Best Backend Technologies for React in 2024

Nowadays social media has become like an addiction for everyone. With one click you can text someone, place a video call, or browse any video online. To the user, it might seem such a simple task just to click one button but the logic building and code behind such functionality is very intense and time-consuming. This is all done in the backend. Backend refers to that part of the application where all the major operations that keep the application working take place. Its main aim is also to ensure transparency, i.e. user can go on with the use of the application without being bothered about the logic behind the functionality.

In this article, we’ll go through the various backend technologies that can be used with React.

What is React?

React is a free and open-source front-end JavaScript library. It is used for building user interfaces from components. It was developed by Facebook. It can be used with both client and server sides and is easily integrated with other front-end frameworks. React applications rely on other services for rerouting and other client-side functionalities. It provides features like JSX, Virtual DOM, One-way Data Binding, High performance, Extensions, Conditional statements, and components and is easy to use and learn.

Best Backend Technologies for React in 2024

Here, explore the top backend technologies compatible with React in 2024 for seamless integration and powerful application development. Whether you’re considering Node.js for its speed and scalability, Django for its robust features, or Laravel for its MVC architecture, this comprehensive guide provides insights into the best choices for your projects. Stay ahead in the dynamic tech landscape with these cutting-edge backend solutions.

1. Node.js

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment and library. It was developed in 2009 by Ryan Dahl and its most stable version is version 21.4.0 released on December 5, 2023. It uses an asynchronous and event-driven model which makes it suitable for server-side and data-intensive applications.

Features

• Fast Code Execution – Node.js uses a speed-optimized Google’s V8 runtime motor for code execution, making its code execution faster.
• Scalability – Node.js provides built-in features to make your application scalable and handle large amounts of data and queries. Concurrent requests are handled very efficiently by Node.js. It also used a cluster module to manage load balancing.
• Cross-platform Compatibility – Node.js is compatible with Windows, Linux, MacOS and other mobile devices making its use more extensible.
• Server-side Rendering – Node.js provides many built-in APIs and React DOM components to work with which makes it suitable for server-side rendering.

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2. Express.js

Express.js is a backend web application framework for building RESTful APIs with Node.js. It was developed by TJ Holowaychuk in 2010 and its most stable version is version 4.18.1 released on April 29, 2002. It provides plugins, middleware and routing functionality to create fast and efficient applications.

Features

• Robust Routing – Express.js provides excellent routing functionalities with minimum coding. Developers can map URL endpoints to functions within the application.
• Templates – Express.js provides many template engines like Pug and EJS for dynamic HTML pages.
• JWT Integration – Express provides easy integration with JSON Web Token for secure authentication.
• Middleware Functionality – The Middleware functionality provided by Express is quite popular. It allows you to modify the response or request before forwarding it. It can be used to simplify logging, error handling and authentication.

3. Django

Django is a free, open-source Python web framework. It was developed by Adrian Holovaty in 2005 and its most stable version is version 5.0 released on December 5, 2023. It follows a model-view-template (MVT) architecture. It is used for complex, data-driven applications and emphasises reusability, low coupling, rapid development and less code.

Features

• Batteries-included – Django provides libraries and tools for all common use cases. Admin Interface, Session Management, Sitemaps, Authentication packages, Django ORM and HTTP libraries are all included in Django.
• SEO Optimized – Sitemaps present in Django help developers to not worry about Search Engine Optimization. It also helps build SEO-optimized URLs.
• Security – Django has built-in encryption packages to make your application secure. Its architecture protects against Clickjacking, SQL vulnerabilities and web scraping.
• Tested – Due to the large user base and community of Django compared to other frameworks, Django is thoroughly tested and updated regularly by the members and developers of the community.

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4. Laravel

Laravel is a free, open-source PHP web framework. It was developed by Taylor Otwell in 2011 and its most stable version is version 10.2.10 released on December 5, 2023. It follows a model-view-controller(MVC) architecture. Due to the faster turn-around time and enhanced security provided by PHP, Laravel has become very popular.

Features

• Template Engine – Laravel provides a powerful template engine called Blade. It can connect data models, and process code inside the template tags and divert output to the route required.
• Eloquent ORM – Eloquent Object-Relational Mapper is a database tool that is a part of the Laravel framework. It makes interacting with the database easier and also simplifies the querying operations.
• MVC Architecture – Following the MVC architecture, it defines a set of rules for building scalable applications. It helps maintain uniformity across the code base.
• Artisan CLI – Laravel uses Artisan as a CLI that helps to migrate data and generate boilerplates and models.

5. Spring Boot

Spring Boot is used to create production-grade Spring applications with a minimum amount of configurations. It was developed by Rod Johnson in 2014 and its most stable version is version 3.2.1 released on December 21, 2023. Spring boot applications can be written with different programming languages like Java and Kotlin.

Features

• Auto-configuration – Spring Boot applications do not require manual configurations and are configured automatically based on the environment provided. Thus, boilerplate developers do not need to write which fastens development.
• Security – Spring Boot supports authentication and authorization password encoding and protection against common security threats.
• Template Engine – Thymeleaf, the template engine provided by Spring Boot makes the creation of dynamic websites easier. Conditional statements, loops and variables are provided.
• Tools – Live reload and remote debugging are some of the dev tools provided by Spring Boot that improve the overall development experience.

