What is Node.js?

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser, on the server-side. It was created by Ryan Dahl in 2009 and is built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine.

Understanding Node.js

Node.js enables full-stack JavaScript development by allowing developers to use the same language (JavaScript) for both frontend and backend development. It's particularly well-suited for building scalable network applications.

Key Features of Node.js

1. Event-Driven Architecture

Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient for data-intensive real-time applications.

2. Single-Threaded Event Loop

Node.js processes requests using a single-threaded event loop, making it excellent for I/O-intensive applications but requiring careful handling of CPU-intensive tasks.

3. NPM (Node Package Manager)

The world's largest software registry, providing access to millions of reusable packages and tools.

4. Cross-Platform

Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems.

Basic Node.js Example

const http = require('http');

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
  res.end('Hello, World!');
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running at http://localhost:3000/');
});

Node.js vs Traditional Server Technologies

| Feature | Node.js | PHP | Python | Java |

|---------|---------|-----|--------|------|

| Language | JavaScript | PHP | Python | Java |

| Performance | High | Medium | Medium | High |

| Learning Curve | Easy | Easy | Easy | Steep |

| Package Ecosystem | NPM | Composer | PyPI | Maven |

| Real-time Support | Excellent | Limited | Limited | Good |

Why Use Node.js?

Common Use Cases

Popular Node.js Frameworks

Node.js has revolutionized web development by enabling JavaScript developers to build full-stack applications and has become a cornerstone of modern web development.