express vs koa vs @nestjs/microservices vs hapi
Node.js Web Frameworks Comparison
1 Year
expresskoa@nestjs/microserviceshapiSimilar Packages:
What's Node.js Web Frameworks?

Node.js web frameworks are libraries that provide a structured way to build web applications and APIs using Node.js. They simplify the development process by offering built-in functionalities such as routing, middleware support, and request handling. Each framework has its own philosophy and design principles, catering to different use cases and developer preferences. Choosing the right framework can significantly impact the speed of development, maintainability, and performance of the application.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
express50,833,62167,257197 kB2053 months agoMIT
koa4,580,64735,54663.6 kB202 months agoMIT
@nestjs/microservices1,158,41171,585458 kB6425 days agoMIT
hapi103,94214,700-806 years agoBSD-3-Clause
Feature Comparison: express vs koa vs @nestjs/microservices vs hapi

Architecture

  • express:

    Express has a minimalist architecture that provides a thin layer of fundamental web application features, making it highly flexible. Developers can structure their applications as they see fit, which can lead to varied design patterns.

  • koa:

    Koa is designed to be a smaller, more expressive, and more robust foundation for web applications and APIs. It uses async functions to help manage middleware, allowing for a more straightforward flow of control.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    NestJS follows a modular architecture, allowing developers to create microservices that can communicate with each other seamlessly. It promotes the use of decorators and dependency injection, making it easy to manage complex applications.

  • hapi:

    Hapi is built around a powerful plugin system that allows developers to encapsulate functionality and reuse it across applications. This modularity supports a clear separation of concerns and enhances maintainability.

Middleware Support

  • express:

    Express is known for its extensive middleware support, allowing developers to easily add functionalities like logging, authentication, and error handling. Middleware can be added in a stack-like manner, making it highly customizable.

  • koa:

    Koa uses a unique middleware system that allows developers to compose middleware functions in a stack. Each middleware can either end the request-response cycle or pass control to the next middleware, providing fine-grained control.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    NestJS supports middleware through its modular architecture, allowing developers to create reusable components that can be applied across different microservices, enhancing code reusability and organization.

  • hapi:

    Hapi has built-in support for middleware, allowing developers to define pre-processing and post-processing functions for requests. This makes it easier to manage request lifecycles and implement complex logic.

Learning Curve

  • express:

    Express is relatively easy to learn, especially for those familiar with JavaScript. Its minimalist design allows developers to quickly grasp its concepts and start building applications without much overhead.

  • koa:

    Koa is designed to be simple and straightforward, making it easy to learn for developers familiar with modern JavaScript. Its use of async/await simplifies asynchronous programming, which can be a hurdle in other frameworks.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    NestJS has a steeper learning curve due to its use of TypeScript and its complex architecture. However, once learned, it offers powerful features that can significantly enhance productivity in large applications.

  • hapi:

    Hapi has a moderate learning curve, as it introduces concepts like configuration and validation that may be new to some developers. However, its comprehensive documentation helps ease the learning process.

Community and Ecosystem

  • express:

    Express has one of the largest communities in the Node.js ecosystem, with a vast number of middleware and extensions available. This extensive support makes it easy to find solutions and resources for common problems.

  • koa:

    Koa has a smaller but passionate community. Its ecosystem is growing, with various middleware packages available, but it may not be as extensive as that of Express.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    NestJS has a growing community and ecosystem, particularly in the TypeScript space. It offers a rich set of modules and integrations for various technologies, making it suitable for modern applications.

  • hapi:

    Hapi has a dedicated community and a solid ecosystem of plugins that enhance its functionality. While not as large as Express, it provides robust support for building secure applications.

Performance

  • express:

    Express is lightweight and fast, making it suitable for high-performance applications. However, performance can vary based on how middleware is implemented and used.

  • koa:

    Koa is built to be minimal and efficient, leveraging async/await for better performance in handling requests. Its lightweight nature allows for high throughput and low latency.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    NestJS is optimized for performance in microservices architectures, allowing for efficient communication between services. Its modular nature also helps in maintaining performance as applications scale.

  • hapi:

    Hapi is designed with performance in mind, offering features like caching and optimized request handling. Its plugin architecture can also help in maintaining performance as applications grow.

How to Choose: express vs koa vs @nestjs/microservices vs hapi
  • express:

    Choose Express if you need a minimal and flexible framework that allows you to quickly set up a server and handle HTTP requests with a straightforward API. It's ideal for small to medium-sized applications and is widely adopted, making it easy to find resources and community support.

  • koa:

    Choose Koa if you want a lightweight and modern framework that leverages async/await for better control over middleware flow. Koa is designed to be minimalistic and allows developers to build applications with a more functional approach.

  • @nestjs/microservices:

    Choose @nestjs/microservices if you are building a microservices architecture and need a framework that supports a modular approach, dependency injection, and a rich ecosystem of decorators and modules for building scalable applications.

  • hapi:

    Choose Hapi if you require a robust framework with built-in support for configuration, validation, and caching. Hapi is great for building large-scale applications where security and maintainability are priorities, thanks to its extensive plugin system.

README for express

Express Logo

Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for Node.js.

This project has a Code of Conduct.

Table of contents

NPM Version NPM Downloads OpenSSF Scorecard Badge

import express from 'express'

const app = express()

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello World')
})

app.listen(3000)

Installation

This is a Node.js module available through the npm registry.

Before installing, download and install Node.js. Node.js 18 or higher is required.

If this is a brand new project, make sure to create a package.json first with the npm init command.

Installation is done using the npm install command:

npm install express

Follow our installing guide for more information.

Features

  • Robust routing
  • Focus on high performance
  • Super-high test coverage
  • HTTP helpers (redirection, caching, etc)
  • View system supporting 14+ template engines
  • Content negotiation
  • Executable for generating applications quickly

Docs & Community

PROTIP Be sure to read the migration guide to v5

Quick Start

The quickest way to get started with express is to utilize the executable express(1) to generate an application as shown below:

Install the executable. The executable's major version will match Express's:

npm install -g express-generator@4

Create the app:

express /tmp/foo && cd /tmp/foo

Install dependencies:

npm install

Start the server:

npm start

View the website at: http://localhost:3000

Philosophy

The Express philosophy is to provide small, robust tooling for HTTP servers, making it a great solution for single page applications, websites, hybrids, or public HTTP APIs.

Express does not force you to use any specific ORM or template engine. With support for over 14 template engines via @ladjs/consolidate, you can quickly craft your perfect framework.

Examples

To view the examples, clone the Express repository:

git clone https://github.com/expressjs/express.git --depth 1 && cd express

Then install the dependencies:

npm install

Then run whichever example you want:

node examples/content-negotiation

Contributing

Linux Build Test Coverage

The Express.js project welcomes all constructive contributions. Contributions take many forms, from code for bug fixes and enhancements, to additions and fixes to documentation, additional tests, triaging incoming pull requests and issues, and more!

See the Contributing Guide for more technical details on contributing.

Security Issues

If you discover a security vulnerability in Express, please see Security Policies and Procedures.

Running Tests

To run the test suite, first install the dependencies:

npm install

Then run npm test:

npm test

People

The original author of Express is TJ Holowaychuk

List of all contributors

TC (Technical Committee)

TC emeriti members

TC emeriti members

Triagers

Triagers emeriti members

Emeritus Triagers

License

MIT