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6. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is a server-side web framework written in Ruby. It was developed by David Heinemeier Hansson in 2004 and its most stable version is version 7.1.2 released on November 10, 2023. It is a model-view-controller(MVC) framework. It provides default structures for databases and web pages.

Features

• MVC Architecture – Ruby on Rails follows the MVC architecture. This structure separates codes of different layers (presentation layer, data layer and resource layer).
• Active Record – Ruby on Rails has a library named Active Records that helps the developers design their database interactions. It strikes out the possibility of use of SQL due to its effective implementation.
• Deployment – Ruby on Rails has libraries and tools that help move the code to a production environment without much effort.
• Syntax – Ruby on Rails has an easily readable and very simple syntax. It provides object-oriented features that help create objects.

7. ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is an open-source modular web framework. It was developed by Microsoft in 2016 and its most stable version is version 8.0.0 released on November 14, 2023. Earlier there was only ASP.NET which was modified by uniting ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API together. It supports side-by-side versioning.

Features

• ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API – ASP.NET MVC was used to create web applications in HTML and ASP.NET Web API was used to create RESTful services using JSON and XML. ASP.NET Core combines the functionalities of the two in one single programming model.
• Performance – ASP.NET is the fastest web application framework. The new Kestral web server uses asynchronous programming techniques which makes it fast and efficient.
• Cross-platform compatibility – It is compatible across all platforms like Windows, Linux, Unix and MacOS.
• Multiple Environments – It provides a new feature where you can differentiate code of different environments like development, staging, production etc.

8. Firebase

Firebase is a set of backend cloud computing services provided by Google. It helps developers build, deploy and scale their applications. It is a Backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that provides hosted backend services like real-time database, authentication, testing, crash analysis, monitoring and hosting.

Features

• Authentication – Authentication is one of the features provided by Firebase. A user can authenticate using email password login, Google Sign-in, Facebook login and more using Firebase Authentication.
• Database – Firebase offers a cloud-based NoSQL database so that the organization can store and sync its data in real-time.
• Crashlytics – Crashlytics is a feature provided by Firebase that helps users monitor and fix their application crashes. The reports provided can help us reach the critical areas of the application faster and fix them.
• Testing – Firebase provides a service called Test Lab that helps you test your application code on various environments and configurations. Thus, you can test your app before deployment and ensure it works well in critical situations as well.

9. Flask

Flask is a micro web framework written in Python. It was developed by Armin Ronacher in 2010 and its most stable version is version 3.0.0 released on September 30, 2023. It has no database abstraction layer, form validation, or any other components where pre-existing third-party libraries provide common functions.

Features

• Easy Learning – The learning curve for Flask is quite easy and its simplicity makes it a good choice for beginner developers who need to make their first application.
• Tools – The beginner-friendly tools provided by Flask make developing your first application easy. Built-in features like debugging and error reporting features provide ease.
• Routing – Flask provides routing services where different parts of the application can be attached to different URL endpoints.
• Easy Integration – Flask can be easily integrated with other third-party services. Thus, you can easily modify and extend your framework.

10. Heroku

Heroku is a fully managed PaaS(Platform as a Service). It was developed by James Lindenbaum in 2007. It supports various programming languages like Ruby, Python, PHP, Java, Node.js etc. It is called a polyglot platform as it allows developers to build, run and scale their applications similarly for all languages.

Features

• Add-ons – Herko provides multiple plugins and add-ons to implement various functionalities.
• Error logs – Heroku provides the user with error logs in case of deployment failure. Thus, debugging becomes easier in Heroku.
• Integrated SQL – Heroku provides standard SQL in their integrated service.
• High Availability – Heroku provides with exclusive servers such that the application faces no downtime and provides high performance.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the various backend technologies that can be used with React in 2024. We have provided several choices of backend for your projects that can be easily integrated with React. Node.js provides its event-driven and non-blocking architecture. Express.js provides its middleware functionalities. Django eases development with its MVT architecture. Laravel’s MVC architecture and ORM features make it quite popular. Spring Boot’s auto-configuration makes it a good choice too. Ruby on Rails follows a MVC framework. ASP.NET Core provides both MVC and Web API functionalities. Firebase acts as a BaaS provider. Flask is very beginner-friendly making it a great choice too. Heroku acts as a polyglot platform providing similar functionalities across various languages. Thus, a developer can choose their backend service by referring to the features of each service.

FAQs

What backend technologies are compatible with React?

Backend technologies compatible with React are Node.js, Express.js, Django, Laravel, Spring Boot, Ruby on Rails, ASP.NET Core, Firebase, Flask, and Heroku.

What is React.js?

React.js is an open-source JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building user interfaces. It follows a component-based architecture, making it efficient for creating reusable UI elements in web applications.

What is the significance of middleware in Express.js?

Express.js uses middleware to process incoming requests, allowing React developers to set up authentication, validation, and logging easily.