Choosing backend technology is one of the most important decisions that every CEO and CTO have to make. It determines how fast a product can be shipped to market, what is the total cost and how big pain maintenance will be.

JavaScript has been one of the most popular client-side programming languages and a commonly used front-end web development tool. However, it has also gained ground in different areas of application and on distinct platforms, such as React Native, Appcelerator Titanium, Apache Cordova/PhoneGap, NativeScript, and Node.js, which is totally different from other commonly used JavaScript frameworks.

Node.js is an application runtime environment that allows you to write server-side applications in Javascript. Thanks to its unique I/O model, it excels at the sort of scalable and real-time situations we are increasingly demanding of our servers. It’s also lightweight, efficient, and the ability to useJavascript on both frontend and backend opens new possibilities. It comes as no surprise that so many big companies have leveraged it in production, including Walmart, Netflix, Medium, LinkedIn or Groupon.

Why so many big players chose Node.js to use at the back-end? We present you the top benefits of that environment, but also some drawbacks you should consider before you make the choice. Wrong decision may cost you money, so choose wisely.