Best Node.js Frameworks to Use in 2024

Today’s digital age is pushing businesses to focus on delivering an intuitive user experience rather than just creating utility. As such, the demand for user-friendly web applications is a necessity.

Developers are consistently testing various frameworks to satisfy this demand and bring the best of the choices to the table. Nodejs frameworks are on this list. They have become a go-to platform for 4 out of 5 back-end and full-stack developers say Nodejs’ user survey report.

But the amount of popularity this technology holds, its active community of programmers are coming up with new frameworks regularly. Therefore, choosing the right framework from an array of available options becomes too difficult.
But not to worry, this blog shall introduce you to some of the best Nodejs frameworks and the development practices to be followed to create dynamic web applications for your business. So, let’s start with some basics.

What are Node.js frameworks?

Every web application technology provides different types of frameworks. Each framework has its purpose and usage along the development lifecycle. Regarding Node.js, there are mainly three kinds of frameworks as given below.

MVC Frameworks: These types of web development frameworks deliver high-end designs that separate application logic into three imperatives known as controllers, models, and views. Splitting development issues in such a way maintains and scales an app exhaustively.

Full-stack MVC Frameworks: These frameworks come in handy with a complete range of exceptional development capabilities including libraries, scaffolding, and template engines to build a real-time app. They are useful in the frontend as well as the backend development of apps.

REST API / REST API Frameworks: The best Nodejs frameworks are potent enough to develop web applications at a faster rate with good REST (Representational state transfer) API-built experience. There’s no need for your company to be skeptical about the architectural styles of network applications.

However, looking at the current development needs here’s a list you can count on.

Most Popular Node.js Frameworks

1. Express.js: It’s one of the popular frameworks that represent a minimalistic approach. Express.js is a classic example of an easy-to-use framework for your coding architecture. Leveraging it for your web development process shall require basic development skills and an understanding of the Node.js environment.

Features:

• Has rapid server-side programming packages
• Asynchronous programming leads to high performance
• Applications can be built via maximum testability
• Has abundant HTTP helpers

Use Cases:

• The framework can be used to develop browser-based and or enterprise-grade applications
• It’s suitable for almost all kinds of web and mobile app development

2. Meteor.j: It’s an open-source web development framework that circulates data alterations to your customers without any help from your developers. Concretely, it’s highly responsive to various alternatives of device-operating systems like iOS, Android for mobile devices, and desktop apps as well.

Features:

• Showcases cross-platform compatibility
• Backed by a large community
• Initiates rapid interactions leading to faster results
• Supports integrations with different frameworks easily

Use Cases:

• The framework can be used to develop dynamic applications within stipulated timelines or during an emergency.
• It’s suitable for building cross-platform products

3. Koa.js: Koa.js helps to build APIs easily by efficiently dealing with HTTP middleware through a stack-like technique. With this framework at hand, your business can successfully maintain different forms of content representations via the same URL such as owning different image formats, page translations, etc.

Features:

• It’s futuristic and promotes customization
• Error handling is extraordinary
• Cascading middleware offers personalized UXs
• Building applications from scratch is easy

Use Cases:

• The framework can be used to create high-performing web apps
• It’s suitable for big projects and extensive app building

4. Socket.io: This framework is a JavaScript library that is used to build real-time applications. Your developers can establish a bidirectional communication platform between the servers and web customers with Socket.io. Your requirements for WebSocket development shall be satisfied with impressive applications.

Features:

• Has dedicated binary support
• The framework is highly reliable
• Supports auto-correction and error detection
• Multiplexing and auto-reconnection assistance

Use Cases:

• The framework can be used to create applications where servers need to push the data without any customer requests
• It’s suitable for building real-time chat room and video conferencing apps

5. Mean.io:

Features

• It belongs to the category of web development frameworks that not only have a full ·  ·  Mean Stack but also back many other development tools like GraphQL, Babel, etc.
• It represents a full development stack where every component is created to be utilized in combination
• If you have hands-on expertise in JavaScript, then you won’t need any standalone server for your app development with Mean.io
• With Mean.io, you can implement the functionalities of MongoDB and reap the benefits of cloud compatibility
• The framework allows developers to make alterations in an application at any and all development stages

When to Use?

• It’s one of the ideal platforms to develop real-time dynamic apps and websites
• It helps building applications representing foolproof management

6. Derby.js:

Features

• It allows data-time syncing between databases, browsers, and servers with its rendering engine called Derby Racer
• The framework focuses on offering unique editing options and multi-user features in an application with immediate consistency and a self-regulating timeline
• With bi-directional script development, Derby.js is capable of operating across client as well as server-side script components.
• Your developers get a platform to write customized codes
• It supports online/offline automatic conflict resolving directed by ShareDB by using OT (Operational Transformation) technology

When to Use?

• Derby.js works best for real-time chat web applications development
• It’s used to induce faster content loading and custom-built websites

7. Loopback.js: It provides good connectivity with any Node.js frameworks. Your business can integrate this framework with many API services. The technology is best-suited for developing REST APIs in minimal time. While connecting with a diverse set of services, devices, databases, and browsers, Loopback.js offers exceptional flexibility.

Features:

• Full-fledged assistance for networked applications
• Supports multiple databases
• Completely extensible
• Supports modular and clean coding

Use Cases:

• It handles API requests with ease and builds powerful end-to-end APIs
• It can be used as an external API service

8. Feather.js: Feather.js is a Node.js-microservices framework developed to streamline the process of the current web and mobile app development. It proves beneficial in decoding the development in an intelligent upfront manner which can help your developers in avoiding the complexities related to RESTful APIs.

