middleware stack flows in a stack-like manner, allowing you to perform actions downstream and then filter and manipulate the response upstream. It helps personalize user experience. 
• It’s a lightweight version of Express and encourages using only the necessary modules. 
• Koa is capable of handling Node inconsistencies constructively. 
• It is customizable and allows building apps from scratch. 

Limitations of Koa.js: 

• The flexibility and modularity of Koa presents a steeper learning curve for developers as they have to decide which middleware to use and how to structure their web applications. 
• Since Koa comes with fewer built-in middlewares, dependency on third-party modules increases. 
• It is still in the growing stage and is less established compared to Express and other frameworks. 

When to Use Koa.js: 

• For performance-driven applications
• Applications with high customization needs 
• Projects requiring more control over Middleware stack 

When Not to Use Koa.js: 

• Simple applications with common requirements

3. Socket.io

Socket.io is a Javascript library for Node.js that enables real-time, bidirectional, and event-based communication between web clients and servers.  It is used especially for developing real-time applications like online gaming, chat applications, collaborative tools, live notifications, etc. 

Features of Socket.io: 

• It enables real-time communication between the client and server using WebSockets. 
• Socket.io provides complete support for sending and receiving binary data with a client-side and server-side library. 
• Error-detection and auto-correction 
• Multiplexing support in Socket.io helps separate concerns within your application by splitting the communication over logically different channels. 

Limitations of Socket.io: 

• While it is scalable, handling a large number of real-time connections requires careful planning and additional infrastructure. The process is complex for beginners. However, you can solve this problem as you hire skilled Node JS developers for the job. 
• Additional features of Socket.io may add some performance overheads compared to raw WebSocket implementation. 

When to Use Socket.io: 

• Chat room applications 
• Video conferencing apps 
• Online gaming 
• Live notifications 

When Not to Use Socket.io: 

• Static content delivery 
• Restful API development 
• CPU-intensive backend operations

4. Hapi.js 

The open-source Hapi.js framework is known for its improved security and helps develop Rest APIs, proxy servers, and desktop applications. It comes with a range of built-in plugins that extend the framework capabilities in leaps and bounds. Also, you don’t have to rely on any unofficial or third-party middleware for the same reason. 

Features of Hapi.js: 

• The robust plugin ecosystem of Hapi.js helps add new features, modify the response cycle, and promote modularity and reusability. 
• Built-in support for authentication and authorization makes it one of the most secure web development frameworks of 2024. 
• Improved error handling with tools to return errors in a standardized format.
• Compatible with MongoDB, MySQL, and other databases. 
• Configuration-based routing for a clear overview of routes. 

Limitations of Hapi.js: 

• Due to its rich feature set, it may not be as fast as its other counterparts. 
• The breadth of features and unique approach to configuration and plugins can present a steeper learning curve compared to more straightforward frameworks like Koa and Express. 
• Though Hapi.js has a dedicated community, it is rather small compared to Express. 

When to Use Hapi.js: 

• For developing Restful API servers 
• Projects with heavy customization 
• Complex web services and applications 

When Not to Use Hapi.js: 

• Simple or static websites 
• Microservices architecture

5. Sails.js 

It adheres to MVC architecture much like that of Ruby on Rails. With support for multiple databases and modern data-oriented development, it is suitable for developing highly customized, data-heavy Enterprise applications. 

Sail.js is a frontend agnostic backend framework, allowing you to present data using any framework of your choice. For HTTP requests, it makes use of Express and uses Socket.io for WebSockets. 

Features of Sails.js: 

• Sails can automatically generate RESTful APIs from models, significantly speeding up backend development and reducing boilerplate code.
• Sails.js possesses real-time capabilities with built-in support for WebSockets. 
• It is frontend agnostic and allows using any frontend strategy right from SPAs and mobile pages to server-rendered pages. 
• Elevated security with built-in CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) protection and CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) support. 

