Overview

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside of a browser. Built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine, it is designed to build scalable network applications, especially for handling I/O-intensive operations such as web servers and APIs. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient for real-time applications. Its package manager, npm (Node Package Manager), has an extensive ecosystem of libraries, making Node.js a popular choice for back-end and full-stack JavaScript development.

Key Features:
  • Event-Driven and Asynchronous: Non-blocking architecture allows multiple operations to be performed simultaneously, making it ideal for real-time applications.
  • JavaScript Everywhere: Allows developers to use JavaScript for both front-end and back-end development.
  • V8 Engine: Built on Google Chrome’s fast V8 JavaScript engine, ensuring high performance and speed.
  • Single-Threaded: Uses a single-threaded model with event looping, making it capable of handling thousands of concurrent connections.
  • NPM Ecosystem: Access to thousands of open-source packages through npm, simplifying development.
Use Cases:
  • Real-time chat applications
  • Streaming services (e.g., video and audio)
  • API servers
  • Single-page applications (SPAs)