If we say that time is perhaps the most valuable asset in the modern world, it will not be an overstatement. Moreover, in this ever-evolving digital business world, the value of time has become even more important.
With the expansion of technology, there are a plethora of technologies available for real-time application development. Among all, Node.js has left a lasting impression on the app development realm with its emphatic features and other advantages.
Why Is There a Need for Real-Time Application Development?
As the digital world is growing constantly, having a real-time application has become almost a necessity. With the real-time application, the users can interact with it easily, be it a mobile app, desktop app, or web app.
Real-time apps have the ability to perform many functions over a period of time. So, because of this, the user feels that everything in the application is occurring in real-time. Some of the best examples of real-time application frameworks are:
- Online gaming
- E-commerce transactions
- Instant messaging
- Video conferences
- Chatting
In this blog, we will see the impact and role Node.js has to play in real-time application development, as well as the various uses of real-time apps and the different industries they serve.
Without further ado, let us get started.
Various Scenarios Where Real-Time Applications Are Used
We need no rocket science to understand that real-time apps have the power to enhance the overall user experience. Moreover, if you think that they are used only for notifications or instant messaging, you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.
Below are the various scenarios where real-time application development can enhance users’ daily lifestyles.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is the latest fad that has taken every social media platform by storm and the users are addicted to it. Be it media platforms or social networking sites, everyone is live-streaming their content since it has huge potential.
As far as the stats are concerned, by 2024 there will be 91 million subscribers using live streaming. Business organizations don’t want to lose on such a huge opportunity and thus real-time apps become vital.
Internet-of-Things Devices
Real-time features are essential for IoT devices to work to their full potential because the majority of the information in the IoT devices is updated in real-time, such as the exposure of wind, room temperature, etc. Therefore, a competent real-time application framework becomes an utmost necessity for IoT devices.
Internet of Things devices are known for transmitting, processing, and showcasing information to users without any delays. Thus, it is a must for an IoT device to be able to send and receive data in real-time.
Real-Time Notifications
If you have real-time insights for your business, it can work wonders for you. Therefore, you need to implement real-time notification in your application to make optimal use of the insights. Almost all the leading and active applications use real-time notifications to deliver important messages to their users. It not only keeps them hooked to the app but also allows businesses to render more personalized services.
In addition, real-time notifications also play an important role in enhancing the overall ROI of the business.
Real-Time Messaging
Real-time messaging as people know is not just restricted to messaging apps only. Besides Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the real-time messaging feature is used greatly in delivery apps, on-demand taxi booking apps, etc.
Modern-day consumers prefer everything on the go and in quick time, so real-time application development is essential.
Node.js in real-time messaging enables businesses to stay connected with their customers all the time. As per reports done by Business2Community, 79% of the customers want live chat support while shopping as well.
Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking systems are growing by leaps and bounds every year as we have the stats for them. According to a study done by ReasearchAndMarkets.com, Real-Time Location Systems (RLTS) will grow with a CAGR of 20%.
Node.js in real-time tracking can become important as it will help the user to multi-task easily. For example, you are on a run and get a notification citing an important meeting. So while being on the run, you can adjust the timing of the meeting so that neither of the important things gets affected.
Along with this, Real-Time Tracking Systems are used extensively in e-commerce applications, as well. Here the customer can track the delivery of their products and check their reliability.
Now that we understand the usability of real-time apps, we’ll look at the role and benefits of Node.js in real-time app development.
Importance of Node.js in Real-Time Application Development
The modern-day apps have to be accurate and fast in order to survive the cut-throat competition. Moreover, with real-time apps, it is required that they do things in a certain time frame. Real-time with Node.js is scalable and renders more durable results as well. We will have a detailed look at the importance of Node.js in real-time.
Node.js is known for offering continuous two-way communication to various fields of work. Whether it be a stock exchange platform, social media network, or forum, Node.js offers uninterrupted connections for better communication. That is why for data-sensitive apps and IoT devices, Node.js is the preferred technology as it is scalable and quick.
It is also necessary to include the best programming practices to leverage the benefits of Node.js. Because if the best practices are not implemented, Node.js will not be able to implement hassle-free communication.
Advantages of Node.JS in Real-Time App Development
Node.js is an open-source and cross-platform framework that is known for building fast and scalable apps. Apart from being dynamic, real-time apps with Node.js are highly secure, as well.
Other than this, we have listed some of the top benefits of Node.js in real-time app development.
Using Single Code Language
One of the significant benefits of using Node.js in real-time is that it uses only one code language. Whether you are working on the backend or front end, it uses JavaScript for both. Since there is only one language, it reduces the overall time of the development cycle and makes it easier.
