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Node.js VS Deno

Compare Node.js VS Deno and see what are their differences

Node.js logo Node.js

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

Deno logo Deno

A secure runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript built with V8, Rust, and Tokio.
  • Node.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18
  • Deno Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

Node.js features and specs

  • Asynchronous and Event-Driven
    Node.js uses an asynchronous, non-blocking, and event-driven I/O model, making it efficient and scalable for handling multiple simultaneous connections.
  • JavaScript Everywhere
    Developers can use JavaScript for both client-side and server-side programming, providing a unified language environment and better synergy between front-end and back-end development.
  • Large Community and NPM
    Node.js has a vibrant community and a rich ecosystem with the Node Package Manager (NPM), which offers thousands of open-source libraries and tools that can be integrated easily into projects.
  • High Performance
    Built on the V8 JavaScript engine from Google, Node.js translates JavaScript directly into native machine code, which increases performance and speed.
  • Scalability
    Designed with microservices and scalability in mind, Node.js enables easy horizontal scaling across multiple servers.
  • JSON Support
    Node.js seamlessly handles JSON, which is a common format for API responses, making it an excellent choice for building RESTful APIs and data-intensive real-time applications.

Possible disadvantages of Node.js

  • Callback Hell
    The reliance on callbacks to manage asynchronous operations can lead to deeply nested and difficult-to-read code, commonly referred to as 'Callback Hell'.
  • Not Suitable for CPU-Intensive Tasks
    Node.js is optimized for I/O operations and can become inefficient for CPU-intensive tasks, slowing down overall performance due to its single-threaded event loop.
  • Immaturity of Tools
    Compared to more established technologies, some Node.js libraries and tools still lack maturity and comprehensive documentation, which can be challenging for developers.
  • Callback and Promise Overheads
    Managing asynchronous operations using callbacks or promises can lead to additional complexity and overhead, impacting maintainability and performance if not handled correctly.
  • Fragmented Ecosystem
    The fast-paced evolution of Node.js and its ecosystem can lead to fragmentation, with numerous versions and libraries that may not always be compatible with each other.
  • Security Issues
    The extensive use of third-party libraries via NPM can introduce security vulnerabilities if not properly managed and updated, making applications more susceptible to attacks.

Deno features and specs

  • Security
    Deno has a secure-by-default approach, requiring explicit permission for file, network, and environment access, which reduces the risk of malicious code.
  • Built-in Tooling
    Deno includes built-in tools like a dependency inspector, a code formatter, and a test runner, reducing the need for additional setup.
  • Modern JavaScript/TypeScript
    Deno supports modern JavaScript and has built-in TypeScript support, making it easier to work with contemporary codebases without additional configuration.
  • Simplified Module Management
    Deno uses URLs for importing modules, eliminating the need for a package manager like npm and simplifying dependency management.
  • Compatibility with Web Standards
    Deno aims to be browser-compatible, adhering closely to web standards like the Fetch API, making it easier to share code between the server and the client.

Possible disadvantages of Deno

  • Ecosystem Maturity
    Deno's ecosystem is relatively new compared to Node.js, resulting in fewer libraries, tools, and community resources.
  • Breaking Changes
    Due to its rapid development, Deno can have breaking changes between versions, potentially requiring more frequent updates and code adjustments.
  • Performance
    Deno's performance may not match that of optimized Node.js applications, especially for certain workloads where Node.js has been highly tuned.
  • Learning Curve
    Even though Deno is designed to be familiar to JavaScript and TypeScript developers, it introduces new concepts (like secure-by-default) that may require a learning curve.
  • Limited Enterprise Adoption
    Being relatively new, Deno has limited enterprise adoption, which might make it less appealing for large-scale or long-term projects that rely on a robust support ecosystem.

Node.js videos

What is Node.js? | Mosh

More videos:

  • Review - What is Node.js Exactly? - a beginners introduction to Nodejs
  • Review - Learn node.js in 2020 - A review of best node.js courses

Deno videos

Why nobody is using Deno?

