Express.js vs Nest.js: A Brief Comparison between Two Node.js Frameworks

![Express.js vs Nest.js(https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ha8hubb431l4pl2wqnnw.png)

The process of building web applications has become easy, thanks to technology. Various web frameworks, particularly Express.js and Nest.js, have lessened developer's headaches. But when should you choose one framework and ditch another? Before shedding light on it, I'd like to discuss the difference between Express.js and Nest.js.

Nest.js, like Express.js, is a Node.js framework. It is TypeScript and JavaScript-based and used for creating server-side applications. Developers who are adept at Angular should learn Nest.js because it's somewhat similar to Angular. Furthermore, it also has a great architectural structure. Some backend services are also available in Nest.js. The good thing about Nest.js is that its documentation is thorough. This saves developer's time.

It is also platform-agnostic. This means it can work with any Node HTTP framework. What's even better? Express.js functions are also supported in Nest.js. Despite all this, like any other technology, Express.js has some cons. For instance, Nest.js is difficult for developers who are not familiar with Angular.

Contrary to Nest.js, Express.js is comparatively easy to learn. Middleware support is also provided in Express.js. Developers praise it because it can handle thousands of concurrent connections in seconds. However, unlike Nest.js, Express.js doesn't provide a strict structure for organizing code. That's great because developers can implement code as they want. However, the same flexibility becomes a hassle as the team grows. In other words, the lack of structure becomes an issue. And that's why developers start considering other frameworks.

All in all, use Nest.js only when you want to build lightweight but outstanding microservices. And prefer Express.js when you want to build a flexible, fast, and minimal web app.