Python vs Node JS Comparison — The Advantages and Disadvantages and Use Cases
Use Cases
Choosing a programming language is one of the most crucial steps in your mobile application development lifecycle that should be resolved at the initial stage of the project. As the language plays a critical role in determining many essential flows and procedures in the project, making the right decision is imperative.
The backend takes care of the server-side which is not visible to the user, but it is the engine that runs your application. It’s often described as the “determinant of a good front-end experience for you the user”.
When it comes to back-end development, both NodeJS and Python play a leading role; both programming languages are designed to help you achieve the same goals. Thus it is difficult to choose between the two. Here we give you an extensive comparison between them.
What is Python and What is Node.JS?
Python in simple terms is “object-oriented, high-level programming language with integrated dynamic semantics primarily for web and app development”.
It is a highly productive, clean server-side scripting language with multi-purpose use and perfect for developing greatly portable mobile and web applications. Moreover, it has distinctive multi-programming paradigm support that includes an approach that is imperative, object-oriented, functional and procedural styles.
Node.JS, on the other hand, is not a programming language. It is open source, cross-platform powerful run-time environment that’s built on the V8 engine. It allows JavaScript code to run on the server side and not in a browser. Node.js vs Python comparison, therefore, boils down to comparing Python vs JavaScript on the backend.
The key difference between Python vs Node.JS means that when you code in Node.JS you use the same language for both — the frontend and the backend.
Here is a non-biased breakdown of both choices in regards to each aspect of back-end development.
PERFORMANCE
Performance is the most crucial aspect we look from a programming tool. This is what determines the speed of the application which is dependent on how fast your code is executed.
Comparing Node.JS and Python performance wise, it’s clear that Node.JS is significantly faster. This is because Node.JS is based on Chrome’s V8 which is a very fast and dynamic engine.
For this reason, the speed factor is also favorable to Node.JS in comparison to Python. Thus it makes a great choice for developing a real-time application, like — apps that involve chat function.
Python is also highly unsuitable for memory intensive processes- as it is interpreted creating an initial performance drop in comparison to Java. Therefore, it is not preferable for developing solutions that use heavy 3D graphics.
Verdict — Node.JS is significantly faster than Python
SCALABILITY
When it comes to scalability, we need to understand how effective the language is in handling large user traffic and how they can be handled using the minimum server. Scalability is very important in applications that are content-heavy and those serving various new users via mobile and desktop interfaces.
