Since the increase in internet accessibility and mobile usage, every step of our life is now triggered through an application on our smartphone. With the change in habits, the industry is also witnessing increasing demand for more applications, new tools, and resources for dedicated web and application development.
While an ample number of choices is always great, with the ocean of available frameworks, utilities, and platforms creates great confusion among the developers. It is difficult to select the best suitable option for your project.
In this piece of article, we have narrowed down and selected TWO major frameworks, Node.js and Angular.js to give you a comparative study on the description, features, benefits, and all relevant options for your ease of selection. The head-to-head comparison will give you a better idea to select the right one. Let’s begin.
Before jumping into the difference between both frameworks, let’s first get a basic idea of these TWO frameworks and their advantages in brief.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is one of the most popular frameworks and many large companies use this to develop amazing applications. It is an open-source cross-function runtime environment and to create a server-side and networking JavaScript application, you can use it. The huge library of this development framework simplifies the coding process for you.
Advantages of Node.JS
This renowned framework provides huge benefits to businesses looking to hire the best Node.js developers. Some of them are
- It is an open-source framework.
- It offers a huge scalability option. As a developer, you can use it for horizontal as well as vertical scaling.
- It has out-of-the-box testing features. You can use any JavaScript testing framework to test your Node.js code.
- You can develop different types of servers through its built-in API (Application Programming Interface).
- Its high performance is one of the major reasons for its popularity. It uses the Google V8 JavaScript engine.
- It supports different types of scripting languages like Ruby, CoffeeScript, TypeScript.
- Supports rapid development for application and can accommodate frequent changes.
There are some other reasons too for which startups are resorting to Node.js.
What is Angular.js?
It is also a structured open-source framework and famous in the developer’s community due to its numerous advantages. Google’s team developed this framework and does the maintenance as well. It supports HTML as a template language and you can use it to create a dynamic, single-page, client-side application.
Advantages of Angular JS
Following are some of the benefits of Angular JS.
- It is also open source.
- Due to its decoupling DOM (Document Object Model) manipulation, it is user-friendly.
- It offers many handy built-in features like automatic data binding, filters, directives, etc.
- Its unique Model View Control Architecture enables easy client-side web application development to the developers.
- Through this framework, you can create a more interactive, user-friendly web application
- It bears object-oriented, functional, and event-driven program paradigms.
- Its built-in test runner is fantastic for unit testing.
Key differences between Node.js and Angular.js
As we have now got a fair idea about the basics and advantages of these TWO frameworks, it’s time to deep dive into the key differences between Node.js and Angular.js.
| Angular.js | Node.js | |
| Definition | Angular.js is a client-side framework | Node.js is a cross-function runtime environment |
| Core architecture | Google has developed this framework to create amazing web applications. It follows all the syntax rules and is crafted in JavaScript entirely | It works as a cross-platform runtime environment and is based on Google V8 JavaScript engine and written in different programming languages like JavaScript, C, C++ |
| Web Framework | It is a web app development framework that helps to automate daily development works and thus, developers get ample time to work on other value-added works | It is not a web framework but it offers opportunities to work you on multiple Node.js based frameworks like Socket.js, Hapi.js, Meteor.js, Express.js and more |
| Programming language and Paradigm support | Angular.js helps you to work with CoffeeScript, TypeScript and Dart. Also, it supports different functional and event-driven Programming paradigms. | This framework supports Ruby, CoffeeScript and TypeScript. It supports concurrency-oriented and sub/pub programming paradigms. |
| Data Interaction | This framework supports two-way data binding but do not offer the feature for database query writing | Node.js supports JavaScript generated database query |
| Installation | You do not need to install Angular.js in your system, you can embed Angular.js files in the code like the other JavaScript files | As a developer, you must install Node.js in your system. Node.js needs a runtime environment like Windows, Linux or macOS. And, you can write applications based on Node.js in JavaScript |
| Usages | You can create the best interactive web applications. This framework is ideal for client-side, single-page web applications. | This is best suitable for comparatively smaller projects. You can create quick, scalable, server-side and networking applications. Also, Node.js is a perfect choice for video streaming and I/O intensive web applications |
| Features | Can use HTML as language template Offers features likedata binding, scope, filters, directives, routing, deep linking, etc. It is suitable for MVC architectural pattern | Can perform on API and single-threaded event mechanism (the requests are processed and run on the same thread) Web applications are capable to deliver data without buffering and Supports MVC architectural pattern |
| Learning curve | It has a steep learning curve. You need a detailed understanding of prototyping, scope, and other JavaScript aspects | The learning curve is comparatively easy. You can use JavaScript on both the client and server side. So, you can concentrate on learning one language |
| Frameworks | Angular.js is itself a web framework | Node.js is a cross-function runtime environment and has a lot of frameworks like Sails.js, Partial.js, and Express.js |
Which one is better – Node.js or Angular.js?
After all the detailed understanding of the basics and key differences, you are now sure that the answer to this question depends on the project you are going to work upon. There are many other parameters as well that you need to check before selecting the correct tool for your project.
Both tools have their own benefits and developers surely need to check all of them before opting for the right one. If you are planning to create a client-side, highly active, and interactive web application Angular.js is best for you and if you need to develop a data-intensive, server-side, real-time application that can run on a cross-functional environment, Node.js should be your choice.
Conclusion
Different web development projects have varieties of requirements, and they need suitable tools. Angular.js and Node.js are TWO of the most popular frameworks. As we have checked in this article, both of them offer varieties of features and operational feasibilities. Understanding the differences in a proper way gives you a correct insight into which one to select for your web application development project. Hope this article has provided ample ideas to choose the correct tool and create an amazing product.