More videos:

  • Review - What is Deno & Will it replace Node.js?
  • Review - Will Deno replace Node.js: Which programming language is better? | TechLead

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Node.js and Deno)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Typescript
0 0%
100% 100
Runtime
94 94%
6% 6
JavaScript
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 Node.js and Deno

Node.js Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
JavaScript is widely used for back-end or server-side development because it makes a call to the remote server when a web page loads on the browser. When a browser loads a web page, it makes a call to a remote server. Further, the code parses the page’s URL to understand users’ requirements before retrieving and transforming the required data to serve back to the browser....
Source: solguruz.com
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Node.js applications are written in JavaScript and run on the Node.js runtime, which allows them to be executed on any platform that supports Node.js. Node.js applications are typically event-driven and single-threaded, making them efficient and scalable. Additionally, the Node Package Manager (NPM) provides a way to install and manage dependencies for Node.js projects...
Source: ninetailed.io
20 Best JavaScript Frameworks For 2023
TJ Holowaychuk built Express in 2010 before being acquired by IBM (StrongLoop) in 2015. Node.js Foundation currently maintains it. The key reason Express is one of the best JavaScript frameworks is its rapid server-side coding. Complex tasks that would take hours to code using pure Node.js can be resolved in a few minutes, thanks to Express. On top of that, Express offers a...
FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
Node.js is a cross-platform server-side JavaScript environment built for developing and running network applications such as web servers. Node.js is licensed under a variety of licenses. As of March 2021, around 1.2% of applications were running on Node.js. Among the top companies and applications utilizing this modern web server are GoDaddy, Microsoft, General Electric,...
Source: www.zentao.pm
10 Best Tools to Develop Cross-Platform Desktop Apps 
Electron.js is compatible with a variety of frameworks, libraries, access to hardware-level APIs and chromium engine, and Node.js support. Electron Fiddle feature is great for experimentation as it allows developers to play around with concepts and templates. Simplification is at the center of Electron because developers don’t have to spend unnecessary time on the packaging,...

Deno Reviews

We have no reviews of Deno yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Node.js should be more popular than Deno. It has been mentiond 896 times since March 2021. 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.

Node.js mentions (896)

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Deno mentions (200)

  • Benchmarking in Node.js vs Deno: A Comprehensive Comparison
    Deno.bench("URL parsing", () => { new URL("https://deno.land"); }); Deno.bench("Async method", async () => { await crypto.subtle.digest("SHA-256", new Uint8Array([1, 2, 3])); }); Deno.bench({ name: "Long form", fn: () => { new URL("https://deno.land"); }, }); Deno.bench({ name: "Date.now()", group: "timing", baseline: true, fn: () => { Date.now(); }, }); Deno.bench({ name:... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Deno 2.0 REST API Explained: Faster, Secure JavaScript Development
    // Importing the serve function from Deno's standard library Import { serve } from "https://deno.land/std@0.196.0/http/server.ts"; // Function to handle requests Async function handler(req: Request): Promise { const { pathname, searchParams } = new URL(req.url); // Handling different routes if (pathname === "/api/greet" && req.method === "GET") { const name = searchParams.get("name") ||... - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Building a Simple Todo App with Deno and Oak
    Import { Application, Router } from "https://deno.land/x/oak/mod.ts";. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • LogTape: Zero-Dependency Logging for JavaScript That Just Works
    LogTape is a shiny new logging library for JavaScript and TypeScript that's designed with one goal in mind: to make logging simple, flexible, and hassle-free across all your JavaScript environments. Whether you're building applications for Deno, Node.js, Bun, edge functions, or browsers, LogTape has got you covered. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Alternatives to npm: Exploring Different Package Managers for JavaScript Development
    You can install Deno by following the instructions on its official website. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Node.js and Deno, you can also consider the following products

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

Bun.sh - Bun is an all-in-one JavaScript runtime & toolkit designed for speed, complete with a bundler, test runner, and Node.js-compatible package manager.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Fresh Framework - Fresh is a next generation web framework, built for speed, reliability, and simplicity.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps