Top 10 Node.js Frameworks: Choose the right one

The right NodeJs framework is instrumental for your project’s success as it enhances work productivity and scalability. These frameworks are designed to enhance the core functionality of the runtime environment and help improve its performance.

These frameworks are like toolkits built on top of NodeJs, and they provide pre-written code scripts to complete development tasks like web handling, database connection, etc. Using these frameworks, you can save time and effort in building applications.

Here’s a list of NodeJs frameworks, which will make headlines in the current and coming years. It won’t be a surprise to see that all the best NodeJs development agency will be using these frameworks for their projects.

What are NodeJs Frameworks?

NodeJs framework has predefined tools and libraries that can help build web applications and other solutions quickly. These frameworks help streamline all the development activities, ensuring software developers can work on the core business logic.

These frameworks provide the following for a developer’s convenience;

• Structure: The developers can access a basic structure for building the application, which includes defined routes (URLs). They can use middleware code while creating templates to build dynamic web pages.
• Organization: Using frameworks promotes a clean and organized coding structure inclusive of specific conventions and patterns. These practices make it easier to handle large and complex projects while reducing uncertainty.
• Features: Frameworks bring along a set of core features like routing, middleware, database, integration, authentication, and error handling. However, some frameworks offer out-of-the-box features meant to enhance the project’s security, user authentication, and real-time communication, among other aspects.

If that’s not all, the NodeJs frameworks also support different programming paradigms like procedural, object-oriented, and functional, among others.

NodeJs frameworks can take three forms;

1. MVC Frameworks: Using the popular Model View Controller design pattern, these frameworks make the separation of the app logic and management easier while streamlining its potential to scale. Examples include ExpressJs, SailsJs, AdonisJs, NestJs, etc.
2. Full-Stack Frameworks: These frameworks are ideal to use when you are making real-time applications. In this approach, frameworks will provide tools like scaffolding, libraries, and templates. Frameworks in this category have additional features to handle both the frontend and backend development parts of the application. Examples include MeteorJs, LoopBack, and KoaJs.
3. RestAPI Frameworks: While NodeJs speed up the development process, they are especially useful for building REST APIs. These frameworks have pre-built components, including all the technical details easing the development process of network and high-performance applications. Examples include HapiJs and Restify.

Top 10 NodeJs Frameworks to Check Out

NodeJs Framework	Architecture	Ease of Scalability	Performance	Learning Curve
ExpressJs	MVC (Flexible)	Good	Good	Easy
MeteorJs	Full-Stack	Good	Moderate	Moderate
SailsJs	MVC	Good	Good	Easy
KoaJs	Modular (Minimal)	Excellence	Excellence	Steeper
NestJs	Microservices (Modular)	Excellent	Good	Steeper
TotalJs	MVC	Good	Good	Easy
FeatherJs	RESTful API-First	Good	Good	Easy
AdonisJs	MVC	Good	Good	Moderate
LoopBack	API-First	Good	Good	Moderate
HapiJs	Plugin-based	Excellent	Good	Moderate

1.   ExpressJs

One of the most popular NodeJs frameworks, ExpressJs is a lightweight and adaptable technology known to streamline web application development. Working with this, you will realize the documentation proficiency and a community of highly learned developers.

Key Features:

• Efficient Routing: ExpressJs makes HTTP request handling convenient as it directs requests to specific tasks.
• Support for Middleware: Middleware functions in ExpressJs are the intermediaries for relaying HTTP requests. Through this, you can add functionalities like logging, authentication, and data parsing.
• Database Integration: Credited to the framework’s abundant NPM packages modular and adaptable structure, you can integrate any database of your choice with the application.

Overall, ExpressJs is an easy-to-learn framework that you can use for rapid application development. It’s also preferred to build APIs and complex web applications for enterprise solutions.

2.   MeteorJs

With MeteorJs, you can build real-time web applications too, with speed. Run with NodeJs and MongoDB; this framework operates on the publishing-subscribing mechanism, which is instrumental in building efficient and engaging applications.

Key Features

• Coding in JavaScript: With the code written in JavaScript, MeteorJs follows an isomorphic framework that also offers rapid prototyping with CLI.
• Integrates with Frameworks: MeteorJs allows you to build full-stack applications with a single solution. But if needed, it integrates well with other frameworks as well, which means it’s a complete solution to build web apps.
• Real-Time App Development: Working on application development, developers working with MeteorJs can publish data from the server’s database with an API. Moreover, with MeteorJs, developers can get real-time updates for changes in the work.

Use MeteorJs to build real-time applications, especially when your sole focus is one data reactivity. It’s a framework that will prove efficient when you work with a workflow possessing automatic data updates.