Along with time reduction, using a single language eases the app maintenance work as well. Node.js is also a cost-effective method for businesses since they can work with fewer resources.
Cost-Effective Method
Businesses have a long-standing myth that they have to invest huge sums of money for real-time app development. But by using Node.js for the app development process, you can reduce the overall cost of development drastically. Node.js has all the ingredients to develop a feature-rich application at affordable rates.
Everyone can use Node.js for real-time app development regardless of whether they're a small organization, a startup, or an established firm. And since the development time is less with Node.js, the companies can use the early bird advantage.
Excellent Code Maintainability
Node.js is known for its ability of smart code sharing. It enables the developers to share the development codes through divulging. Node.js also has 50,000 bundles in the storehouse. This helps in reducing the code requirement during the application development process by a great deal.
With Node.js real-time, the developers can easily share and refresh the codes for end development without difficulties. The smart sharing feature makes sure that the data changes only in the server. Along with this, it ensures that the server is directly bound with only the web page.
Rapid Development
Node.js in a nutshell is a JavaScript-based program, and, like JavaScript, it also has the capability to pull the application faster. This allows the developers to build robust, real-time applications with Node.js that can handle various parallel connections effectively.
Since Node.js is highly compatible with the modern Java frameworks, it can enhance the speed of real-time application development. In addition, apps with a single-threaded model can also deal with several clients easily.
Event-Driven Server
We all know that the basic requirement of a real-time application is to deal with several functions at a time. Real-time with Node.js is better; it helps in supporting the event-based server so that it can do multiple interactions. It also aids in the non-blocking functionality of the application.
Since Node.js enables the developers to use the non-blocking I/O functionality, the transmission of data becomes easier. Besides, it becomes simpler for the developers to sync the data in the server and deliver it faster to the clients.
Easier Learning Curve
It is one of the USPs of Node.js that the developers do not require high technical knowledge to work on it. The developers who have basic knowledge of JavaScript can easily build real-time applications with Node.js without much difficulty.
This is one of the best reasons why the popularity of Node.js has risen by leaps and bounds. The Node.js framework is one of the best that offers long-term support to the developers. In the present world, where technology is evolving at the rate of knots, it becomes difficult to cope up with it. Thus, developers are constantly looking for programming languages that offer continuous support.
With Node.js, the developers find it very easy to maintain real-time applications.
Operating on Module-Based Functionality
Because Node.js operates on module-based functionality, it stands in its own league as far as app development frameworks are concerned. Module-based functionality enables the developers to avail the maximum advantage of the framework with much less effort.
Developers are also allowed to work on different individual modules, as well. Therefore, the module-based functionality of Node.js reduces the complexity of the overall app development process.
Data Management
Real-time application framework interacts with a high amount of data at a given point in time. To reduce the complexity, Node.js for real-time apps stores the data into small and manageable chunks. As the data is broken into smaller chunks, it becomes easier to maintain it. Smaller data chunks occupy less memory space and thus the mobile device works at an optimal speed.
In addition, the breaking down of data reduces the overall time of the app development process. For developing real-time apps such as chatbots, chat apps, etc., Node.js real-time proves beneficial.
Proxy Support
If you are thinking of developing a real-time application framework, you need a plethora of administrative accounts. In this scenario, Node.js can prove to be the best option for you. With as few as 20 code lines, the real-time application can stream data from different resources in a hassle-free manner.
SEO Friendly
It is a no-brainer that you need a digitally accessible real-time app to survive in the competitive digital market. Getting high search engine optimization (SEO) is necessary for modern-day businesses. This is where the SEO-friendly feature of Node.js comes into the picture and is beneficial for the real-time application development process.
Node.js allows backend rendering that improves the overall SEO of the real-time app. In addition, Node.js is easy to use and design which adds stars and makes the real-time app more SEO friendly.
It becomes easier for businesses to attract more audiences to their real-time apps through Node.js, which has a positive impact on visibility and user engagement.
Code Reusability
For a proper real-time app development framework, it is a prerequisite that it needs to be fast. There might be instances where your developers are stuck during the process of real-time development. In this situation with Node.js, they can easily seek help from the NPM manager.
In addition, the developers are allowed to make use of all the available components in the community. Because of code reusability, the overall development process gets enhanced.
Conclusion
By seeing all the above benefits, it is safe to say that Node.js is an ideal fit for real-time app development. Whether you're developing gaming or chatting apps, it is a perfect choice. But the catch here remains of choosing an experienced Node.js development company. Because if you don’t work with the experts, you will not be able to avail all the advantages of the framework.