17 Best Node.js Frameworks and Libraries for Developers in 2026

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime used to build fast and scalable network applications. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model with single-threaded asynchronous programming, allowing it to handle many requests efficiently.
A web application framework provides a set of libraries, tools, and helpers that make it easier to build web applications without writing everything from scratch. When choosing a framework, the most important things to consider are its architecture, ease of customization, extensibility, built-in security features, and how well it integrates with the rest of your technology stack.