Node.js Skills

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript server-side framework. Node.js has gained popularity with its ability to scale using event-driven, asynchronous programming. Since JavaScript is also run by the browser, Node.js allows developers to write both front-end and back-end application code in the same language.

What to use Node.js for

• Web Servers: Node.js is used for building fast and lightweight web servers, enabling developers to handle multiple concurrent connections efficiently and deliver static and dynamic content to users.
• API Development: Node.js is commonly used for building RESTful APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), enabling developers to expose backend functionality and data to client applications and devices.
• Microservices: Node.js is well-suited for building microservices architectures, enabling developers to decompose large monolithic applications into smaller, independent services that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.
• Real-Time Applications: Node.js is ideal for building real-time applications that require instant updates and bi-directional communication between clients and servers, such as chat applications, online gaming platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Full-Stack Development: Node.js can be used for full-stack development, enabling developers to use JavaScript on both the client-side and server-side of web applications, providing a unified development experience and reducing context switching.

Companies of all sizes use Hired to find engineers with Node.js skills

What is a Node.js developer?

• JavaScript Developer: A Node.js developer is a JavaScript developer who specializes in using Node.js for server-side development, building scalable and high-performance web applications, APIs, and backend services.
• Proficient in Node.js: A Node.js developer is proficient in using Node.js runtime and its core modules, including HTTP, fs (File System), events, streams, and modules, as well as popular frameworks and libraries such as Express.js, Koa, and Nest.js.
• Understanding of Asynchronous Programming: A Node.js developer has a solid understanding of asynchronous programming patterns and techniques, including callbacks, promises, async/await, and event-driven architecture, enabling them to write non-blocking and scalable code.
• Experience with Backend Technologies: A Node.js developer has experience with backend technologies such as databases (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL), caching systems (e.g., Redis, Memcached), message brokers (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka), and deployment tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), enabling them to build robust and scalable backend systems.
• Continuous Learner: A Node.js developer is a lifelong learner who stays updated with the latest advancements in Node.js ecosystem, JavaScript language features, web development frameworks, tools, and best practices, and actively seeks opportunities for learning and professional development.

Most important Node.js developer skills in 2024

• Node.js Frameworks: Mastery of Node.js frameworks and libraries, including Express.js, Koa, Nest.js, and Fastify, enabling developers to build scalable and efficient web servers, APIs, and microservices architectures with ease and flexibility.
• Asynchronous Programming: Strong understanding of asynchronous programming patterns and techniques in Node.js, including callbacks, promises, async/await, event emitters, and streams, for writing non-blocking and performant code that can handle concurrent requests and I/O operations efficiently.
• Backend Technologies: Proficiency in backend technologies such as databases (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL), caching systems (e.g., Redis, Memcached), message brokers (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka), and deployment tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), enabling developers to build robust and scalable backend systems that meet the needs of modern web applications.
• RESTful API Design: Knowledge of RESTful API design principles and best practices, including resource naming, HTTP methods, status codes, authentication, and versioning, for designing scalable, maintainable, and secure APIs that provide a consistent and intuitive developer experience.
• DevOps and Deployment: Familiarity with DevOps practices and deployment tools for automating the deployment, scaling, and monitoring of Node.js applications, including CI/CD pipelines, containerization (e.g., Docker), orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), to ensure reliable and scalable operation of production systems.

Node.js resources

Check out our resources to continue sharpening your Node.js skills.

Hired profiles help developers showcase their top tech skills

After passing Hired skills assessments, candidates have the chance to showcase their skills to employers. They can opt to present an ‘Assessments’ badge on their profile. Candidates may take various assessments including Programming Skills, Full Stack, Backend, Frontend, iOS, Android, Debugging, Dev Ops Generalist, and Dev Ops AWS.

Why should you hire Node.js developers?

• Scalability and Performance: Node.js developers enable you to build scalable and high-performance web applications, APIs, and microservices architectures that can handle large volumes of concurrent requests and deliver fast and responsive user experiences.
• Full-Stack Development: Node.js developers offer expertise in both frontend and backend development, enabling you to build full-stack web applications using JavaScript on both the client-side and server-side, streamlining development workflows and reducing overhead.
• Real-Time Applications: Node.js developers empower you to build real-time applications such as chat applications, online gaming platforms, and collaboration tools, leveraging Node.js’s event-driven architecture and WebSocket support to enable instant updates and bi-directional communication between clients and servers.
• Community and Support: Node.js developers benefit from a large and active community of developers, contributors, and users, providing access to resources, tutorials, forums, and online communities for learning, collaboration, and support, and fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing within the Node.js ecosystem.

Assess tech candidates for Node.js skills

Looking for candidates skilled in Node.js? Technical assessments are a multi-pronged solution. They allow you to streamline the hiring process and reduce bias with tech skill-focused benchmarks. 

Hired Assessments offer a library of hundreds of questions and customizable coding challenge campaigns tailored to technical preferences. Centralize and standardize your evaluation process as you surface top talent with specific, hard-to-find skills.

See how Mastercard and Axon used Hired Assessments to vet top candidates.