🔍 Why Node.js is Popular
Node.js is fast, event-driven, and non-blocking, which means it can handle many tasks at the same time without slowing down. This makes it a popular choice for developers who need scalable and efficient applications.
🌐 Building APIs
Node.js is commonly used to build RESTful or GraphQL APIs. APIs allow different applications or services to communicate with each other.
Example
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.get('/users', (req, res) => {
res.json([{ id: 1, name: 'Alice' }, { id: 2, name: 'Bob' }]);
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('API server running on port 3000');
});
Node.js handles multiple API requests at the same time, making it suitable for backend services.
⚡ Real-Time Applications
Node.js is perfect for real-time apps such as chat applications, online games, or collaborative tools because it supports fast, two-way communication using WebSockets.
Example
const WebSocket = require('ws');
const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 8080 });
wss.on('connection', ws => {
ws.send('Welcome!');
ws.on('message', message => {
console.log(`Received: ${message}`);
});
});
WebSockets allow the server and client to communicate instantly, making real-time interactions possible.
🎥 Streaming Applications
Node.js is ideal for streaming audio, video, or large files efficiently because it processes data in chunks.
Example
const fs = require('fs');
const http = require('http');
http.createServer((req, res) => {
const stream = fs.createReadStream('large-video.mp4');
stream.pipe(res);
}).listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Streaming server running on port 3000');
});
Streams send data in small pieces, preventing memory overload and improving performance.
🏗️ Microservices
Node.js works well for microservices, where an application is divided into small, independent services that handle specific tasks.
Example
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post('/orders', (req, res) => {
const order = req.body;
res.json({ message: 'Order created', order });
});
app.listen(4000, () => {
console.log('Order microservice running on port 4000');
});
Each microservice handles a specific domain, communicates via APIs, and can be scaled independently.
📝 Summary
Node.js is widely used for APIs, real-time applications, streaming services, and microservices. Its event-driven, non-blocking architecture allows developers to handle multiple tasks efficiently, making it perfect for scalable and responsive applications. Understanding these use cases helps developers choose Node.js for projects requiring speed, performance, and easy scalability.