very seed is gold since it can grow into a tall, strong tree. However, for a tiny seed to sprout life, it must be planted first, then watered and protected from cold, wind, and heat. If you choose the wrong seedbed, put it in the dark, or forget to strengthen the seedlings, the tree will never grow. The same thing will happen to your project if you don't take care of the technology beforehand.

Without the proper tool and thoughtful development approach, your product can't grow and flourish.  It sounds obvious, but choosing the right technology is one factor in a project's effectiveness.

How to choose a suitable tool quickly and without too much headache?

At The Frontend Company, we believe that for your product to be effective, you need to know the strengths and weaknesses of each technology. Today, we're going to act as referees for the AngularJS vs Node.js competition. So, what will you know next? We'll tell about the difference in the concepts of these technologies, their pros and cons, interesting statistics, and the scope of each solution.

Extend your team with niche-experienced developers today!

Book the call with our Managing Partner

book the call

NodeJS and AngularJS concepts

Before we get further into the AngularJS vs Node.js topic, we need to clarify some important details. Let's go over the basics with the help of our leading front-end developers, Denys and Alex.

AngularJS is an open-source JavaScript framework. This tool is responsible for everything that concerns the client side of the user interface. For instance, for displaying and putting information on a web page, as well as other visuals. 

This framework cannot exist separately; it is connected to the server's hardware and software, and the product comes to life in the programmer's hands. Since AngularJS runs on the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern of software design, it simplifies many of the processing and testing tasks for the coder.

Read more:

7 Reasons For Angularjs To Angular Migration

Node.js, in contrast, is a JavaScript runtime environment. It is an open-source and cross-platform solution, which is responsible for the back-end component of the product. This technology transforms JS into machine code.  Simply put, by using Node.js, the processing of information goes on the server-side of the project. 

Node.js appeared because JS used to run exclusively in the browser, and developers wanted more functionality for this programming language. Coders wanted to run JavaScript directly from their computers as an application, so programmers had the idea of creating this JS runtime. It makes this technology a lot like the Python scripting language.

According to various data, there are up to 100 different programming languages. Of this number, only 10-15 technologies are the most in-demand. These include JavaScript, HTML, Python, Java, CSS, SQL, C#, SQL, etc. If you add frameworks and libraries to the list, development tools will increase several times.

The engine behind NodeJS is V8, which was built with the help of the Danish branch of Google. One of the most influential figures in the production of the JavaScript-based engine was the programmer Lars Bak. The developer's name may be familiar to those who are interested in current technologies. In 2011, Bak, jointly with Kasper Lund, introduced the Dart programming language to the world.

Why cannot these tools be compared?

As mentioned before, these technologies are in charge of different parts of project development. Therefore, it would be wrong to have a typical AngularJS vs Node.js style battle. Without the front-end component, no product will be understandable and attractive to your customers. At the same time, without the back-end part, no project will be able to function.

The AngularJS vs Node.js question is a bit like choosing between chocolate ice cream and ribeye steak. Both are delicious. However, they have very different purposes at dinner. It's the same with these two web development tools.

With some libraries and frameworks, you can use NodeJS to build front-end applications. But there is no real need to do it; you can use the technology in connection with other, more suitable ones.

Besides, Angular JS and Node JS are part of a single stack of server-side software used for web development. It is called MEAN and stands for M (MongoDB), E (Express.js, which is one of the most popular Node frameworks), A (Angular.js), and N (Node.js). Since the listed web tools are used altogether, it again proves the pointlessness of comparing AngularJS vs Node.js. 

Benefits of AngularJS technology for business

Moving on from AngularJS vs Node.js, let's take a detailed look at the advantages of the JavaScript framework. 

1. Easy integration of HTML codes and modules: Because of this feature, the tool allows coders to maintain the web infrastructure without much effort. As the technology follows basic HTML and provides many directives, the dev can make a website or application highly responsive. Due to its dynamic structure, the finished product can synchronize with views and models automatically.
2. DOM structure: This methodology allows the developer to change, add or remove HTML elements through a special jqLite API. It is implemented as a method, which simplifies HTML element management, allowing programmers to focus more on project performance and ease testing. 
3. Two-way data binding: For tech-savvy people, this point requires no explanation. The software engineer understands without words why this data binding method is a benefit. 2-way data binding allows you to reduce the amount of written source code, which frees your server from working with templates. You won't need to redo the template every time you need to make a change to the data. After all, Angular JS binding between the model and the page elements is done in two ways by the $compile service.

