Go has officially overtaken Node.js as the most widely used programming language for automated API requests, according to Cloudflare’s 2024 “Year in Review” report. This shift highlights the growing popularity of Go in web development, particularly for making efficient, high-performance API calls, which are a central component of modern dynamic websites and applications.
Cloudflare’s report reveals that over half of the internet traffic the company handles is API-related, with a significant portion coming from automated API calls. Go emerged as the leader in this category, accounting for 11.8% of the total API traffic. It surpassed Node.js, which had been the dominant language in previous years, now holding 10% of the traffic. Python followed closely behind with 9.6%, while Java and .NET had shares of 7.4% and 3.6%, respectively. Notably, Go’s share saw an impressive 40% growth, while Node.js experienced a 30% decline. Additionally, Python and Java also saw increases, contrasting with a decrease in .NET’s share.
This year marks the fifth iteration of Cloudflare’s “Radar Year in Review,” a report that observes global internet trends and patterns, analyzing data from Cloudflare’s vast network. The findings shed light on how programming languages and web technologies evolve over time, helping businesses and developers stay on top of emerging trends. Other key insights from the report include the fact that nearly one-third of mobile internet traffic originated from Apple iOS devices, while Android devices accounted for just over two-thirds. Additionally, global internet traffic grew by 17.2% in 2024, with HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 accounting for nearly half and one-fifth of web requests, respectively.
The rise of Go, alongside the ongoing evolution of web protocols, emphasizes the increasing need for faster, more efficient web performance. As automated API requests continue to drive much of the internet’s traffic, Go’s performance and scalability make it an increasingly attractive choice for developers looking to optimize web applications and services.