Node.js is a platform that has recently gained popularity among big companies. The companies that use Node.js do so because of the flexibility of the library when used to build dynamic websites and apps. Node.js is an environment used for developing server applications and network applications that are written in JavaScript. Some of the largest companies that use Node.js include LinkedIn, PayPal, and NASA.
You may be wondering, what is Node.js? And how do these large companies utilize it? Our detailed guide will answer these questions and more as we further examine the companies that use Node.js, some of the products built with Node.js, and the advantages of the environment.
What Is Node.js?
Node.js is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment that is used to develop a wide variety of web applications. It is built on Google Chrome’s Javascript Engine and is used by skilled developers primarily for backend development. Node.js makes it easy to build fast and scalable applications, which is ideal for big or growing companies.
Node.js is open source and cross-platform, meaning that applications built using it can run on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Node.js also has an extensive library of JavaScript modules to simplify the development process.
Since its development in 2009, Node.js has grown into a reliable environment with many active users. If you learn Node.js, you’ll be able to develop fast and scalable network and online applications. It makes use of an efficient and straightforward input-output (I/O) model, which makes it perfect for real-time and data-based web applications.
What Are the Advantages of Node.js?
- Scalability: One of the biggest benefits of Node.js is its scalability. You can easily scale an application across multiple servers or increase its performance by scaling it into a single dedicated server.
- Full stack applications: Although Node.js is usually used for backend application development, it can also be applied to the front end. Therefore, it’s possible to build a full app using only Node.js.
- Product development: On most platforms, it isn’t easy to build an application from start to finish. However, Node.js technology gives developers more freedom when it comes to development.
- Easy to learn: Since most web and app development teams are already proficient in JavaScript, it’s easy for them to apply their software engineering expertise to learn Node.js quickly.
- Speedy: Node.js uses non-blocking I/O systems. This helps developers manage many requests concurrently. The requests are also executed quickly, systematically, and accurately.
Top Apps Built With Node.js
Apps have become the go-to technology for many businesses, and a good user experience is an important part of making sure an app is successful. Node.js is used by many companies who want to be sure their applications will run smoothly and efficiently. Below, we’ll look at five popular apps built with Node.js.
Netflix
Netflix is one of the most popular and commonly used applications that uses Node.js to manage its backend. By switching to Node.js, Netflix was able to shorten customers’ loading times, increase performance, and make the app more scalable.
Trello
Trello is a web-based project-management tool that lets you create and manage tasks. It makes use of a kanban board view to improve its core functionality. Node.js has helped Trello keep its single-page applications lightweight, decrease load time, and reduce latency.
Walmart
Walmart’s app is one of the biggest online shopping platforms in the world. The ecommerce website attracts huge traffic, with nearly 100 million monthly users. In order to run efficiently, Walmart needs a comprehensive system that can handle many requests, so it uses Node.js.
Millions of users log on to Twitter every day. It makes global interactions and communications easy. Twitter uses Node.js to make the app smaller and faster. This means that Twitter runs faster on slower connections. The app loads in under 5 seconds, with a 3G speed connection.
Groupon
Groupon is an ecommerce marketplace that connects tens of millions of users with products and services, mainly in the US. Built on Node.js, the site runs smoothly without complexities while meeting the needs of its large user base.
Largest Companies That Use Node.js: At a Glance
| Company | Revenue | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|
| Citibank | $74.3 billion (2020) | 210,000 (2020) |
| Netflix | $29.7 billion (2021) | 12,135 (2021) |
| PayPal | $25.4 billion (2021) | 26,500 (2020) |
| eBay | $10.27 billion (2020) | 13,300 (2019) |
| $8.05 billion (2020) | 18,000 (2021) | |
| Yahoo | $7.4 billion (2020) | 10,350 (2019) |
| Uber | $6.09 billion (2020) | 22,800 (2021) |
| Yandex | $4.95 billion (2021) | 10,227 (2020) |
| GoDaddy | $3.76 billion (2021) | 9,000 (2021) |
| NASA | $2 billion (2020) | 16,520 (2021) |
Biggest Companies Using Node.js: A Closer Look
Citibank
Citibank is one of the world’s leading global banks. With nearly 4,600 branches spread across 19 countries, it is crucial that the bank has a high-quality platform that will allow its application and website to run smoothly. By implementing Node.js, Citibank developed several plugins for its web applications and now has a more secure authentication system in place.