4. Suitable for creating SPAs and client-side web applications: You can use this tool to build both Single Page Applications (SPAs) and some web apps. This framework lets users quickly interact with the application and provides a user-friendly interface for customers thanks to the 2-way data binding.
5. Perfect for projects where you have to process and update many data: The framework fast processes and updates vast amounts of information due to the two previously mentioned points. If your project involves interacting with a ton of data all the time, this will be the best choice.
6. Large developer community: According to GitHub, over 123,000 people use this technology. In the context of the AngularJS vs Node.js comparison, that is a critical parameter. Why? A close-knit and large community solves problems with writing code faster.
7. Many programmers to find for your project: Because of the large group of AngularJS developers, it is easier for companies to hire qualified specialists. Theoretically, the process of recruiting a coder for a project is reduced.
8. Dependency injection: This framework has a built-in mechanism for dependency injection. Why is this important? This tool determines when it should provide subsidiary objects, connect them, etc. The programmer builds applications from separate modules that can stay autonomous or remain dependent.

9. It is used to support many projects: Almost 370 000 websites globally have been built with the help of Angular JS. Most of the projects are in the United States, but the numbers are impressive. Even though Angular has been replacing AngularJS from Olympus in the last couple of years, many companies continue to use the JS-based framework.
10. Strong support from Google and Microsoft: This point is quite logical since Google is the creator of this solution. The help of such a giant and Microsoft provides the JS-based tool with many advantages. For example, the technology offers a plugin for Chrome. Its purpose is to simplify the debugging of web applications and the option of detecting bottlenecks in the graphical interface faster.
11. No strict structure and availability of ready-made solutions: Programmers can create projects with any desired format and use built-in directives like ng-bind, ng-if, ng-table, ng-repeat, ui-grid, etc. 
12. Cross-browser support: This tool can run and work in different browsers. That makes it best suited to different business needs. That's why the technology is actively used to create projects in the tourism sector, social networks, IT sphere, science, finance, etc.

Read more:

AngularJS Vs Angular Performance Comparison

13. Possibility of reactive programming with RxJS: This advantage lets the developer quickly handle asynchronous implementations and interact with callbacks. 

These were the main advantages of front-end technology, which should have been described in more detail when comparing AngularJS vs Node.js.

Advantages of Node.js technology for business

Now it's time to talk about NodeJS features. Below is a list of essential elements of this back-end solution.

1. Reliable technology: The language Node.js was written, it is now considered a reliable back-end base. JavaScript has maintained a leading position among programming languages for 25+ years and is regarded as one of the most user-friendly coding languages. Many devs use Node for full-featured JS development, making the project creation process less time-consuming and providing the necessary flexibility. The code is effortlessly packaged into modules, and the specialist can create new levels of abstraction.
2. Delivers the optimal application speed: Now, this tool is positioned as one of the fastest solutions on the market. The V8 engine on which Node JS runs provides this feature. Since V8 is a Google creation, so many efforts and resources have been invested in it. If you are interested, you can read a performance comparison of Node.js with some other technologies.
3. Perfect for the building of scalable and fast apps: This tool has an event-driven and single-threaded architecture. It allows Node to solve the I/O (Input/Output) problem. You can scale your product at any time to give it proper scalability. 
4. Cross-platform tool: Node has official support for Windows, macOS, Linux. Thanks to this, you will have no problem building or using the project on different platforms.

5. Lots of free tools: On the topic of AngularJS vs Node.js, we must say that developers can use a variety of ready and completely free solutions. It gives programmers more freedom. They can both use ready-made modules and create them from scratch.
6. JSON support: Unlike other technologies, JSON is not transformed into binary models by JS. That seamless connectivity is convenient for coders. Especially if they need to build an API to support a NoSQL database.
7. Great package manager npm: Programmers can use the community libraries to handle all sorts of problems. Since all the most common difficulties in writing source code are collected here, you don't have to solve issues on your own or search for answers to technical questions for a long time. The npm libraries already have many packages that are easy to implement in your application or other projects.
8. It could be used on a client and server-side: Did you notice that here I use the name of the tool with and without JS? The reason is that you can use the technology for several purposes. Coders can apply this tool to create JS-based apps on the client-side and the server-side. In addition, it is suitable for developing the front-end part of a product using some frameworks.

