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ExpressJS VS hapi.js

Compare ExpressJS VS hapi.js and see what are their differences

ExpressJS logo ExpressJS

Sinatra inspired web development framework for node.js -- insanely fast, flexible, and simple

hapi.js logo hapi.js

Server Framework for Node.js
  • ExpressJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14
  • hapi.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18

ExpressJS features and specs

  • Fast Setup
    ExpressJS provides a minimal and flexible framework that allows rapid setup and development of web and mobile applications.
  • Middleware Support
    ExpressJS has a robust middleware system, allowing developers to add reusable functions to the request-handling pipeline.
  • Extensibility
    ExpressJS is highly extensible through third-party libraries and built-in functionality, catering to the needs of various applications.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimalist core, ExpressJS provides efficient performance and is capable of handling a high number of requests per second.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    A large and active community provides extensive documentation, support, and a wide array of open-source packages to extend functionality.
  • Flexibility
    Compared to full-stack frameworks, ExpressJS gives developers the freedom to structure their applications as they see fit.
  • Compatibility
    ExpressJS works seamlessly with various template engines, databases, and other frameworks, making it versatile for different project requirements.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressJS

  • Minimalist Core
    The minimalist nature of ExpressJS may require additional time and effort to integrate required plugins and libraries for specific features.
  • Learning Curve
    While ExpressJS is straightforward, mastering the middleware pattern and effective usage can have a learning curve for new developers.
  • Callback Hell
    Developers can encounter 'callback hell' due to nested callback functions, though this can be mitigated using Promises and async/await in modern JavaScript.
  • Lack of Convention
    Unlike opinionated frameworks, ExpressJS lacks conventions, which can lead to inconsistent code structure and maintenance challenges across different projects.
  • Security
    ExpressJS does not have built-in security features and relies on third-party solutions, requiring developers to be vigilant about applying best security practices.
  • Scalability
    While ExpressJS can handle high traffic, building and maintaining a highly scalable application might require significant additional effort, particularly in terms of codebase organization and resource management.

hapi.js features and specs

  • Configuration-Centric
    hapi.js promotes a configuration-centric approach, allowing developers to define and manage server settings, routes, and plugins through a clear and concise configuration object.
  • Plugin Architecture
    hapi.js has a robust plugin system which provides an easy way to extend functionality, modularize code, and manage dependencies. This makes it simple to add new features without altering the core structure.
  • Security Features
    hapi.js includes built-in security features such as input validation, authentication, and protection against common vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
  • Detailed API Documentation
    hapi.js provides extensive and well-organized documentation, making it easier for developers to understand and utilize its features effectively.
  • Flexibility
    hapi.js offers high flexibility with optional middleware, allowing developers to choose how they want to handle requests and responses, integrate third-party libraries, and more.
  • Support for Asynchronous Code
    hapi.js has strong support for asynchronous programming, making it easier to handle non-blocking I/O operations and build scalable applications.

Possible disadvantages of hapi.js

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with its configuration-centric approach or those coming from simpler frameworks, hapi.js can be more difficult to learn and master.
  • Reduced Ecosystem
    While rich in features, the ecosystem around hapi.js is not as extensive as some other Node.js frameworks like Express.js. This may lead to fewer ready-to-use plugins and community-driven tools.
  • Verbosity
    The configuration-centric nature of hapi.js can lead to more verbose code. This might be seen as a drawback for developers who prefer the minimalistic approach of other frameworks.
  • Performance Overhead
    hapi.js' rich feature set and abstraction layers can sometimes result in slight performance overhead compared to more minimalistic frameworks.
  • Community Size
    hapi.js has a smaller community compared to more popular Node.js frameworks, which may result in less community support, fewer tutorials, and slower issue resolution.

Analysis of ExpressJS

Overall verdict

  • ExpressJS is a highly recommended option for building web applications with Node.js. Its simplicity, extensive middleware options, and strong community support make it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced developers. However, it might not be the best fit for highly complex applications that require more opinionated frameworks with more built-in features.

Why this product is good

  • ExpressJS is a minimalist and flexible web application framework for Node.js. It provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications, making it a popular choice among developers.
  • It offers a thin layer of fundamental web application features, without obscuring Node.js features that developers use regularly.
  • ExpressJS has a large ecosystem of middleware to handle various tasks such as security, session management, and file uploads, which simplifies the development process.
  • It's known for its fast learning curve, which makes it particularly advantageous for developers who are new to backend web development but familiar with JavaScript.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a lightweight and flexible web framework for Node.js.
  • Projects where quick setup and ease of development are priorities.
  • Applications that require a custom architecture and a high degree of flexibility.
  • Teams who prefer to build their technology stack from the ground up and have control over the specific components used.

Analysis of hapi.js

Overall verdict

  • Hapi.js is considered a good choice especially for teams and projects that benefit from its configurative approach and built-in features. While it may have a steeper learning curve compared to minimalist frameworks, its robustness and flexibility can pay off in complex project scenarios.