Limitations of Sails.js: 

• • The abstraction and automation layers can introduce performance overheads. 

• With full-stack web app development in Sail.js, it could add complexity to even small projects. 

• Steep learning curve

When to Use Sails.js: 

• Real-time applications 
• Rapid API development 
• If your web application ideas are based on complex and scalable structure, Sails.js is the perfect choice for you. 

When Not to Use Sails.js: 

• Simple or static websites 
• Microservices architecture 
• High performance but lightweight applications

6. Meteor.js 

Meteor.js is an open-source, full-stack Javascript framework built on top of Node.js. The framework uses only Javascript to develop apps for multiple operating systems like Android and iOS for mobile and web development. 

Its comprehensive set of libraries and testing capabilities makes it suitable for developing real-time applications or apps with high streaming capabilities. 

Features of Meteor.js: 

• Meteor gives a full-stack solution, taking care of everything you need for developing and managing a web application. 
• Automatic data synchronization between client and server makes it apt for developing real-time applications. 
• Meteor is cross-platform and follows the concept of writing once, running everywhere. 
• Seamless integration with other frameworks 
• Availability of Smart packages (reusable modules) in Meteor helps extend app functionality. 

Limitations of Meteor.js: 

• Performance overhead for applications using large datasets or numerous concurrent users. 
• Large app sizes because of Meteor’s monolithic nature. 
• Smaller community compared to frameworks like Express. 

When to Use Meteor.js: 

• Real-time applications 
• Rapid prototyping 
• Single-page applications 
• When your development team is proficient in Javascript or you hire node developers for the job. 

When Not to Use Meteor.js: 

• Microservices architecture 
• Large-scale, high-traffic applications
• Since Meteor is closely integrated with MongoDB, using other databases would mean additional efforts for the developer as they can’t leverage its data synchronization feature.

7. Nest.js 

Built with TypeScript, Nest.js allows you to code in pure Javascript and combines elements of OOP, Functional reactive Programming, and Functional Programming. Thus, you can expect improved productivity and performance. With a clean code architecture, Nest.js helps build efficient and scalable server-side applications. 

Features of Nest.js: 

• Since Nest.js uses modules to organize code into separate units, code can be easily reused and maintained. 
• Built with TypeScript, it offers strong typing and object-oriented design patterns leading to error-free codes. 
• It has thorough and clear documentation. 
• Developers can use a wide range of third-party libraries and modules for extensibility. 
• Nest.js offers first-class support for building microservices with a variety of transport layers like TCP, MQTT, and NATS. 
• High compatibility with Angular (frontend technology). 

Limitations of Nest.js: 

• Steep learning curve for developers not familiar with TypeScript. 
• System complexity and abstraction can lead to performance overhead. 

When to Use Nest.js: 

• Enterprise-level applications 
• Microservices architecture 
• Apps with complex backend logic 

When Not to Use Nest.js: 

• Simple backend services 
• Projects with quick turnaround time or tight deadlines 

That’s a wrap on some of the best Node.js frameworks we have in 2024! 

Do you have any favorites already? Then, we can help you with the next steps of ideation, design, development, deployment, and even maintenance. Hire Node.js developers from a reliable custom software development company like BiztechCS and get the needed technical assistance. 

For more information on our expertise and how we can help with your web app idea, Contact Us. 

Final Verdict: Which is the Best Node JS Framework?

Determining the best Node.js framework hinges on the project’s specific needs, team expertise, and the particular goals at hand. While Express.js shines for its simplicity, flexibility, and widespread use, frameworks like Nest.js and Koa offer more structured environments ideal for complex applications requiring robust architecture and advanced features. On the other hand, Sails.js and Meteor cater to developers looking for full-stack solutions that streamline both front-end and back-end development. 

Ultimately, the choice is up to you and your specific needs. Make sure to go by all the features and best use case scenarios and define your project requirements, team capabilities, and long-term vision before settling for a framework.