In today’s IT world, there are plenty of technologies that help developers build solutions with ease. In this blog, we will focus on two popular technologies - Java and NodeJS. Java, no doubt, is the venerable champion used by programmers around the world.
NodeJS, on the other hand, is a relatively young JavaScript runtime environment. But, which one of the two is more relevant to use for application development today? Whether you should invest in a Java software development company or a NodeJS development company? Here’s a detailed comparison guide that highlights the major differences between Java vs NodeJS.
Let’s dive into the specifics of Java vs NodeJS to discover their advantages in programming.
NodeJS - A Brief Overview
NodeJS is a JavaScript runtime environment. It is based on a JavaScript engine Chrome V8 that converts into machine code. This is what differentiates Java from NodeJS - the latter is a running environment for JavaScript.
NodeJS is the brainchild of an American developer Ryan Dahl, created in 2009. While the programmers depended on the principle of “one thread per connection”, the NodeJS platform paid attention to events. The primary objective of this new technology was to establish scalable network servers.
Why Use NodeJS?
NodeJS is a stand-alone command-line tool that helps in creating fast-performing and highly-scalable applications. It is accepted by developers worldwide due to the following reasons:
- The same language can be used on the client-side as well as server-side.
- Fast development
- Ability to create lightweight applications
- Allows the use of JavaScript syntax
- Provides a Node package manager that can be used to install and search for packages
- Ongoing technology development, for e.g., currently, TypeSript is in the development stage
When to Use NodeJS?
NodeJS has a wide range of uses. It is a go-to technology for fast, multi-user data scenarios. Here is a list of key areas where you can use NodeJS.
- Collectors and translators
- Scripts, Command-Line Interfaces
- Batch processing and deferred processing situations
- Document and report generation from a template in NodeJS
- Web apps and SPA servers
- APIs and Servers for mobile applications
- Microcontroller programming
- For building message servers and event broadcasting, such as games, chats, interactive
- Create patches on existing systems, written in other languages
- Parsers, crawlers, data collection
- Window apps (Node-WebKit, nw.js)
- Content Management System, content publishing
- Ecommerce and trade
- Automation in Industries
Java - A Brief Overview
Java is an object-oriented and strictly typified programming language. It was created by Sun Microsystems engineers, Patrick Naughton and James Gosling in the year 1991, the time when this coding language was named as Oak. Today, it’s the world’s most widely used and globally popular programming language.
Why Use Java?
As Java is a high-level coding language, it is used for solving various types of problems. Even though there are new emerging technologies, Java dominates the IT world with its significant benefits.
- Being an object-oriented programming language, Java ensures the reusability of objects in other programs.
- This high-level programming language has a simple syntax and flattened learning curves which ensure ease of reading, writing, and maintenance.
- As Java supports numerous libraries, several hosting providers support this language. It is also easy to work with Java from any computer.
- While Java does not have pointers, it has a Security Manager that helps you to specify access rules.
- With Java, it is easy to build a Java app on Windows, compile it into byte code, and execute it on platforms that support a JVM (Java Virtual Machine).
- Java has a garbage collector that presents automatic storage management. It identifies and removes objects that are not used anymore.
- Java supports multithreading. As threads are independent of each other, one thread does not impact the work of other threads.
When to Use Java?
Due to its positive features, developers are using Java for building robust web and mobile applications. Here are some areas, where you’ll need to partner with a Java development company:
- Web applications
- Server applications used by financial services
- Android applications
- Enterprise applications
- Software tools
- J2ME applications
- Trading applications
- Embedded systems
- Big Data
- Scientific applications
Hope this comparison of these powerful technologies - Java vs NodeJS has given you some idea about the differences. To give you more clarity on the key differences between Java and NodeJS, here is a side-by-side comparison of both technologies:
Comparison Parameters | Java | NodeJS |
Definition | An object-oriented programming language and platform | A running environment for JavaScript. |
Performance and Resource Consumption | Has high performance and consumes a lot of memory | NodeJS has low performance. It is lightweight and is used to maintain lightweight tasks. |
Frameworks | Spring, JSF, Hibernate, Struts, Tapestry, etc. | Express.js, Socket.io, Sails.js, Partial.js, etc. |
Flow Control | Java allows you to build an application and run multiple threads while distributing the load. | NodeJS uses the main thread that is processed by the event loop, and various other threads. |
Usage | This multifunctional programming language is used for complex enterprise app development. | You can create cross-platform applications and web applications. |
Runtime Environment | Java Virtual Machine | Based on Chrome V8 Engine |
Installation | Need JDK (Java Development Kit) to run Java | You need to install archive file on a system |
At the end of this Java vs NodeJS comparison, we can say that both programming languages come with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Java is a mature and universal programming language. However, it is more complicated than NodeJS. When comparing Java vs NodeJS based on performance, Java is a better option. But NodeJS compensates for this drawback with its speed of work and lightness.
For further clarification, you can always consult with a professional Java development company that can help you choose the best technology for your business application.
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