7 Best Node.js Books in 2023

This is a list of the best Node.js books in 2023.

Node.js is a runtime environment and library for running JavaScript applications outside of a web browser.

The best Node.js books will teach you everything from the basics of the language up to more advanced topics like distributed systems and automating your workflow.

Best Node.js books in 2023 are:

1. Node.js Design Patterns

Design patterns are reusable solutions to common problems in software design.

Node.js has its own unique set of design patterns, which can be difficult to learn without a guide. This book will teach you all the most important patterns so that you can write code that is efficient and easy to maintain.

The first part of the book covers the basics of Node.js, including its asynchronous single-threaded architecture and main design patterns.

You will learn about the different types of control flow patterns and how to use them to write asynchronous code. The book also covers streams, a powerful tool for working with data in Node.js.

In the second part of the book, you will learn about specific design patterns that are used in Node.js development. These include patterns for working with modules, databases, and user interfaces. You will also learn about trends in Universal JavaScript, and how to write code that runs on both Node.js and the browser.

By the end of this book, you will be well versed with all that is required to build an efficient server-side application using Node.js.

Authors: Mario Casciaro, Luciano Mammino

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Learn about the basics of Node.js
Understand how to design and write asynchronous code
Discover common design patterns and best practices
Gain experience in building modular and scalable applications
Get acquainted with the latest trends in web development
Implement universal applications using Node.js, React, and its ecosystem
Learn how to achieve scalability by leveraging techniques such as clustering and microservices
Explore various aspects of testing Node.js applications

2. Beginning Node.js, Express & MongoDB Development

This book takes you on a fun, hands-on journey to learning Node.js, Express and MongoDB development.

You'll start building your first Node.js app within minutes. Every chapter is written in a bite-sized manner and straight to the point as I don't want to waste your time on the content you don't need.

In the end, you will have the skills to create a blog app and deploy it to the Internet.

Greg Lim provides an in-depth guide on how to use Node.js for developing efficient and scalable web applications. He also covers common development patterns used in Node applications.

Authors: Greg Lim

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Learn how to create a blog using Node.js
Learn how to use npm and Express
Learn how to work with MongoDB
Learn how to deploy an app on Heroku

Greg Lim: About the author

Greg Lim is a technologist and author of several programming books. He has many years in teaching programming in tertiary institutions and he places special emphasis on learning by doing.

3. Get Programming with Node.js

In Get Programming with Node.js, you'll work through eight complete projects, from writing the code for your first web server to adding live chat to a web app.

You'll learn new features from ES2015 and later, write asynchronous code, create data models, and debug JavaScript modules. You'll also appreciate the easy-to-follow discussions, illuminating diagrams, and carefully explained code.

With this book, you'll be able to build web servers using Node.js and take your web development skills to the next level. You'll learn how to use Express.js, connect to a database, authenticate user accounts, and deploy your applications to production.

By the end of this book, you'll be able to confidently build web servers and create amazing web apps.

Authors: Jonathan Wexler

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

What Node.js is and what it can be used for
How to set up a Node.js development environment
Write asynchronous code in Node.js
Connect to a MongoDB database from Node.js
Use the Express web framework with Node.js
Create data models in Node.js
Authenticate user accounts in Node.js
Implement an API using Node.js
Add chat functionality to an existing application using Socket.io
Deploy a Node.js application to production

4. JavaScript : The Definitive Guide

This is a JavaScript book that's also extremely useful for Node.js developers.

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide is a comprehensive reference to the JavaScript language and the client-side JavaScript APIs defined by web browsers.

If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to learning JavaScript, then this is the book for you. The seventh edition of this bestseller is fully updated to cover the 2020 version of JavaScript, and they have added new chapters on classes, modules, iterators, generators, Promises, async/await and metaprogramming.

You'll find illuminating and engaging example code throughout the book. The author starts by explaining the JavaScript language in detail, from the bottom up. He then builds on that foundation to cover the web platform and Node.js. Topics include types, values, variables, expressions, operators, statements, objects and arrays; functions, classes, modules, iterators, generators and Promises; JavaScript's standard library, data structures, regular expressions and JSON; the web platform - documents, components, graphics, networking and storage; and Node.js - buffers, files, streams and child processes.

This book is ideal for programmers who want to learn JavaScript and for web developers who want to take their understanding and mastery to the next level.

A must-have reference for expert JavaScript programmers...well-organized and detailed." --Brendan Eich, creator of JavaScript, CTO of Mozilla

Authors: David Flanagan

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Learn the basics of programming
Learn how to code in JavaScript
Learn the essentials of web development
Understand how to create dynamic and interactive websites
Get up to speed on the latest features in JavaScript

David Flanagan: About the author

David Flanagan is a computer programmer who has spent much of the last 20 years writing books about programming languages. He now works for Mozilla, developing new web technologies. David lives with his wife and children in the Pacific Northwest, between the cities of Seattle and Vancouver.

