10 Node.js Tips You Won’t Learn in a Beginner’s Guide

Node.js has become one of the most popular environments for backend development, thanks to its speed, efficiency, and flexibility. However, moving beyond beginner-level Node.js requires mastering more advanced techniques and adopting best practices that can make your applications faster, more maintainable, and scalable. Here are ten essential tips to level up your Node.js skills.

Not a Medium member? Read this article here

1. Use async/await with Caution in Loops

While async/await can simplify asynchronous code, using it in loops can slow down your application. When you use await inside a loop, each iteration waits for the previous one to complete, making it synchronous. Instead, use Promise.all() to run multiple async operations in parallel.

Example:

// Slower: awaits each iteration
for (let userId of userIds) {
  await getUserDetails(userId);
}

// Faster: executes all promises in parallel
await Promise.all(userIds.map(id => getUserDetails(id)));

2. Stream Data for Better Performance

Node.js supports streams, which allow you to handle data in chunks rather than loading everything into memory at once. This is particularly…