Quick Summary :- Node.js is a popular technology for building web apps. Many tech giants have reaped the benefits of it by following the best practices for building a robust back-end. This article gets into the nitty-gritty of Node.js architecture and best practices for Node.js application development.
Netflix, one of the leading streaming services in the world, observed several issues in its software framework which were inhibiting business growth.
One of the significant steps Netflix took to overcome these challenges was to adopt Node.js.
After adopting Node.js, Netflix reduced the startup loading time by 70%. In addition, there was a tremendous improvement in front-end to back-end transition, resulting in reduced latency. Lastly, scaling became easier after adopting Node.js, which is asynchronous and non-blocking. As a result, the product could handle millions of requests concurrently.
NASA, Trello, PayPal, Uber, Twitter, etc., have also reaped similar benefits by adopting Node.js. However, you need to know Node.js architecture and best practices to attain such results. In this article, we tell you all there is to know about Node.js architecture and the best practices for Node.js application development.Harness the power of modernized frameworks to build scalable applications by partnering with us for web application development. Our engineering team understands your needs and provides custom solutions to help your business.
What is the Node.js architecture?
Node.js uses ‘Single Threaded Event Loop’ architecture to handle multiple concurrent clients. The Node.js processing model is based on a Javascript-event-based model and a callback mechanism. This mechanism based on the event loop allows Node.js to run blocking I/O operations in a non-blocking way. Moreover, scaling is much simpler with a single thread than one thread/new thread per request under ordinary web loads. Now, let’s understand the key elements that make up Node.js architecture.
Key elements of Node.js architecture
1. Requests – Based on the specific tasks users need to perform in a web application, the requests can either be blocking (complex) or non-blocking (simple).
2. Nodejs server – It accepts user requests, processes them, and returns the results to the corresponding users.
3. Event queue – It stores the incoming requests and passes them sequentially to the Event Pool.
4. Event pool – After receiving the client requests from the event queue, it sends responses to corresponding clients.
5. Thread pool – It contains the threads available for performing those operations necessary to process requests.
6. External resources – The external resources are used for blocking client requests and can be used for computation, data storage, and more.
What makes Node.js architecture the right choice for applications?
Scalability
The non-blocking I/O model and the system kernel’s worker pool allow you to build highly scalable Node.js applications. These apps can handle thousands of concurrent client requests without crippling the system. Its lightweight nature enables leveraging microservices architecture.
Walmart implemented the microservices architecture with Node.js to witness:
- 20% conversion growth in general
- 100% uptime on Black Friday sales handling over 500 million page views
- Saving up to 40% on hardware.
Speed and performance
The event-driven programming of Node.js is one of the main reasons for its higher speed compared to other technologies. It helps in synchronizing the occurrence of multiple events and building a simple program. Moreover, its non-blocking, input-output operations contribute to its speed. As the code runs faster, it improves the entire run-time environment.
Flexibility
When developers make a change in Node.js, only a specific Node is affected. In comparison, other frameworks require making changes to the core programming. As a result, this Node.js feature benefits the initial build stage and ongoing maintenance.
These were some of the benefits that Node.js brings to the play. However, to reap those benefits, you got to follow best practices.
Node.js Architecture and Best Practices for Node.js Application Development
Quick Summary :- Node.js is a popular technology for building web apps. Many tech giants have reaped the benefits of it by following the best practices for building a robust back-end. This article gets into the nitty-gritty of Node.js architecture and best practices for Node.js application development.
Netflix, one of the leading streaming services in the world, observed several issues in its software framework which were inhibiting business growth.
One of the significant steps Netflix took to overcome these challenges was to adopt Node.js.
After adopting Node.js, Netflix reduced the startup loading time by 70%. In addition, there was a tremendous improvement in front-end to back-end transition, resulting in reduced latency. Lastly, scaling became easier after adopting Node.js, which is asynchronous and non-blocking. As a result, the product could handle millions of requests concurrently.
NASA, Trello, PayPal, Uber, Twitter, etc., have also reaped similar benefits by adopting Node.js. However, you need to know Node.js architecture and best practices to attain such results. In this article, we tell you all there is to know about Node.js architecture and the best practices for Node.js application development.Harness the power of modernized frameworks to build scalable applications by partnering with us for web application development. Our engineering team understands your needs and provides custom solutions to help your business.
What is the Node.js architecture?
Node.js uses ‘Single Threaded Event Loop’ architecture to handle multiple concurrent clients. The Node.js processing model is based on a Javascript-event-based model and a callback mechanism. This mechanism based on the event loop allows Node.js to run blocking I/O operations in a non-blocking way. Moreover, scaling is much simpler with a single thread than one thread/new thread per request under ordinary web loads. Now, let’s understand the key elements that make up Node.js architecture.
Key elements of Node.js architecture
1. Requests – Based on the specific tasks users need to perform in a web application, the requests can either be blocking (complex) or non-blocking (simple).
2. Nodejs server – It accepts user requests, processes them, and returns the results to the corresponding users.
3. Event queue – It stores the incoming requests and passes them sequentially to the Event Pool.
4. Event pool – After receiving the client requests from the event queue, it sends responses to corresponding clients.
5. Thread pool – It contains the threads available for performing those operations necessary to process requests.
6. External resources – The external resources are used for blocking client requests and can be used for computation, data storage, and more.
What makes Node.js architecture the right choice for applications?
Scalability
The non-blocking I/O model and the system kernel’s worker pool allow you to build highly scalable Node.js applications. These apps can handle thousands of concurrent client requests without crippling the system. Its lightweight nature enables leveraging microservices architecture.
Walmart implemented the microservices architecture with Node.js to witness:
- 20% conversion growth in general
- 100% uptime on Black Friday sales handling over 500 million page views
- Saving up to 40% on hardware.
Speed and performance
The event-driven programming of Node.js is one of the main reasons for its higher speed compared to other technologies. It helps in synchronizing the occurrence of multiple events and building a simple program. Moreover, its non-blocking, input-output operations contribute to its speed. As the code runs faster, it improves the entire run-time environment.
Flexibility
When developers make a change in Node.js, only a specific Node is affected. In comparison, other frameworks require making changes to the core programming. As a result, this Node.js feature benefits the initial build stage and ongoing maintenance.
These were some of the benefits that Node.js brings to the play. However, to reap those benefits, you got to follow best practices.
