Is Node.js Hard to Learn?

Are you curious about learning Node.js but worried that it might be too hard? Of course, the difficulty that comes with learning a new skill is somewhat subjective. The challenges of learning Node.js depend on factors like your prior coding experience and the kinds of different projects you intend to work on using your Node.js training.

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with Node.js, plenty of tools are available to help make learning easier than you might think.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a commonly used JavaScript library and is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment. It is by far the most commonly used runtime environment in the professional sector, with Node.js being used by over 98% of Fortune 500 companies. It allows users to create server-side architecture using JavaScript to build applications and webpages that constantly communicate information with server infrastructure without needing specific input from either the user or the server. This makes Node.js a vital programming tool for any application that needs to remain constantly connected to a server. For instance, it is part of the server architecture that allows users to stream video content on the internet without downloading an entire video file. It is also what enables online chat tools to function.

Node.js is also an integral tool in the continued development and refinement of the Internet of Things. More and more of our daily lives involve interacting with devices connected to the internet, ranging from our watches and phones to our cars and refrigerators. The various applications these objects run to serve their niche functions tend to rely on Node.js to build server environments and handle asynchronous data processing events that allow multiple physical objects to communicate meaningfully with one another over an internet connection. If you are using your voice to ask the virtual assistant on your desk to adjust your thermostat, Node.js infrastructure was likely vital in that exchange.

Read more about what Node.js is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Node.js?

Node.js is an incredibly versatile runtime environment that lets users construct virtually any program that uses the functionality of a webpage without needing to open a web browser. This is vital for many web applications, including almost all direct messaging programs and chatbot software. If you are designing an application and want to include a live chat feature, you will likely need to use Node.js. Node.js is also used for single-page web applications like Google Docs and Gmail. Even something as simple as including push notifications or scrolling news and weather updates in your application will require Node.js.

Node.js is also a vital part of making the Internet of Things possible. Node.js is one of the key frameworks and runtime environments that allow sensors to detect changes and stimuli and relay that information to a device connected to the internet. This means that if you use the voice command on a digital assistant to tell your Bluetooth speaker system to lower its volume, you are using a program made possible thanks to Node.js. As this technology becomes more advanced and enters sectors like the automotive and medical fields, skilled Node.js programmers will be able to construct complex, interconnected, potentially life-saving new technologies.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Node.js?

The most challenging part of learning Node.js is acquiring the programming skills required to reach the point where you can learn Node.js. Students will need to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before they can begin to use Node.js. This introductory coding training is the challenging part of the process, as students who already know how to use JavaScript often find Node.js to be one of the more accessible frameworks.

How Does Learning Node.js Compare to Other JavaScript Frameworks?

While some other coding libraries and frameworks provide the same functionality as Node.js, the ubiquity of JavaScript and its widespread use in the corporate world makes it less ideal to seek out alternative frameworks to replace Node.js training. However, Node.js isn’t the only important JavaScript library students can learn. While it will ultimately benefit JavaScript Developers to learn all the major frameworks, choosing which one to learn first and which to prioritize is an important decision.

React is the most utilized JavaScript library currently available. Using React, developers can build reusable, stable components of code that are easily modifiable and replicable. These components allow developers to work faster and more efficiently on JavaScript projects, making React an incredibly popular library—especially in mobile application development.

Express.js is a skill closely related to Node.js. Express.js lets developers build the infrastructure that manages the data flow that enters and leaves an application. It is also useful for building the middleware that sorts and processes data requests from an application. To build APIs in JavaScript or Node.js applications, you’ll need to learn Express.js.

Most JavaScript training courses also teach MongoDB, an object-oriented programming framework used for building and organizing databases in applications running Node.js. Like Express.js, it is often taught alongside Node.js to develop more well-rounded JavaScript Developers.

Whether you want to learn Express.js, MongoDB, or React, Noble offers course options tailored to your goals. They also offer a comprehensive JavaScript Development Certificate program in which you can learn all of these frameworks alongside JavaScript and Node.js.

Programming Background

Since Node.js is an advanced programming skill, the more computer science experience and training you have, the easier it will be to learn. The biggest hurdle for Node.js students is already surmounted—it’s learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are required to begin learning Node.js.

Alternative Frameworks

Students who know other JavaScript frameworks or other runtime environments will have an easier time learning Node.js. This is also true in reverse: learning Node.js will make it easier to pick up frameworks like React and Express.js. While these advantages are less impactful than general coding experience, they are meaningful steps students can take, especially since they are not hard prerequisites.

Learn Node.js with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Since Node.js is a JavaScript library, it is rarely taught on its own. It is so prevalent in professional JavaScript development that it is typically taught alongside JavaScript as an equally essential skill. Therefore, those looking to learn how to use Node.js will most likely do so within the context of a JavaScript class or bootcamp. In these classes, students will learn the basics of JavaScript and then receive training on how to utilize Node.js to expand the functionality of their web applications. Many of these classes—particularly those with a strong Node.js component—assume students are familiar with HTML and CSS, so reviewing prerequisites is advised.

At Noble Desktop, students can learn Node.js in a wide array of course settings. Regardless of the program you choose, you’ll benefit from working with expert instructors in small, intimate classes that rarely exceed twenty students. Even online, students are placed in private classrooms with live instructors who can answer questions and provide real-time feedback. Students can also retake any course within one year, giving them an extra chance to hone their Node.js skills.

Noble offers JavaScript and Node.js instruction in its web development certificate programs. These courses provide hands-on training in JavaScript and Node.js by assigning projects that reflect the kinds of real-world work students can expect in their careers. You can opt to enroll in the JavaScript Development Certificate program or the Full Stack Development Certificate program. In these classes, you will gain professional career instruction in web development skills, including JavaScript. Students in the JavaScript Development Certificate program will learn how to use the advanced features of JavaScript and Node.js to build complex web applications. Students enrolled in the Full Stack Development Certificate program will receive this training alongside HTML, CSS, React, and back-end development instruction.

These courses are career-focused training seminars designed to take students from novices to trained professionals ready to enter the workforce as Web Developers. They provide hands-on training in the types of Node.js projects students will be hired to work on and offer one-on-one mentorship as part of their professional development. Students will finish the course by creating a final web development sample portfolio. Upon completion, they will receive a career development certificate that signals to employers they are ready to start working as Node.js experts.