Why this product is good

  • Hapi.js is a powerful and flexible framework for building web and server applications in Node.js. It promotes a modular and configurative approach, which enhances maintainability and reusability of code. Hapi.js includes support for input validation, caching, authentication, and other key features right out of the box, making it a comprehensive solution for building scalable and secure applications.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for an out-of-the-box solution with wide-ranging features
  • Teams prioritizing scalability and maintainability in their applications
  • Projects needing robust input validation and strong security features
  • Applications requiring a high level of customization through a plugin-based architecture

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hapi.js videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ExpressJS and hapi.js)
JavaScript Framework
95 95%
5% 5
Web Frameworks
76 76%
24% 24
Developer Tools
79 79%
21% 21
Python Web Framework
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ExpressJS and hapi.js

ExpressJS Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
Express.JS is used to create Restful APIs, which is useful for accepting requests from the front end and sending the appropriate response. Express.JS supports Node.js, which is one of the best reasons developers choose to use it. Moreover, debugging becomes faster and helps in finding errors in less time.
Source: solguruz.com
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
Express.js — or Express for the cool cats — is Node.js’s minimalist wingman. It’s the train tracks for your web app, setting the path, defining the stops, but letting you drive the engine.
Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
The best frameworks for web development include React, Angular, Vue.js, Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Flask and Express.js. Each of these frameworks has its own advantages and distinctive features, so it is important to choose the framework that best suits the needs of your project.
Source: www.kiwop.com
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Additionally, Express.js v4 now comes with built-in middleware for handling AJAX requests from the client side, making it even easier to get started without having to worry about 3rd party libraries. Express.js is a great tool for quickly building out web applications and APIs in Node.js.
Source: ninetailed.io
JavaScript: What Are The Most Used Frameworks For This Language?
Express.JS is a popular open-source web application framework for Node.JS, which is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment. Express.JS provides a simple, flexible and scalable way to build web applications and APIs using Node.JS. It is known for its minimalist and unimposing approach, which means it provides a basic set of features and tools but allows developers to...
Source: www.bocasay.com

hapi.js Reviews

10 Best Next.js Alternatives to Consider Today
Hapi.js stands out as a robust framework for building applications and services with JavaScript. Known for its emphasis on configuration-driven development, Hapi.js offers a flexible and modular structure, simplifying the creation of RESTful APIs and server-side applications. Its extensive plugin system and detailed documentation make it an attractive option for developers...
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
With Hapi, you get to mold your server framework like clay — sculpting routes, plugins, and the whole deal without breaking a sweat. It’s about building API artistries that are not just functional but fundamentally solid.
Top 10 Best Node. Js Frameworks to Improve Web Development
Hapi.js advances a comprehensive replacement for Express.js plus awards the extraordinary capacity to produce a server with astonishing characteristics with one particular IP. This presents Hapi.js as the commonly favored option for the Node.js frame.
Top Node.js Frameworks To Use In 2021
Hapi.js works like a charmer to construct safer, more extensible, more real-time application and social media. Developers typically use it to develop dynamic API explorer and proxies.
Top 14 Node.JS Frameworks: Which Will Rule in 2020?
Hapi provides an incredible capacity for building a server with great features like onPreHandler on a particular IP. This is why it is known as the most favorable option for the Node.js server framework.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ExpressJS seems to be a lot more popular than hapi.js. While we know about 470 links to ExpressJS, we've tracked only 29 mentions of hapi.js. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ExpressJS mentions (470)

  • 🔥 Why Everyone Is Talking About HTMX: The Game-Changer for Web Development
    🌍 Who Should Use HTMX? ✅ Django / Flask / Rails developers ✅ Express / Node.js backend lovers ✅ Fullstack devs who want LESS frontend headache ✅ Teams jo SSR + SEO ko priority dete hain. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
  • Not a Middy Fan
    Express.js was created around the time callbacks were _the_ architecture in Node.js. The world, including UI, quickly found callbacks do not compose well, and void return values are hard to test because of side-effects. Promises were created so you could compose functions, but still have control where your side-effects go. This negates the need for middlewares / callbacks. - Source: dev.to / 30 days ago
  • Experimental Devvit Web Views
    The Devvit team just announced a new experimental way to build WebView based apps for Reddit. Previously only static HTML/JS/CSS could be used. With this new version, it is possible to run server-side code through Node including spinning up an Express server. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How to Handle File Uploads with Node.js and Express - Multer Edition
    Basic knowledge of JavaScript and Express. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Reusable API proxy in just a few lines of JavaScript
    The basis of my small API proxy is the NPM package http-proxy-middleware from Steven Chim, which I utilized to build a system that can be used via configuration for various endpoints and that runs on a server under the Node.js framework Express. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
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hapi.js mentions (29)

  • Deno's Decline
    > To me, peak JS era was express and koa.js. I cherish those times of calmer waters. At the time I had high hopes for Hapi.js (https://hapi.dev), created by Walmart folks. But I don't hear much about it these days. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: Is Express still "de-facto" for building Node back ends?
    I tend to use hapi (https://hapi.dev) instead of Express if I need to write a quick backend for something these days. Fastify looks nice too but I haven't used it. Been burnt by full-stack frameworks in the past (e.g. Meteor) but they can be a good option for some. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Unlocking the Power of NoSQL: Building a Todo API with Hapi.js and DynamoDB
    Hapi.js commonly referred to as "hapi," is an open-source web application framework for building web and application server systems in Node.js. It was created by Walmart Labs and is designed to provide a flexible and robust foundation for building web applications, APIs, and other networked software. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Node JS Microservice Frameworks for Developing Scalable Web Apps.
    Hapi – The Simple, Secure Framework Developers Trust. Source: about 2 years ago
  • 10 Node.js Frameworks Every Developer Should Know
    Hapi.js is one of the best Node.js web framework, which is used for developing application program interfaces. Thanks to a strong plugin system Hapi.js, you can fully manage the development process. Hapi.js motivates the devel­oper to focus on the reuse logic instead of spending time building the infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ExpressJS and hapi.js, you can also consider the following products

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

Ruby on Rails - Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Meteor - Meteor is a set of new technologies for building top-quality web apps in a fraction of the time.

ASP.NET - ASP.NET is a free web framework for building great Web sites and Web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.