3.   SailsJs

SailsJs also works on the MVC architecture pattern and has a structure resembling Ruby on Rails. It’s a framework you will need to build modernized applications with a data-oriented development approach. Given its compatibility with all databases, SailsJs has a unique flexibility, useful for complex app development.

Key Features:

• Highly Customized Applications: SailsJs follows specific code writing practices, based on which it can help reduce the amount of code required while enabling integrations with NPM modules.
• Auto-Generated REST APIs: In-built features like Blueprints, Waterline ORM, and convention over configuration provide a rapid development structure with minimal boilerplate code. This means developers can focus on creating app-specific functionality while ignoring repetitive CRUD operations.
• Real-Time Development: SailsJs uses Socket.io which brings support for WebSockets, ensuring the application is enabled with real-time communication between client and servers. Such capabilities are useful for applications requiring live updates.

SailsJs boasts a streamlined data structure and reusable middleware functionality, which aids in in-app customization. Considering all the features, its an ideal framework to use for building gaming, social media, and live chat applications.

4.   KoaJs

A top NodeJs web development company will always recommend using KoaJs for building web services or APIs. Creating APIs with Koa is easier and a fun experience because it can effectively deal with HTTP middleware using a stack-like structure.

KoaJs corrects NodeJs’s flaws, which means you can maintain various forms of content, which is useful in translating the app’s content without changing the URL. Plus, it’s useful for personalizing eCommerce website content and also lets you add different formats of images.

Key Features:

• KoaJs Contextual Power: KoaJs uses context objects to encompass requests and response objects from NodeJs, leading to building an intuitive API.
• Handling Errors: Without KoaJs, error handling in NodeJs development can be tricky. KoaJs uses Promises and Async/Await functionality rejecting the failed operations. When an operation fails, KoaJs allows you to catch them using the ‘try/catch’
• Middleware Composition: KoaJs uses middleware functions to handle HTTP requests and responses. The approach it uses for handling these functions is similar to what you see in ExpressJs.

KoaJs is a relatively new framework than others, including ExpressJs. As a result, it has proven to be more efficient and scalable. Knowing this, I will recommend you use Koa for building big projects and scalable applications.

If you are a beginner developer or a decision-maker in a top NodeJs development company, don’t delegate KoaJs work to beginner developers.

5.   NestJs

Boasting binary modulation, the progressive framework associated with NodeJs, NestJs has extensive libraries and helps build dynamic and scalable applications with greater flexibility. With its services and functions, we call NestJs a backend productivity booster and use it to construct multi-layered enterprise applications.

More importantly, NestJs is compatible with TypeScript, which means it follows a clean coding architecture, facilitating easy maintenance of code complexity in large-scale applications.

Key Features:

• Binary Modulation: This means NestJs lets us break down code into chunks, making it more manageable and maintainable. As a result, modules and components built with NestJs can be exported to other modules, simplifying work and maintenance.
• Dependency Injection: This capability in NestJs allows adding an external dependency to an already built class, offering seamless access to that functionality. Such a function is better than creating a class within itself.
• Combining OOP and FRP: Object Oriented Programming and Functional Reactive Programming contributes towards better application productivity and performance. This combo is responsible for granting the other key features we have discussed above and also creates a reactive programming system.

One of the top 10 NodeJs frameworks is ideal for teams that are familiar with TypeScript and Angular. Consequently, you can use NestJs to build performant and scalable applications. It streamlines the architecture pattern while keeping the code clean and modular, which is useful when you want to develop complex and data-intensive applications.

6.   TotalJs

TotalJS stands out from all the NodeJs frameworks because it offers a CMS-like work experience. This means you will get everything required to build web applications in a NodeJs-like environment. Developers using TotalJs always praise its runtime environment and how it offers maximum flexibility to work.

It also has different variants, which are instrumental in widening the framework’s approach and work scope. As a result, it’s an ideal framework for IoT integrations and REST services.

Key Features:

• In-Built Template Engine: TotalJs template engine is built within its framework. This means it eliminates the need for external libraries, which are normally used like Pug or EJS. With this, developers can use templates for web page structuring and layouts while adding data afterward.
• WebSockets Support: TotalJs supports WebSockets, which means applications built on this framework can have real-time communication between server and client.
• Visual Development Tool: You will find this feature only in some frameworks. A visual development tool means the framework can provide a graphical interface to build applications, create UIs, and manage projects.

TotalJs is an incredible tool you can use for customized web development and visual programming interfaces in IoT-enabled solutions. It’s also a good framework to build eCommerce and cloud services solutions.

7.   FeatherJs

FeatherJs is popular among the best NodeJs development agencies for backend development capabilities. In addition to its capabilities, FeatherJs provides the flexibility in work you otherwise enjoy with NodeJs and React Native. An ideal framework when you want to work with multiple databases, it helps simplify modern web app development.

Key Features:

• Restful API Design: FeatherJs promotes RESTful API designing, ensuring that resultant applications have a well-defined architecture. This implies your APIs will be predictable, ensuring easier interaction with other applications.
• Built-In Authentication: You can use built-in authentication and authorization mechanisms with FeatherJs. Using these, you can ensure that only authorized users can access API endpoints and gateways.
• Real-Time Functionality: WebSockets integrated into FeatherJs provide the applications with real-time functionality, facilitating seamless bi-directional data flow.

FeatherJs supports all frontend technologies, and it is database agnostic. This means it works seamlessly with the NodeJs environment. Given all its capabilities, we use FeatherJs for production-ready applications, REST APIs, and applications that need real-time processing capabilities.

8.   AdonisJs

Replicating Laravel’s structure, AdonisJs runs on the MVC architecture; this framework optimizes the development time and focuses on several important development components. With AdonisJs, you will experience better development speed and higher productivity, provided you are able to use its features and functionalities to the best of its capabilities.

Key Features:

• Integrated ORM: AdonisJs is integrated with Lucid, which is its own Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system. This simplifies database interactions and provides an expressive query builder. Combining this with support for different database systems, Lucid is a powerful reading and writing tool for databases.
• Authentication System: AdonisJs has a robust authentication system and it has a built-in user authentication and authorization system. As a result, AdonisJs-built applications make it easier to handle user sessions, password hashing, and access control.

• Blade Templating Engine: AdonisJs uses a Blade templating engine, which is also a popular choice for Laravel application development. Blade provides a clean syntax to define the web page’s structure and layout. Moreover, you can also embed PHP code in application templates, delivering dynamic content generation.

Use AdonisJs for building fast-performing web applications and services useful in returning JSON responses from a controller. With full-stack web app development and additional support for frontend technologies, AdonisJS is ideal for building fast, interactive, and high-security applications.

9.   LoopBack

LoopBack is an extensible NodeJs framework used for building enterprise-grade applications. Its support for various data sources and authentication methods with a strong focus on security ensures effective performance. The latest version of LoopBack is an entirely new iteration of the earlier ones. The latest version is built on TypeScript and ES2017.

Key Features:

• API-First Development: Developers follow an API-first approach with LoopBack. You only have to define the API schema; the framework will automatically generate the required backend code. This means there’s no need to write code for models, controllers, and routing. Think about all the time you will save with this approach.
• OpenAPI Integration: This framework follows OpenAPI Specification (OAS), which is the industry standard to describe APIs. Following this approach, LoopBack can generate API documentation automatically, making it easier for the developers to use different tools for interacting with the API.
• Impressive Extensibility: LoopBack’s core components are built with dependency injection, offering an easy swapping of the default functionalities. As a result, you customize the framework to work according to your needs and make customized APIs.

Use this framework to build end-to-end APIs and handle API requests. Using the framework as an external API service, you can also speed up the development work of the applications, ensuring timely delivery.

10. HapiJs

I would describe HapiJs as a configuration-centric NodeJs framework used to build web applications and RESTful APIs along with web services. Complete input validation, caching, and error handling with a myriad of plugins and extensions built into the framework. HapiJs is also popular in the industry for its robust plugin architecture, enabling developers to extend and customize the app’s functionality.

Key Features:

• Configuration Design: Hapi’s configuration-driven design means developers in a top NodeJs development company can effortlessly set up routes and define settings while integrating plugins with a configuration object.
• Plugin System: HapiJs has a powerful plugin ecosystem you can use to extend its functionalities. You can use plugins for authentication, database access, real-time communication, validation, and whatnot. This means you can use a plugin-based development system, ensuring you can keep a clean code.
• Built-in Authentication: With HapiJs, you can use built-in mechanisms for application authentication and authorization. These systems can be used to implement app functionalities, including user registration and role-based access control.

HapiJs is an ideal choice to build social media applications. We use this framework to build proxies and API servers that serve as core functionalities for applications and APIs that further empower those applications.

Conclusion

All of the NodeJs frameworks we have discussed above provide a solid foundation to design and build server-side applications. A technology that excels at delivering scalable and performant applications, NodeJs helps developers be more productive and reliable.

The frameworks we have discussed above provide a set of libraries, conventions, and tools to make development convenient and simpler. Using any of these frameworks, provided you are using it for the right purpose to build scalable applications.

Mobmaxime is the top NodeJs development company in the industry. We offer our experience and expertise to create scalable and reliable web and mobile applications. Want to know more about how we can build better applications than anyone in the industry? Let’s set up a meeting.