Laravel Vs. Node.js: War For The Backend

Selecting the appropriate framework of the backend is vital as it will dictate whether your web application will succeed or fail. This write-up will prioritize the two most noteworthy backend frameworks – Laravel and Node.js. Here you’ll find an all-inclusive analysis of both frameworks based on multiple aspects and parameters.

Now that you have an incredible idea for a web application that you always wanted to build, you probably want to get into it as soon as possible. You’ve gathered more than enough information on everything from the markets to your competitors. You know what elements you want to include in your design and what you hope to do to enhance usability. The only thing left is the development process, but the moment you enter this phase, you’ll face one inevitable question – which framework should you use for the project’s backend? Your choice has to be immaculate if you expect the web application to succeed.

In most instances, cases like these boil down to two choices – Laravel and Node.js, and your project will receive the wings it needs to fly from both frameworks. Unfortunately, you can’t use the two together, and you have to choose one based on specific factors and parameters. It’s precisely what this write-up is about. Here you’ll find out whether you should hire dedicated Laravel developers or hire professional node.js developers.

A bit about Laravel

Laravel happens to be an open-source framework used in web development projects. It’s popular for multiple reasons, including its ability to manage routing from the server-side. You can also use it for templating purposes, authenticating HTML, etc. Taylor Otwell is its creator, and he wrote it in PHP. Laravel primarily depends on Symfony, the provider of reusable libraries or components of PHP. As it’s a server-side framework, developers can use it to create applications having predefined architectures, web portals, customized logic for the backend, templates, full-stack applications, and to build SaaS products.

Market statistics

• Among all the web frameworks available these days, Laravel has a market share of 0.37%.

• Around 648,115 websites are currently using Laravel, and 1.78% of those websites belong to companies and individuals residing in the USA.

• Laravel has earned around 63,500 stars on GitHub with around 20,300 live projects. Also, the number of dedicated contributors of Laravel amount to 544. These contributors work tirelessly to augment this real-time framework.

Use cases

• On-demand video streaming web applications
• SaaS web applications
• Web-based management systems for stock trading
• Educational web applications
• Website performance analysis applications of the self-hosted type
• Web applications having recognition features and rewards
• CMS systems supporting different languages

A bit about Node.js

Just like Laravel, Node.js is also a server-side framework, but the runtime environment of Node.js is JavaScript-based. The perks of this framework include framework scalability for single-threaded procedures used in async programming and web loads and enhanced performance standards. Other types of Node.js frameworks also exist, such as Meteor.js, Express, and Socket.io. If developers use them along with Node.js, they can augment the ability of the backend of the project. Due to the real-time design and push-based architecture of Node.js, it’s perfect for websites, single-page web apps, and API services for the backend.

Also Read: Top 5 Reasons to Hire Node.js Developers

Market statistics

• According to the report of the Stackoverflow Developer Survey that took place in 2020, almost 67% of all developers chose Node.js as the preferred development tool.

• Around 85% of all developers using Node.js build web apps with the framework, while 43% of all developers rely on it for creating enterprise-grade applications.

• Before 2020, 51.4% of all developers chose Node.js as the most widely-used developmental tool.

• Discussions concerning Node.js have increased significantly within the last ten years, as noted by Stackoverflow Trends. Questions regarding Node.js made for almost 3.5% of the entire list.

Use cases

• Applications for video streaming on the web
• Complicated single-page web applications
• Real-time streaming applications and software programs
• Servers and backend
• Microservices
• Applications for IoT gadgets
• API development
• Automation and scripting

The Benefits of Laravel

• Laravel comes with pre-packaged tools that facilitate the most common tasks associated with web app development. It offers packages that the developers can use immediately for analyzing APIs, authentication, etc.

• Laravel has a unique templating system called Blade. It offers unmatched power to the Laravel application development company in India and USA for data formatting and to create the layouts of complicated web applications. With it, developers can include new modules, as well as features, without altering the core.

• Another unique feature of Laravel is the reverse routing system that supports the automatic circulation of all changes in the routes into appropriate links. In simple terms, it creates URIs automatically.

• The Artisan CLI offers a feature that lets developers automate recurring tasks of all kinds. Of course, they’re application-specific. It can generate new-age boilerplate codes for database management, migration, and the implementation of customized commands.

• Laravel provides expressive methods of testing with PHPUnit, which, in turn, replicates user behavior. It does so by sending requests to the functions of the application. Automation, in general, reduces the time required in running tests.

The advantages of Node.js

• A node.js app development company can create everything from the beginning with little to no restrictions. This feature bestows the freedom to write code the way they want to upon the developers.

