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3a5abi πŸ₯·
3a5abi πŸ₯·

Posted on • Edited on • Originally published at devtoys.io

Top Node.js Backend Frameworks for 2024

As the backbone of modern web applications, backend frameworks play a critical role in the efficiency, scalability, and maintainability of your projects. Node.js, known for its non-blocking, event-driven architecture, has become a popular choice for building server-side applications. In this article, we’ll explore and compare some of the best Node.js backend frameworks for 2024 to help you choose the right one for your next project.


Express.js

1. Express.js

Overview
Express.js is the most popular and widely used Node.js framework. It’s minimalistic, flexible, and provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications.

Key Features

  • Minimalistic: Lightweight and unopinionated, allowing for high customization.
  • Middleware Support: A rich ecosystem of middleware to handle various tasks.
  • Routing: Powerful routing capabilities. Compatibility: Works seamlessly with various template engines and databases.

Pros

  • Easy to learn and use.
  • Extensive documentation and community support.
  • Highly customizable.

Cons

  • Lack of built-in features compared to more opinionated frameworks.
  • Middleware management can become complex in larger applications.

Koa.js

2. Koa.js

Overview
Koa.js is developed by the creators of Express.js and aims to be a smaller, more expressive, and more robust foundation for web applications and APIs.

Key Features

  • Async/Await: Designed to leverage async/await for better control flow.
  • Lightweight: Minimalist core without middleware, encouraging modularity.
  • Context: Enhanced context handling to avoid callback hell.

Pros

  • Cleaner and more readable code with async/await.
  • Greater control over request and response handling.
  • Encourages modular architecture.

Cons

  • Smaller community compared to Express.js.
  • Requires more manual setup for common tasks.

NestJS

3. NestJS

Overview
NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework that leverages TypeScript and aims to provide an out-of-the-box application architecture.

Key Features

  • Modular Architecture: Encourages a modular approach to building applications.
  • TypeScript: Full TypeScript support, enhancing code quality and developer productivity.
  • Dependency Injection: Built-in support for dependency injection.πŸ‘€
  • Microservices: Support for microservices and GraphQL.

Pros

  • Strong TypeScript support.
  • Well-structured and scalable applications.
  • Rich set of built-in features and modules.

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve, especially for developers new to TypeScript.
  • Can be overkill for simple projects.

πŸ‘€ For more in-depth comparison, continue reading here! -> Top Node.js Backend Frameworks for 2024

Top comments (22)

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raptor78455 profile image
Antoine Raymond

AdonisJS is also a nice backend framework. It has all the main features a JS framework should have.

Here is the link : adonisjs.com

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atinypixel profile image
Aziz Kaukawala

Damn! That's an amazing find.

It might help me overcome the accumulated prejudices I have about Node.js backends because of Express.js.

Thanks!

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

πŸ‘€

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enzovcitor profile image
Enzo Victor

I think ExpressoTs could be on that list too!

Here is the link: expresso-ts.com/

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

πŸ‘€

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raptor78455 profile image
Antoine Raymond

I read few sections of the documentation and it is an interesting framework. I appreciate the use of hexagonale architecture.

I'll have to try it 😁

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tojacob profile image
Jacob Samuel G.

I'm confused. Does that use express.js under the hood?

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emanuelgustafzon profile image
Emanuel Gustafzon

At least nest js use express under the hood. Express is very lightweight and Nest js uses it to create a feature rich backend framework that is opinionated and keep a structure of models, services and routes and give templates for faster development and also support dependency injection and use TypeScript by default.

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guledali profile image
guledali

Adonis.js is a great framework the one I would recommend by now. I think they have updated the code structure a few times. Anyway I have not found good tutorials on V6 yet except their own materials. There is also very few on this framework.

JavaScript frameworks changes so much that even copilot have hard time keeping the code up-to-date.

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litlyx profile image
Antonio | CEO at Litlyx.com

I think you should mention a lot more like Deno & Netlify. But at the end of the day what you mention are pretty good! Keep up the good work.

Antonio, CEO at Litlyx

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emanuelgustafzon profile image
Emanuel Gustafzon

Deno is actually like Node js. A runtime environment for node and has its own frameworks. Deno has oak that is similar to express for node.

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emanuelgustafzon profile image
Emanuel Gustafzon

Runtime for js I mean

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litlyx profile image
Antonio | CEO at Litlyx.com

Thanks to enrich this!

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

Very cool project you have there! Let me know if you guys have affiliate program. Happy to share it with our audience at devtoys.io!

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jahid6597 profile image
MD. JAHID HOSSAIN

NestJS is my top pick for Node.js backend frameworks in 2024. Its scalability, maintainability and superb microservices support make it unbeatable.

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

Yeah, people who love Angular, cannot go wrong with Nest! For more enterprise solutions, definitely an amazing product :)

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meirlamdan profile image
meirlamdan

I recommend checking out the good libraries as well

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

πŸ‘€

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blokche profile image
Guillaume DEBLOCK

Koa and Express are much more middleware library rather than frameworks.
I agree with Adonis.js quoted in the comments. It deserves much more attention.

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chovy profile image
chovy

primatejs.com needs some love

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3a5abi profile image
3a5abi πŸ₯·

πŸ‘€

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markuz899 profile image
Marco • Edited

As a note, I would add that nest is a JS framework but it always runs under express, to the list I would add fastify which in terms of performance has no equal in the node field