Developers can run JavaScript on the server side with Node.js. It offers a huge selection of libraries for support and growth. Node.js operates outside of the browser, whereas JavaScript usually does so. Server-side (back-end) execution is done with Node.js.

What is Node.js?

An open-source, cross-platform runtime environment called Node.js enables server-side JavaScript execution. It is incredibly fast because it is based on Chrome's V8 engine. Node.js's non-blocking, event-driven architecture is one of its strongest features; it makes it easier to create high-performance applications. Because we can use the same language—JavaScript—for both front-end and back-end development, many Indian developers.

What are the main features of Node.js?

When should you use Node.js?

Thanks to its event-driven architecture, Node.js is a fantastic choice for real-time applications like collaboration tools, online games, and chat applications. It really shines when it comes to building scalable and lightweight RESTful APIs, especially when you're dealing with a lot of users or queries at the same time. Node.js also makes it easier to create modular and flexible systems that can grow alongside your application, particularly in a microservices-based setup.

How to Install Node.js

1. Open Visual Studio Code and launch the terminal to check if Node.js is installed. Just type this command into your terminal.

Bash
npm node -v

2. Create a folder and open it in the terminal:

Bash
mkdir simple-node-program
cd simple-node-program

First Program of Node.js

Step 1. Create a File

Create a new file and name it index.js.

Step 2. Write Code

Open the index.js file and add the following line:

Bash
console.log("Hello World!");

Step 3. Run the Program

Open your terminal, navigate to the folder where index.js is located, and run:

Bash
node index.js

Step 4. Output

Code
Hello World!