• The non-blocking I/O feature of Node.js lets developers process multiple requests at the same time. It results in increased scalability and swifter performance.

• Node.js has an active community that gives access to developers to available solutions, as well as codes. That’s why Node.js is perfect for new developers and startups.

• If a developer has experience in using JavaScript, he/she shouldn’t have any problem using this framework.

• Node.js developers can write both backend and frontend using JavaScript. It enables smoother deployment of applications while bringing down the difficulties of learning to use the platform.

• Node.js can cache individual modules in the memory of the application while eliminating the requirement of code re-execution for enhanced response times.

• Finally, Node.js can assist developers with widely used tools and resources for various purposes, including testing or pinpointing the dependencies of projects.

In terms of performance 

• Laravel

For Laravel applications, the performance standards will have a specific implication on a project. In reality, those implications will dictate its success. Even if you seek out the best Laravel application development company in India and USA, the development process will be slow. However, the Laravel community believes it’s possible to improve performance with proper optimization.

• Node.js

Node.js possesses the non-blocking and asynchronous features of JavaScript. These two things give it an appropriate environment for minor tasks that never affect the thread of the primary application. Additionally, the V8 engine of JavaScript lets the best node.js app development company indulge in multitasking with better efficiency and speed.

In terms of architecture

• Laravel

It adheres to the Model-View-Controller or MVC architecture that offers developers to split the roles they play. This feature makes the task of development much more comfortable than usual. Basically, frontend developers can work on the views while backend specialists can handle the controller logic at the same time.

Interesting Read: What’s New In Laravel 9.0 (LTS)

• Node.js

It has the ability to leverage the architecture of single-threaded event looping, which, in turn, lets it handle several requests concurrently without affecting performance. Node.js even lets developers use the MVP or MVC architecture that simplifies onboarding and isolation problems in the app codebase.

In terms of scalability

• Laravel

Some of the most recognized applications have been using Laravel for several years. They have been scaling their apps without encountering hitches. This level of scalability is an inheritance from PHP as it’s one of the best platforms for businesses that grow swiftly. If developers select the right load balancer and database, Laravel will gain the highest levels of horizontal scaling.

• Node.js

You don’t have to worry about scalability if you use Node.js because it earned fame among developers for its ability to build incredibly scalable applications. The event-driven model combined with the non-blocking I/O allows it to take care of multiple requests simultaneously. Additionally, the event looping mechanism lets Node.js enable a server to work on the maximum number of requests.

In terms of testing

• Laravel

As already mentioned several times in this write-up, Laravel works with PHP. Naturally, developers never experience a lack of tools needed for testing. In other words, you won’t receive an application laden with bugs. Then again, the number of available tools makes it difficult, even for veteran developers, to select the right one. Laravel has an answer to this problem too. It tests code in two levels, including feature tests and unit tests.

• Node.js

Testing, troubleshooting, and debugging are quite easy in Node.js, thanks to the rich ecosystem of the third-party packages the framework boasts of. It has several testing tools that will work automatically. Some of those tools include Jest, Mocha, Jasmine, Lab and Code, and AVA.

In terms of database support

• Laravel

At the moment, Laravel can support four different database system variants, including MySQL, Postgres, SQL, and SQLite. Database interaction can be a challenge, but Eloquent ORM, query builder, and raw SQL simplify the procedure. It should also be comfortable for the developers to establish several database connections to work with the framework.

• Node.js

This one supports every kind of database developers can think of, including NoSQL and relational databases. Experts say that it’s better to stick to NoSQL database types because they store data in JSON objects. This feature provides more accessibility for a backend that uses JavaScript.

Your choice

You should hire dedicated Laravel developers if you want the following.

• You hope to create interactive layouts for websites with high-quality content.
• You’ve envisioned an advanced app that won’t have overhead components or add to your expenses. For that purpose, you have to use Laravel’s unique template engine called Blade.
• You wish to leverage the advantages of different widgets compatible with CSS and JS to build a customized web application.

You should hire professional node.js developers if you want the following.

• You hope to create a web app for streaming video content.
• You’re going to create a single-page app having the highest levels of performance.
• You wish to build a web app laden with exceptionally efficient capabilities of data processing.

Endnote

Well, at this point, you probably won’t have any more trouble in selecting a framework for the backend of the web app you want to create. Both platforms, as you’ve seen, possess incredible capabilities. However, everything will depend on the features you want your app to have, as well as what it will do. So, choose accordingly. Don’t hesitate to take your time, either. After all, it isn’t something worth rushing.