NodeJS is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment that used JavaScript for creating fast, data-intensive, and secure server-side applications. NodeJS comes with many built-in modules making it easy to create highly scalable and interacting applications.
Whereas AngularJS is a framework that used TypeScript for creating single-page client-side applications. AngularJS is also an open-source can developed highly active and rich user interface applications.
There are many criteria by which we can compare both technologies to choose the best for a project. Let’s see them one by one.
Also read: NodeJS vs ExpressJS: What are the similarities and differences?
NodeJS vs AngularJS – At a Glance
| Feature | NodeJS | AngularJS |
|---|---|---|
| Performance and Speed | Compiles source code into one go, fast | Compiles code before rendering, not as fast as NodeJS |
| Scalability | Support many frameworks can build fast and scalable applications | Suitable for building single-page client-side applications |
| Portability | Not that portable due to the requirement of the development environment | Can run on any browser directly |
| Community Support | An active global community with many new frameworks | Old, not compatible with other newly launched frameworks |
| Libraries and Tools Availability | Millions of libraries and tools are available | Provides many libraries to be used for UI |
| Use Cases | Develop full-fledged applications, APIs, and servers | Building a single page, highly efficient, better user interface apps |
| Learning Curve | Wide syllabus to cover, difficult for beginners | Descriptive documentation and tutorials, easy to learn |
| Real World Example | PayPal, Linkedin, GoDaddy, Netflix. etc. | Microsoft Office, Gmail, Upwork, etc. |
Performance and Speed
NodeJS is built upon the V8 engine which compiles the source code into one go, AngularJS also compiles the code before rendering but it is a bit heavy.
Suppose you are creating a small application in which you have to send the message” Hello World!” In the browser, NodeJS just sends that string without any extra code making it super fast whereas AngularJS first processes the code then converts the included HTML and Typescript into an efficient JavaScript code and attached many extra bundles to improve overall performance which helps in fast rendering. So Angular is fast but when compared to Node.js, Node.js will definability win.
Scalability
AngularJS is a framework used in building a client-side application, in terms of scalability you can’t just use just AngularJS to create a large-scale application as it doesn’t combine other frameworks, or even not support the writing of database queries, it is suitable for building single page client-side application whereas, NodeJS is a cross-platform environment compatible with various frameworks can build fast and scalable server-side network applications even recently added the functionalities for mobile app development.
Moreover, NodeJS support functional, object-oriented, event-driven, concurrent, and sub/pub programming paradigms whereas Angular only supports function, object-oriented, and event-driven programming paradigms. So NodeJS is overall good in terms of stabilities.
Portability
AngularJS can run on any browser directly there are no additional requirements whereas for using NodeJS needs to step up the development environment to execute its programs. The program written in NodeJS needs some changes to make it platform-independent as every operating system has some distinguishing features from others.
Moreover, NodeJS only runs on V8 whereas AngularJS doesn’t need any specific system to run rather than just a web browser. So NodeJS is not that portable in comparison to AngularJS.
Community Support
NodeJS has a vast and active global community. The new framework launched nowadays are based on NodeJS making the overall community increases day by day, on the other hand, AngularJS is old now time, doesn’t compatible with other newly launched frameworks, and even developers are switching to ReactJS for creating the client-side application which is simple and easy to learn so NodeJS is considered over AngularJS in terms of community supports.
Libraries and Tools Availability
AngularJS provides many libraries to be used to take the application user interface to the next level but when compared to NodeJS there are millions of libraries and tools that can install using Node Package Manager which is the world’s largest repository of libraries. Almost 10,000 libraries are launched weekly. So in terms of Libraries and Tools Availability NodeJS is undoubtingly better than AngularJS.
Use Cases
Using AngularJS, highly interactive applications can be built. It can be used to create different types of applications such as single page applications, mobile applications, and cross-platform applications, providing better UI and fewer errors as it uses TypeScript. NodeJS can also be used to create command-line tools and desktop applications.
NodeJS can be used to develop full-fledged applications, real-time servers, APIs, and more by providing many built-in modules and third-party frameworks. NodeJS uses JavaScript and the errors can be handled using many synchronous and asynchronous methods. AngularJS can also be used to create mobile applications, not just client-side applications.
Learning Curve
Both AngularJS and NodeJS provide descriptive documentation and tutorials but the AngularJS documentation is much more explanatory on the other hand for beginners the NodeJS document can be overwhelming, to get started with AngularJS you just have to know the basis whereas in NodeJS you have to learn some extra concepts have a wide syllabus to cover to build a stable application.
Real World Example
AngularJS is best suited for creating a single page, highly efficient, better user interface client-side application used by Microsoft Office, Gmail, Upwork, etc whereas NodeJS is preferred for backend, APIs, and server-side applications used by many popular companies like PayPal, Linkedin, GoDaddy, Netflix, etc.
Conclusion
If the requirement is to create an enhanced interface that provides better user interaction for client-side then AngularJS would be the best framework but if the requirement is to create a back-end system, server, an API, or even a full-fledged application then NodeJS is preferred, provides millions of library, overall highly scalable and fast.
