Node.js Definition
Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside a web browser. It allows developers to use JavaScript to write command line tools and for server-side scripting—running scripts server-side to produce dynamic web page content before the page is sent to the user’s web browser. Node.js represents a “JavaScript everywhere” paradigm, unifying web application development around a single programming language, rather than different languages for server-side and client-side scripts.
Node.js Key Points
- Node.js is a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to run on the server side.
- It is open-source and cross-platform, meaning it can run on various operating systems.
- Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, making it lightweight and efficient.
- It enables the development of scalable network applications.
- Node.js uses a module architecture to simplify the creation of complex applications.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is a platform built on Chrome’s JavaScript runtime for easily building fast and scalable network applications. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices. Node.js applications are written in JavaScript and can be run within the Node.js runtime on OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, NonStop, IBM AIX, IBM System z and IBM i.
Why is Node.js important?
Node.js is important because it represents a shift in the paradigm of web development. Traditionally, JavaScript was used primarily for client-side scripting, where scripts written in JavaScript are embedded in a webpage’s HTML and run client-side by a JavaScript engine in the user’s web browser. Node.js enables JavaScript to be used for server-side scripting, and runs server-side scripts to produce dynamic web page content before the page is sent to the user’s web browser. This means that with Node.js, developers can write both the front-end and back-end of web applications in the same language – JavaScript.
Where is Node.js used?
Node.js is used in a variety of applications, but it’s particularly well-suited for real-time applications like chat, gaming servers, or any situation where you need to maintain a persistent connection from the browser back to the server. It’s also used for developing APIs, handling thousands of simultaneous connections with high throughput, which makes it applicable to the modern web.
When was Node.js created?
Node.js was created in 2009 by Ryan Dahl, and it has since become an essential part of modern web development. It is maintained and continuously updated by the Node.js Foundation.
How does Node.js work?
Node.js works by incorporating event-driven programming to web servers, which enables development of fast web servers in JavaScript. It uses a single-threaded event loop and non-blocking I/O calls, allowing it to support tens of thousands of concurrent connections held in the event loop. Node.js also contains a built-in library to allow applications to act as a web server without software such as Apache HTTP Server or IIS.
