From managing databases to real-time applications, Node.js has become the go-to platform for a wide range of development needs. It’s so popular that even Fortune 500 companies like PayPal and Netflix rely on it. But what exactly is Node.js?
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine, created by Ryan Dahl in 2009. Its popularity has surged since then, with 47.12% of developers using or preferring it, according to Stack Overflow's Developer Survey. Developers love Node.js for its ability to build applications quickly, making them scalable and highly efficient due to its high throughput and low response times.
Whether you're building chat apps, streaming platforms, APIs, browser games, or embedded systems, Node.js can handle it all. However, executing these projects effectively often requires careful planning and collaboration — services that are typically offered by specialized Node.js development companies.
In this article, we’ll explore the range of services these companies provide to help bring your Node.js projects to life.
10 Services That Node.JS Development Companies Offer
A Node js development company focuses on offering application development services either for mobile, web, or desktop — and, more recently, blockchain. To truly understand what they do, it's essential to know what services they offer and how much experience they have in this field.
Here's a breakdown of what those explicit services look like:
1. Backend Development
JavaScript is traditionally used for frontend development, but with Node.js, we can bring those capabilities to the backend. As JavaScript is still one of the most used programming languages, this capability can help developers execute the same code on both ends.
Compared to other backend technologies like Java, and Python, it’s more lightweight and suited for I/O applications as it can efficiently handle server-side HTTP requests. Moreover, it reduces the overall development time and time to market.
For backend development, Codeus is a highly recommended Node.js development company helping you build strong server-side applications.
2. Frontend Development
Frontend developers highly prefer it because they can create production-ready applications in a shorter period. These apps are highly scalable due to their event loop, non-blocking I/O model, and single-threaded nature.
In addition, it works well with JavaScript, so developers don't have to learn another language (such as Java or C++). All they have to do is extend the functionality of Node.js using NPM (Node Package Manager) for JavaScript — and they're good to go. Prototyp is an excellent example of companies that offers frontend development services.
3. Web Development
2.1% of websites use Node.js as part of their development stack. That number is expected to grow as developers continue using JavaScript to create dynamic websites.
JavaScript developers can use server-side scripting to create these websites without having to context switch between different technologies. The user requests run on the server side (webserver) instead of the client side (web browser).
Many software companies, like LinkedIn, Medium, Twitter, etc., use it for this purpose — making it an in-demand service. Bild Studio is one such company that can help you fulfill web development projects.
4. Mobile Development
Node.js is excellent for creating cross-platform mobile applications because it uses the same codebase irrespective of the platform. Companies that plan on launching their applications on the iOS and Android stores and want the same performance and scalability tend to prefer this technology.
In addition, it requires fewer lines of code to be written and can handle more requests per second. These qualities are a must-have for a mobile application as they offer an improved user experience. If you need to use Node.js for mobile development, X2 Mobile can help you with such projects.
5. IoT Development
IoT platforms typically mediate between physical sensors and virtual applications. In this case, Node.js works well as it integrates with IoT protocols with ease and offers high performance. For example, the framework supports the MQTT protocol — commonly used by IoT devices to connect with third-party devices.
Many companies prefer it as it uses fewer resources compared to applications built on Java or Ruby. Plus, it offers excellent data protection since several authentication tokens, like auth, jwt, etc., are available for this purpose. So, if this is something you’re looking for, Gauss can help you achieve that.
6. MVP Development
In some instances, businesses only want to develop a prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) to test the viability of their idea. In today’s competitive market where software development life cycle (SDLC) times are reducing each year, it makes more sense to outsource the initial viability assessment.
Ideally, it can take between 10 to 38 weeks to develop and deploy an application, depending on its size. Frameworks like MeteorJS help you launch an MVP within a month as it uses JavaScript both on the front and backend — reducing development time and increasing agility. Proven providers like Digitalya OPS can help you with Node.js-based MVP development.
7. API Development
API development is an in-demand requirement for tech companies because the more applications they can integrate with, the more users they can attract. Most users want a one-stop solution for their software requirements. While every tool can't cater to their needs, integrations help them maximize them in one place.
Node.js development companies offer this service so that product-based businesses can leverage this possibility. Developers use Node.js to build APIs for several reasons — standardized development process, easy versioning, filtering and pagination features, better security features, and more.
So, if you have an existing application and want to develop an API for it, Node.js is a good option. SoftwarMill has experience bringing such system integration projects to fruition.
8. UX/UI Design
User experience (UX) is a crucial part of any application. You can’t retain customers if your application doesn't have a stellar user interface (UI). As JavaScript is heavily used and preferred by developers, Node.js also facilitates the process from a UX/UI perspective.
Designers can use tools like UXPin and FramerX to install UI libraries for designing. If you’re looking for dynamic designs for your applications, look for a Node.js development company that offers this service—such as Ankora Software.
9. QA & Testing
No application is launched without the necessary quality assurance (QA) testing. It's best to reach out to a Node.js development company like FXBITS to conduct this process. It ensures that it complies with the necessary market and regulatory standards.
There are several stages of software testing, and they are:
- Component or unit testing
- Integration testing
- System testing
- Acceptance testing
Levels of Software Testing Explained, Source: AltexSoft
Any Node.js development company with experience in the field will conduct this entire process systematically and ensure that there are no hiccups in your go-to-market campaign.
10. Strategy Consulting
Strategy consulting is a supplemental service offered by Node.js development companies to kickstart the application development process. Some businesses might have the in-house capabilities to build the product, but they might want an extra set of eyes to review and approve the initial product development strategy.
In these cases, they can reach out to Node.js development companies to validate their plans — ensuring the foundation is right. If you’re looking for such a company, Vega IT is a good start.
FAQs
Q1. Which company made Node.js?
Ryan Dahl created Node.js in 2009 while working on a project at Joyent, a cloud computing company based in San Francisco. By 2012, its adoption increased rapidly with companies like Uber, LinkedIn, etc. using it for their applications. Even though it’s only 13 years old, Node.js 18 was launched in 2022.
Q2. What major companies use Node.js?
Several companies make use of Node.js for developing their applications, and some of them include PayPal, Trello (Atlassian), Medium, LinkedIn, GoDaddy, Uber, etc. The main reason they do this is that they require functionality across various platforms and Node.js helps them achieve that. You can find a complete list of companies here.
Q3. Does Netflix use Node.js?
Yes, Netflix does use Node.js for its streaming service. They used it to enable high-volume web streaming to 182 million subscribers through a NodeQuark infrastructure. Eventually, they realized that they'd need self-contained modules to move from web streaming to content production. The technology helped them do that as they could separate their infrastructure’s functions and the ability to reuse code across different platforms — web, mobile, and desktop.