Netflix
Netflix is the biggest streaming service in the world, with more than 220 million subscribers. In the past, Netflix used Java for its backend development. This meant developers had to be proficient in multiple programming languages in order to update the website or app. By switching to Node.js, Netflix has increased startup time, performance levels, and all-around functionality.
PayPal
Paypal is used to make 22% of all online transactions in the US. Subsequently, the company has faced issues with loading time and payment processes in the past. Node.js was employed to make the company’s sites load faster and has succeeded in lowering page response time.
eBay
eBay is one of the largest marketplaces in the world and as such, it must be able to process millions of financial service transactions at once. The company uses Node.js to solve the disparity between its front end and backend code, making it faster for users.
With over 690 million users, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. It is also one of the biggest companies that use Node.js development. By using Node.js to create its application, LinkedIn has boosted its client-server interaction, decreased the complexity of its coding, and increased performance.
Yahoo
It is not surprising that Yahoo Answers, Yahoo Lite, and Yahoo Food all make use of Node.js. Like Uber, Yahoo was one of the first major companies to adopt Node.js as part of its digital platform engineering strategy. Node.js development has helped Yahoo improve its performances, loading times, and feature releases.
Uber
Uber is a taxi service that operates through a mobile application. It was one of the first companies to adopt Node.js on a large scale and use it as the main platform of its tech stack. Since Uber processes millions of simultaneous requests a day, Node.js is the ideal solution for them and has helped increase their traffic capacity.
Yandex
Yandex is a Russian search engine that’s popularly known as “the Google of Russia.” The company has evolved and now provides over 70+ Internet-related services. By using Node.js, it has been able to improve its overall runtime environment.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a prominent virtual domain name registrar and hosting service provider. By using Node.js, the global company’s output has improved, leading to increased customer satisfaction.
NASA
NASA is a global pioneer of aeronautics. In the past, it had problems with organizing its databases. The company eventually switched to Node.js, which fixed many of these issues. After the change to Node.js, Nasa saw a 300% improvement in the time it took to access its database, as well as a smoother SQL connection.
Node.js Alternative Comparisons
Node.js is undoubtedly a very powerful environment for app creation. However, there are several alternatives to Node.js that perform similarly. Read on, as we look at some of the alternative platforms to Node.js.
React
React is an open-source, front end platform used to develop websites and applications. React utilizes a powerful library system that offers high performance. Like Node.js, React runs on JavaScript. React is used primarily for the front end and is more suited to projects with dynamic inputs. Node.js is mainly used for backend, and is better for server-side applications like streaming platforms.
AngularJS
Angular is an open-source platform used for developing dynamic web applications. It can be used with JavaScript and HTML. While both Node.js and Angular are ideal for building web apps in JavaScript, Angular is more suited to single-page client-side apps, whereas Node.js is more suited to server-side apps.
Ext JS
Ext JS is one of the most detailed and comprehensive JavaScript frameworks for building data-based, flexible mobile, and web applications for modern devices. However, Node.js is easier to use, set up, and administer. Plus, there is a lack of online communities to turn to for Ext JS support, which means it’ll be difficult to find help if you need it.
What’s the Best Way to Learn Node.js?
There are several ways to learn Node.js, the best of which is to enroll in a coding bootcamp. Other options include online courses, attending seminars, or working as an intern.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
A coding bootcamp is a short-term training program that teaches students in-demand tech skills. They are an innovative and proficient way of learning and they will can help you break into the tech industry in a matter of months.
Top Node.js Bootcamps
Should You Learn Node.js?
Yes, you should learn Node.js if you want to excel as a developer and advance your career. Node.js is quick and easy to learn, especially if you are familiar with JavaScript, and there is a large active community for Node.js users. If you want a creative position, long-term job security, and a good salary, you should learn Node.js.
Companies That Use Node.js FAQ
Yes, Netflix is one of the large companies that employ Node.js. Netflix is the most popular streaming service in the world. Its huge performance gains and massive growth have been made possible by Node.js.
JavaScript is the most popular programming language in the world, so Node.js is also very popular. The fact that Node.js is used by major companies such as PayPal, LinkedIn, and Netflix demonstrates how popular it is.
Yes, Node.js is very relevant in 2022. According to a recent Stack Overflow survey, Node.js is the most popular tool among professional developers, edging out .NET. This makes Node.js one of the most important platforms to learn in 2022.
It only takes a few days to learn Node.js if you have a strong coding background or are familiar with JavaScript. If you are new to JavaScript, it will take between two and six weeks. Enrolling in a coding bootcamp is the best and most efficient way to learn Node.js.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