9. Perfect for microservices architecture: This point is crucial even in the context of an AngularJS vs Node.js comparison. It shows in which industries you can implement the tool in the best way. Developing with a focus on several small services allows the back-end technology to improve the application's speed and performance. That is why Walmart once made the switch to a microservice architecture with NodeJS.
10. Many frameworks: You can choose any suitable solution for you and run it without rebuilding code. For every NodeJS-based app, you can create a router that works as an API endpoint. Even if the logic of each router is different, the code base for creating the router will be the same. Your project will have an optimized and clean code structure. The best-known Node frameworks are Express.js, Meteor.js, and Koa.js.

As you can see, some companies use Node JS and AngularJS to create their products. Despite the plenty of other front-end solutions, many are still working with the first version of Angular and are in no hurry to migrate to later and faster versions of Angular 2+. For some products, the MEAN stack is still the best.

Cons of AngularJS you should know

After the nice part of AngularJS vs Node.js, we move smoothly to the weaknesses. With a proper evaluation of the disadvantages of this or that framework, you will better assess the project's performance in the future.

1. Difficulties with SEO: Because of its dynamic architecture, the framework doesn't always do well with SEO. The information on pages frequently changes, which sometimes prevents search engines from processing the content seamlessly. Although in the 2020s, this is no longer such a big problem as Google, Bing, and other search engines have improved their interaction with AngularJS-based projects. However, you should be aware of this point.
2. Poor documentation: By now, programmers will find well-structured information and examples with code implementation. Still, some points are poorly explained, which is not always to the developers' advantage.
3. Despite a large community, not all problems are solved: You need to have in-depth knowledge of JS and related programming languages to learn this framework. A huge tool gives you plenty of features and options. That's why it has lots of unresolved issues. Even a large community cannot solve all the problems quickly.  
4. It is necessary to use in addition many other libraries: Continuing our AngularJS vs Node.js comparison, it is necessary to mention this one. If you want to make the product as convenient, functional, and efficient as possible, you will have to look for additional libraries or solve unsolved problems independently. Most importantly, it is to make sure that the library is not abandoned.
5. Not always good performance: It is also related to the structure of the framework. Sometimes sites built with this tool have slightly slower page load speeds.

Disadvantages of Node.js you should know

When comparing Node JS vs AngularJS, it became clear there are a few disadvantages of this technology. The tool isn't perfect, but it is rightly viewed as a top-notch one.

1. Performance degrades while processing compute-intensive tasks: Since NodeJS has one-way data binding; the input is routed in one direction only. This way of working results in a slight degradation of the application performance while processing compute-intensive tasks. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the possible difficulties in the compute scaling.

Read more:

Flutter Vs React Native: Which Technology Should You Choose In 2022?

2. Node.js has an asynchronous structure, so the technology relies heavily on callbacks: Such a feature can make it hard to understand the code. For everything to work correctly, callbacks are included after each task is completed. If the queue accumulates many such tasks, it will make the program very complicated. In the context of AngularJS vs Node.js, it is crucial to say about asynchronous structure in advance.
3. Documentation is not well-structured: This point does not apply to all packages. However, some tools for Node have not received clear documentation and have not been appropriately tested. Sometimes it will take a while to find a better, more stable solution.

Summarizing the totals about AngularJS vs Node.js

Each of these solutions has its pros, and the choice should be made based on the specifics and niche of your product. Both technologies are successfully used to create projects in a wide variety of industries. Like the financial sector and banking, social networks, and microservices. For all that, these tools solve wholly different problems. For this reason, The Frontend Company team believes that the question AngularJS vs Node.js is completely pointless

We have successfully implemented many projects using both of these solutions. Together, they provided excellent functionality, superb design, and reliability. Just look at the Parloo or Frest case studies to make sure for yourself. Our team not only helps create successful products, but also provides some other services. We migrate projects, help you extend your team with qualified developers, and consult clients about web development.