5. Advanced Node.js Development : Master Node.js by building real-world applications

Best Node.js Book for Advanced Developers

5. Advanced Node.js Development Book Cover

If you're looking to create real-world Node applications, or you want to switch careers or launch a side-project to generate some extra income, then you're in the right place.

Advanced Node.js Development has a single goal: turning you into a professional Node developer capable of developing, testing, and deploying real-world production applications.

This books is for you if you are looking to launch your Node applications, switch careers, or freelance as a Node developer. You should have a basic understanding of JavaScript to follow this book.

This book follows directly from Learning Node.js Development, but more advanced readers can benefit from this book without having read the first part.

Authors: Andrew Mead

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Use variables and data types
Write conditional statements
Create loops
Use functions and scope
Use arrays and objects
Use Node.js modules
Create a web server
Work with databases
Create a REST API
Create real-time applications
Use Async and Await

6. Distributed Systems with Node.Js : Building Enterprise-Ready Backend Services

6. Distributed Systems with Node.Js Book Cover

Author Thomas Hunter II demonstrates that Node.js is just as capable as traditional enterprise platforms for building services that are observable, scalable, and resilient.

In this hands-on guide, Hunter shows intermediate to advanced Node.js developers how to integrate application code with the modern tools.

The content of this book is complete and up-to-date. It covers the entire software development life cycle (SDLC) with the ability to zoom in on specific parts, offering valuable advice and tips not specific to any one technology or version.

Authors: Thomas Hunter

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Understand when and why to use Node.js in an enterprise environment
Learn how to integrate code with a variety of tools across the stack
Understand what observability, scalability, and resilience mean in the context of Node.js services
Master techniques for debugging distributed systems
Tune application containers for use in production
Build dashboards to monitor service health and performance

7. The Road to GraphQL : Your journey to master pragmatic GraphQL in JavaScript with React.js and Node.js

This book is also featured in my best GraphQL books list.

The Road to GraphQL is a journey through learning GraphQL with JavaScript the pragmatic way.

In this book, Robin Wieruch teaches you the basics of GraphQL. You will learn about the different Query and Mutation types and how to use them for fetching or mutating data.

You will also learn about Schema Definition Language (SDL) and how to use it for creating your own GraphQL schema.

By the end of this book, you will be able to create your own GraphQL server using Node.js.

If you want to build fullstack applications, then this is the book for you. You will build client and server applications yourself, while learning about the basics of web development, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and API's.

Authors: Robin Wieruch

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Understand the basics of GraphQL
Learn how to use React to query GraphQL APIs
Learn how to use Node with Express to create a GraphQL server
Understand how GraphQL works under the hood

Robin Wieruch: About the author

Robin Wieruch is a German software and web engineer who is dedicated to learning and teaching programming in JavaScript. After obtaining his master's degree in computer science, he gained experience from the startup world where he used JavaScript extensively during his professional time and spare time.

8. Automating with Node.js

If your job is loaded with manual work, this book will help you speed up your workflow with Node.js.

In Automating with Node.js book, you will learn how to automate many tasks such as zipping files, emailing colleagues, and deploying your work at the press of a button. The first part of the book contains recipes that can be used as individual global commands.

The second part walks you through creating a cross-platform build tool from scratch that can be used by you and your team.

This book is very similar to Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. Both books have the enormous benefit of learning by doing.

Authors: Shaun Michael Stone

Get the book

Topics covered

You will learn how to:

Understand the basics of Node.js
How to use Node.js for basic scripting tasks
How to use Node.js for more advanced programming tasks
How to create a cross-platform build tool using Node.js

Conclusion

Each of the Node.js books listed above can help you deepen your understanding of the language and build real-world applications.

Which Node.js book is the best for me?

Pick the best Node.js book for you based on your goals:

If you're just starting out with Node.js, "Learning Node.js Development" is a good place to start.
If you're looking to create real-world Node applications, or you want to switch careers or launch a side-project to generate some extra income, then "Advanced Node.js Development" is the book for you.
If you're looking to build enterprise-ready backend services, "Distributed Systems with Node.Js" is a great option.
If you're looking to automate your workflow, "Automating with Node.js" is a great choice.

About Josip

Josip Miskovic is a software developer at Americaneagle.com. Josip has 10+ years in experience in developing web applications, mobile apps, and games.

Follow @JosipMisko

1. Node.js Design Patterns

Topics covered

2. Beginning Node.js, Express & MongoDB Development

Topics covered

Greg Lim: About the author

3. Get Programming with Node.js

Topics covered

4. JavaScript : The Definitive Guide

Topics covered

David Flanagan: About the author

5. Advanced Node.js Development : Master Node.js by building real-world applications

Best Node.js Book for Advanced Developers

Topics covered

6. Distributed Systems with Node.Js : Building Enterprise-Ready Backend Services

Topics covered

7. The Road to GraphQL : Your journey to master pragmatic GraphQL in JavaScript with React.js and Node.js

Topics covered

Robin Wieruch: About the author

8. Automating with Node.js

Topics covered

Conclusion

Which Node.js book is the best for me?

Related Posts