Features:

• It’s a lightweight Node.js framework
• The services are flexible enough to reuse
• Default plugins for verification and approval
• Supports CLI and automatic RESTful APIs

Use Cases:

• It offers production-ready web application development solutions
• The framework is suitable for the complex app building process

9. Nest.js: If your goal is to develop scalable and active enterprise-grade applications, then Nest.js should be your go-to place. It’s a progressive Node.js framework that offers comprehensive flexibility with its wide-ranging libraries. This framework acts as a catalyst to boost your backend productivity.

Features:

• The learning curve is even
• Systematic code arrangements denote easy-to-use external libraries
• Complex graphical UIs can be simplified by functional reactive programming (FRP)
• First-class frontend compatibility with Angular

Use Cases:

• The framework can be used to develop apps with low maintenance
• It supports scalable and efficient application development

10. Sails.js: It extremely reflects the MVC architecture pattern and offers extensive support for contemporary, data-enabled development. Sail.js signifies good compatibility with all databases alongside integrating Backend JavaScript frameworks in a flexible pattern. This makes it one of the choicest frameworks to develop custom business apps.

Features:

• You can auto-generate REST APIs with the framework
• Its security policies are reusable
• It’s frontend agnostic
• Object-relational mapping (ORM) for multiple-database compatibility

Use Cases:

• The framework is recommended for establishing customized chat apps
• Its technology capabilities are useful in gaming and social media apps

11. Total.js: Total.js is one of the best Node.js frameworks because it’s the only one that provides a CMS-like experience. It’s a complete open-source framework that showcases all the required capabilities you need in a Node.js environment. Rendering flexibility to its best, it’s available in diverse versions like HelpDesk, Eshop, and CMS.

Features:

• Involves tracking in real-time
• Projects are supported by auto-discovery
• Framework compatibility with databases
• Faster development and competitive

Use Cases:

• The framework is used when customization is the priority
• It’s useful for e-commerce web development, cloud services, etc.

12. Hapi.js: This is an open-source framework commercially available for web application development. Hapi.js is well-known for its security aspects and reliability. Be it developing REST APIs, proxy servers, or other desktop applications, with such a framework, everything can be achieved at ease.

Features:

• Develop applications with high scalability
• Safer defaults and rich network
• Debugging is faster and easier
• Compatible with MongoDB, MySQL, etc.

Use Cases:

• It helps to develop real-time social media apps
• It’s mostly used by developers for building API servers and proxies

Development Practices our Node.js Developers Follow

Now, as you know the 10 best Node.js frameworks, it’s time to shed some light on the exclusive development practices that our Node.js developers follow strictly.

Separation of Issues: Our Node.js developers contour different modules to address different concerns associated with the application development. When it comes to server-side applications, different layers take the responsibility of catering to various processing aspects and generating a satisfactory response for client requests accordingly.

Organizing Code Files: The developers create a proper folder structure to separate different modules into different folders. This presents a crystal clear picture of which functionality is managed where. Developers focus on organizing methods and classes separately to offer easy management of code files.

Sender Receiver Models: Incorporating such a practice in your development process helps to manage multiple individual operations aligned to a single task. Our team of dedicated Node.js developers makes sure this model boosts your operational efficiencies and development scalability.

Easy-to-read and Clean Codes: Linting and formatting are taken care of to their best for rendering cleaner codes. The programmers use style guides to write quality codes that comply with international standards and exercises. A pattern of adding comments also brings all the developers on the same page.

Asynchronous Code Writing: Developers use Promises API and write asynchronous code in JavaScript. The use of async/await syntax on the other hand makes the API more spontaneous and simplifies things. Such an articulate functional programming setup helps to build dynamic Node.js applications.

Accessing Environment Variables: A significant development practice that developers never lose sight of is accessing environment variables. Along with various predefined options and settings, your variables are imported to config files and exposed as an object to your Node.js app. This helps in making changes in one place with successful reflection on the whole app.

Error Handling and Debugging: Hire Node.js developers that consider testing codes as one of the most integral parts of application development. Our developers observe a well-implemented logging system followed by quality debugging practices that counter the smallest of inaccuracies and coding errors.

Dependency Injection: It’s a software design pattern that is used to keep your modules more scalable, independent, flexible, reusable, and seamlessly testable across your app. Developers follow this practice and create new functions for a service that takes your dependency as a parameter rather than being fixated on one problem.

Third-party Solutions: When it comes to luring third-party support for the best Node.js frameworks, Node Package Manager (NPM) consists of ambit of high-end libraries, frameworks, and tools which satisfy any use case. Developers consistently embrace these solutions to enhance your coding workflows and make the best out of your APIs.

Application Monitoring Tools: One of the most important developing practices that our Node.js programmers follow is using application monitoring tools (AMP). It helps them in constructively analyzing the performance of your web application. The tools also help in optimizing the development process.

Our Recommendation

If you choose the right Node.js framework for your development environment, you shall surely have dynamic applications on board. However, it totally depends upon your web and mobile app development requirements and how you want them to respond to user requests. Make sure you understand the nature of your project and select a framework that satisfies its needs entirely.
You should be clear about your end goals. Analyze the market and identify which frameworks are used by your business competitors to develop their applications. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in the industry, considering all these factors before selecting a framework from the above list shall be the best suggestion to roll out of this excerpt.