Node.js vs Angular: Comparing JavaScript Frameworks

Make the Ultimate Choice – Get Peak Performance

JavaScript is a commonly used programming language across the web development industry. Wherever there is JavaScript, there will be Node.js and Angular. Both of them are regarded among the most commonly utilised JavaScript frameworks. Still, they have their differences.

This is where this blog comes to help you, because it will do an informative comparison of the frameworks. All the information here is ideal for anyone associated with custom web application development or who is often engulfed in the Node JS vs Angular debate or doesn’t know which to choose. 

So, let’s begin:

A Comparison Table Between Node JS and Angular

Node Js vs Angular: Important Differences

If you’re new to professional development or involved in web application projects, understanding the differences between Node.js and Angular is crucial.

Node JS

JavaScript developed the Node JS framework. It is a cross-platform, open-sourced, and runtime architecture that allows a user to create server-side scripts. It has a huge library where you will come across a host of materials detailing how to utilise Node.js for software development.

Many who argue regarding node js vs angular don’t know that Node.js was developed on Google’s V8 JavaScript Engine. Also, it came with a host of interesting features, like a non-blocking I/O model.

Today, we see that Node.Js is commonly used to make modern web apps that can run on a host of platforms.

Angular

This is another well-renowned framework written on Typescript by the Google Angular team. By the time this writing, Google’s developer community was managing Angular. It is because of its Model-View-Whatever (MVW) architecture that you can develop web applications that have a data-driven and front-end model.

In most cases, Angular is used for Single Page Application (or SPA) developments. Any entity that wants to make Angular better responsive to a given user’s actions can possibly extend it with HTML DOM.

An interesting point here is that the Angular Apache 2.0 licence version is free of cost and is an open-source framework.

True, both Node JS and Angular are JavaScript frameworks with a host of similar points, but there are differentiating factors in them.

Let’s discuss these factors in some detail.

Basics

Angular is appropriate for front-end and structured web apps, and Node JS is appropriate for developing back-end web apps and web servers.

Development Process

Let’s say that you are involved in building Node JS web applications. In this case, installing Node.js in the development environment is a must. Here, you have the option of embedding Angular on the code to utilise it.

Programming Languages

Both Node JS and Angular were built on JavaScript programming languages. However, it is important to note here that since their creation, technologies have evolved, and they now support a host of programming languages.

Angular supports Dart, CoffeeScript, and TypeScript. Node JS supports TypeScript, Ruby, and CoffeeScript.

Use Cases

Node.js is great for building the backend of custom mobile app development. It handles all the server-side logic, database interactions, and API integrations efficiently. But, it is important to state that with Angular, you can create streaming applications or real-time chatbot apps, and with Node JS, you can create fast server-side apps. 

Data Use Cases

In Angular, the MVW architecture works as a two-way data transaction model. In case a web app is built with angular, its associated data is synched with view and model. Additionally, Angular does not support writing database queries.

With Node.js, you can write database queries regardless of your database selection. Therefore, Node.js is a leading choice for software development companies. Moreover, Node.js’s NPM streamlines development and enables developers to produce complex applications or business management solutions quickly.

The Benefits

Which One to Learn?

Of course, a simple answer to this question is that as a developer, you should try to learn both the Node JS and Angular frameworks. This will allow you to select any one of them whenever you require them.

An Interesting Scenario

Let’s consider a scenario where you’re working with a custom software development services provider that ensures your application is future-ready and has all the features and security needed to keep your application scalable. Well, all this is a breeze with Node.js.

Looking at Node JS

Now, let’s look at Node JS. This usually enjoys more fame than Angular. Moreover, it is utilised in large companies such as Uber and Amazon Prime. Node JS has a massive online community that offers you support with regard to application development.

If you are involved in a project that demands video streaming, Internet of Things, real-time teamwork, and so on, go with Node JS.

Modules

It is rather common to see an app with modules supporting bootstrapping. In Angular, the applications are modules, which are NgModules or Angular modules that are well integrated into the web apps.

