Hono
A small web framework for building APIs and sites that runs on many JavaScript platforms.
- Stars
- 32.8k
- Forks
- 1.5k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 5 days ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
Hono is a web framework for JavaScript and TypeScript, built on Web Standard APIs so the same code can run on several runtimes such as Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, AWS Lambda, and Node.js. It is described as small and fast, with built-in, custom, and third-party middleware. Developers use it to define routes and handle requests and responses.
- Create a basic route that returns text from an app object
- Build a JSON or HTTP API that runs on Cloudflare Workers, Deno, or Bun
- Add middleware to handle cross-cutting concerns in a web app
- Start a new project with the npm create hono command
Great for
- Developers writing TypeScript or JavaScript HTTP APIs
- Teams that want one codebase to deploy on multiple runtimes
- Projects targeting edge platforms like Cloudflare Workers
- Developers who want a small framework with few dependencies
Not ideal for
- People who need a full-stack framework with a built-in database or UI layer, since the README describes only a web framework
- Non-programmers, because it requires writing code
- Projects that must run on a runtime not listed in the README without checking compatibility first
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js or another supported JavaScript runtime
Create a new project
npm create hono@latest - 2
Run it
- Run npm create hono@latest and follow the prompts
- Change into the new project folder
- Start the app using the scripts the generator created
- Open the local address shown in the terminal to see the response
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the hono/tiny preset if you need a very small bundle, as the README notes it is under 12kB
- Add built-in or third-party middleware for common needs
- Consult hono.dev for the full API and runtime-specific guides
- Read docs/MIGRATION.md when upgrading between major versions
Downloads
Strengths
- The README states it has zero dependencies and uses only Web Standard APIs
- Runs on many JavaScript runtimes with the same code, per the README
- MIT licensed and actively maintained, with a recent push date
Trade-offs
- Performance and size claims come from the project itself; the README gives a size figure only for the hono/tiny preset
- Documentation is mainly hosted on hono.dev, so the README alone gives limited detail
- Supporting many runtimes means behavior can differ per platform; check the docs for your target
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hono (this) | 32.8k | Library | beginner | 5 days ago | Developers writing TypeScript or JavaScript HTTP APIs |
| express | 69.6k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers building JavaScript or Node.js back-end servers |
| fastify | 37.3k | Library | beginner | 4 days ago | Node.js developers building JSON APIs or backend services |
| elysia | 19.3k | Framework | intermediate | 8 days ago | TypeScript developers building HTTP APIs or web servers |
| koa | 35.7k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Node.js developers who want a minimal web framework they can shape themselves |
| Baileys | 11.5k | Library | intermediate | 5 days ago | Developers who want to script WhatsApp message handling in TypeScript or JavaScript |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.