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Best Practices For Better Code: Node JS

Some best practices for Node JS for better performance of the code.

By Nishita AvalaniPublished 3 years ago 4 min read

NodeJS has grown in popularity and is among the most well-known runtime environments used by web servers. It's an open-source and a cross-platform runtime platform to develop server-side apps specifically software that runs on the server.Node.js is an event-driven synchronous JavaScript runtime, and is most efficient way to build high-performance networks applications. Node.js is completely free of locks and therefore there is no way to lock any application.

There are some practices which if followed can result in absolute error free code and by implementing those best practices application can automatically minimize JavaScript runtime errors, and then transform into a robust, high-performance node.js application, as well as a node process.

These best practices can be applied and are applicable to all the Node Js Development companies as well as the whole Node.js community of developers ranging from professionals to novices writing "hello world"!

Let's explore these best practices.

  • Project structure
  • Everything must have a location in an application A folder is the ideal location to organize common elements. In particular, a vital distinction has to be created.

  • Use HTTP Methods & API Routes
  • Utilize HTTP Status Codes in a Correct Way

    If there is a problem during the process of serving a request, you need to set the correct status code in your response

    1. 2x, in the event that everything went normal,

    2. 3xx If you moved the resource

    3. 4xx, in the event that the request is not able to be fulfilled due to a user error (like the request for an item that doesn't exist).

    4. 5xx, in case something went incorrectly in an API part (like an error occurred). If you are using Express, setting the status code is as easy as res.status(500).send(). The same is true for Restify: res.status(201)

  • Use CamelCase
  • It is suggested to make use of lowerCamelCase when calling variables, constants and functions, as well as UpperCamelCase (capital the first letter, too) when names for classes. This is a widely accepted convention and developers from all over the world are able to easily distinguish classes and objects using this name convention.

  • Use Environment Variables
  • The .env document is basic text document. It must be located within the root in your application. It is possible to specify key value pairs and can also write single-line comments using #.

  • Avoid callbacks - Use async-await
  • We can stay clear of the callback nightmare by using Promises. Promises in Javascript are the way to handle the asynchronous operation in Node.js. It lets us return a value to an asynchronous method, similar to the synchronous functions. If we return a value from an asynchronous function, it produces promises that can be utilized to consume the final value when it is made available in the near future, using the and() procedure or wait within async functions.

  • Avoid Anonymous Functions
  • Named function is able to be reused over and over again in different parts of the project, too which reduces code redundancy.

    If you spot a glitch in the code which causes an order, you can fix that issue only in one spot i.e. postingOrderTasks() method. The fix will be visible in all the places and saves you time.

  • Confirm that your app restarts automatically
  • A mistake in a dependency could bring down your application even when you are using the highest error handling guidelines when developing. Instead, you should use the process manager to ensure that the application recovers smoothly from a runtime issue and also in the event that the server fails. Besides this, there's a third situation where you need to restart your application. In this case, the whole service is running fails. In this case it is important for your program to run as quickly as you can. Additionally, you can use PM2 key metrics to oversee your program.

  • Utilize Gzip's compression
  • The server may utilize Gzip compression in order to reduce the data before sending it to a web browser, thereby reducing the amount of time it takes to process and also the latency. This is among the most effective Node JS best practices for 2022-23.

  • Helping the Server Restart Automatically after updating a File
  • Each time we make any changes on the program, we must reboot the server in order to reflect the new modifications.

    To prevent having to manually restart the server Install nodemon, an npm-based package which automatically restarts the server whenever modifications are applied to an existing file.

  • Make Use of Const Over Var
  • Before ES6 the variable word was employed to define a variable using JavaScript

    Variables declared with the var keyword are functionally or globally scoped. They are not able to support blocks-level scope. If a variable has been declared in a loop or in an if-statement, it may be accessed outside of the block, and accidentally redefined which leads to a faulty program. As a rule of thumb it is best to avoid using the word var.

  • Error Handling
  • To deal with errors in node.js it is important to understand fundamental concepts such as calling back functions and asynchronous operations such as promises, async-await. Catch block throw keyword and error object.

    • Comment

    A comment describes an application's operates in a clear and easy to understand format. They are typically used in locations where additional information must be given to the programmer who is looking the program's code.

  • Testing applications
  • Implementing quality tests for code at any point in the project is not too late. Start with a simple and small test.

    If adhered to the best practices at the right stage, high-quality apps can be built. This best-practices can be useful for experienced developers looking to improve their Node.js capabilities. With these best practices in coding styles guides, style guides, and methods it becomes easier to boost your app's performance.

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    About the Creator

    Nishita Avalani

    Hi, I am a tech enthusiatic. I will like to post blogs about technology and hiring of resources.

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    • Nishita Avalani (Author)3 years ago

      To hire dedicated developer who has strong backend experience, especially in Node JS, approach Hire Backend Developer at www.hirebackenddeveloper.com.

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