When we look at Node JS, the modules are created for networking, like data streams, binary data, I/O, TCP, DNS, HTTP, and other important functions like cryptography.

Architectures

In an Angular architecture, there are dependency injection, data binding, directives, services, templates, metadata, modules, and other things.

Within a Node JS architecture, there are requests for blocking or non-blocking of users, external resources, event loops, thread pools, event queues, servers, and other things.

Scopes

Today, developers mostly utilise Node JS on both the client side and the server side. Angular is used for client-side interactions.

Node JS’s Difference from Angular and Other Frameworks

Many industry experts and analysts agree that the key noticeable difference between Angular and Node JS is that Node is utilised to make server-side codes required for back-end web applications.

When we look at Angular, we see that you have the option of making front-end web applications.

This is why both frameworks differ in their respective use cases. Still, it is evident that Node JS enjoys more preference and popularity as it lets you develop a web application from the beginning. However, you need to be an expert in JavaScript.

It is also widely believed that Node JS is more efficient and flexible. It is because of such facts that it is utilised in real-time app development.

Glancing at Angular’s Model View Control Architecture

Many new Angular users either have limited or no knowledge about this MVC architecture. Well, it is important to make matters clear here. This is considered to be an architectural model that can divide an app into three segments, which are controller, view, and model.

Each segment is vital in managing different aspects of a web application. Note that MVC is among the most utilised frameworks for web development. Now that we have cleared this, let’s see the MVC components:

Model

It is in the nature of the model to operate with data-driven logic that users need to utilise the app. Let’s look at an example: if a purchaser is getting data from a database, the model will act and manipulate the data and update it back to the database in a timely manner.

This data is transmitted via Controller and View.

View

This is the MVC framework component that works with every UI logic. Let’s see an example: the customer view features UI components like text boxes, drop-down menus, and so on. All such components are accessed by users.

Controller

This is considered to be the middle interface present between the view and model. It is supposed to process incoming requests and data logic. An important function of the controller is that it can manipulate the data with the model element. Later, it forwards it to the view element.

This is done to generate the final output. Moreover, the controller is beneficial when viewing customer data. For example, it is in the nature of the customer controller to manage the interaction between the view inputs and update the database in a timely manner via the model. 

Node JS Assessment

Many developers who argue about the node js vs angular topic don’t know that Node JS was built on top of Google Chrome’s JavaScript runtime. This is the reason why it lets you create scalable and fast web apps.

Node JS’s event-driven nature showcases that it has asynchronous APIs in its library.

Node does not wait till API generates data. After the server requests data from a given API, it goes to the other. It is the Node’s event-driven nature that gets a response from the final API request.  

An Interesting Point to Note

This blog has offered enough information that can benefit both sides that discuss the node js vs angular issue. Still, it will be best if any potential user of any of the frameworks does a thorough degree of research on the topic at hand.

This research is even more useful for those students who are looking to have a long and fruitful career in the web development domain and want to harness a good degree of knowledge regarding today’s latest JavaScript frameworks.

On a side note, there are a host of free-of-cost and resource-rich sources available on the internet that can assist you with your quest for knowledge regarding the whole node js vs angular issue. All that they demand is a bit of your time and effort. 

Concluding Remarks

Node JS and Angular have a great deal of similarities. For instance, they are used in web application development projects and are open-sourced. Having stated this, their data use cases, advantages, features, models, and architectures are different.

This is why they are utilised in other use cases in different circumstances. For instance, a given user can utilise Angular for single-page apps, as this will make them more interactive and dynamic. They are considered to be ideal for streaming services or chat services.

Node JS is ideal for collaborative approaches like Dropbox, Google Docs, and so on. So, if you are impressed by any node js vs angular discussion and intend to make use of any of them (or both), it will be best to take a good look at your existing project requirements. 

Lastly, if you seek better knowledge regarding Node.js or Angular and want to know how they can benefit you, contact FuturByte today.

FuturByte is a reputed custom website solutions provider that enjoys a globally situated client base. They would love to listen to you and can offer you free advice regarding your relevant concerns.