Node.js: Difference between revisions

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'''Node.js''' is a [[cross-platform]], [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[JavaScript]] [[runtime environment]] that can run on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[Unix]], [[macOS]], and more. Node.js runs on the [[V8 (JavaScript engine)|V8]] [[JavaScript engine]], and executes JavaScript code outside a [[web browser]].

Node.js lets developers use JavaScript to write [[Command-line interface|command line tools]] and for [[server-side scripting]]. The ability to run JavaScript code on the server is often used to generate [[dynamic web page]] content before the page is sent to the user's web browser. Consequently, Node.js represents a "JavaScript everywhere" [[paradigm]],<ref>{{cite web |last=gcuomo |date=24 October 2013 |title=JavaScript Everywhere and the Three Amigos (Into the wild BLUE yonder!) |url=https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/gcuomo/entry/javascript_everywhere_and_the_three_amigos?lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114212619/https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/gcuomo/entry/javascript_everywhere_and_the_three_amigos?lang=en |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-24 |website=www.ibm.com}}</ref> unifying [[web application|web-application]] development around a single [[programming language]], as opposed to using different languages for the server- versus client-side programming.

Node.js has an [[event-driven architecture]] capable of [[asynchronous I/O]]. These design choices aim to optimize [[throughput]] and [[scalability]] in web applications with many input/output operations, as well as for [[real-time Web]] applications (e.g., [[real-time communication]] programs and [[browser game]]s).<ref name="readwrite">{{cite web |author=Laurent Orsini |date=2013-11-07 |title=What You Need To Know About Node.js |url=http://readwrite.com/2013/11/07/what-you-need-to-know-about-nodejs |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=readwrite.com}}</ref>

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JavaScript is the only language that Node.js supports natively, but many [[Source-to-source compiler|compile-to-JS]] languages are available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/jashkenas/coffeescript/wiki/list-of-languages-that-compile-to-js|title=List of languages that compile to JS|website=Github}}</ref> As a result, Node.js applications can be written in [[CoffeeScript]],<ref name="b6">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oda-MgEACAAJ&q=nodejs |title=CoffeeScript on Node.js |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc. |date=15 April 2013 |access-date = 17 May 2015|isbn=9781449316846 }}</ref> [[Dart (programming language)|Dart]], [[TypeScript]], [[ClojureScript]] and others.

Node.js is primarily used to build network programs such as web servers.<ref name="b2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KZQQAlhTOBgC&q=nodejs Node.js for PHP Developers], O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2013</ref> The most significant difference between Node.js and [[PHP]] is that most functions in PHP [[Asynchronous I/O|block]] until completion (commands execute only after previous commands finish), while Node.js functions are [[Asynchronous I/O|non-blocking]] (commands execute [[Concurrent computing|concurrently]] and use [[Callback (computer programming)|callbacks]] to signal completion or failure),.<ref name="b2"/> thus opening up new attack surfaces that are inherently absent in most web server applications.

Node.js is officially supported by [[Linux]], {{nowrap|[[macOS]]}} and [[Microsoft Windows]] 8.1 and Server 2012 (and later),<ref name="supportedOS" /> with Tier 2 support for [[SmartOS]] and [[IBM AIX]] and experimental support for [[FreeBSD]]. [[OpenBSD]] also works, and LTS versions are available for [[IBM i]] (AS/400).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Node js |title=Installing Node.js via package manager |url=https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/ |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Node.js |language=en}}</ref> The source code may also be built on similar operating systems that are not officially supported, such as [[NonStop OS]]<ref name="bomBora - Node.js for NonStop">{{cite web |title=bomBora - Node.js for NonStop |url=http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=infrasoft.com.au |publisher=Infrasoft |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311040354/http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Unix]] servers.

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=== Industry support ===

There are thousands of open-source libraries for Node.js, most of which are hosted on the npm website. Multiple developer conferences and events are held that support the Node.js community, including NodeConf, Node Interactive, and Node Summit, as well as a number of regional events. More than 6.3 million websites use Node.js.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Node.js Statistics: Latest Usage Insights and Trends 2024 |url=https://radixweb.com/blog/nodejs-usage-statistics |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Radixweb |language=en}}</ref>

The open-source community has developed [[web framework]]s to accelerate the development of applications. Such frameworks include [[Express.js]], [[Socket.IO]], [[Sails.js]], [[Next.js]] and [[Meteor (web framework)|Meteor]].<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b7">[https://books.google.com/books?id=5eGRAwAAQBAJ&q=nodejs Express.js Guide: The Comprehensive Book on Express.js], Azat Mardan, 28-May-2014</ref> Various packages have also been created for interfacing with other languages or runtime environments such as [[Microsoft .NET]].<ref>[http://www.techrepublic.com/article/edge-js-bridges-the-gap-between-node-js-and-net/ Edge.js bridges the gap between Node.js and .NET], TechRepublic, Tony Patton, 1 July 2014</ref>