Node.js is a robust, open-source cross platform server-side JavaScript runtime environment. Node.js, which Ryan Dahl created in 2009, is incredibly popular because it makes it easier to create network applications that are both scalable and high-performing. Its event-driven architecture, which permits asynchronous I/O operations and makes it ideal for managing concurrent connections and delivering quick, real-time applications, is one of its main advantages. With Node.js, coders can leverage JavaScript for both the client and server- side scripting, promoting code reuse and resulting in a smoother development process.
Top2. Why Nodejs?
In the early days of web application development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript were fundamental, but the landscape and practices were quite different compared to the sophisticated tools and frameworks available today.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML): HTML was primarily used for structuring the content of web pages.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS): CSS is a key tool in web development that empowers developers to manage the visual aspects of a website, create responsive layouts, and enhance the overall user experience.
JavaScript (JS): In order to improve the user experience, JavaScript is frequently used for client-side validation, which verifies user input in the web browser before sending data to the server. This makes online forms more generally usable by cutting down on pointless server queries and giving users quick feedback. Every modern web browser contains a JavaScript engine, which is responsible for interpreting and executing JavaScript code on web pages. JavaScript engines are an integral part of browsers and play a vital role in enabling dynamic and interactive functionality on the web. Different browsers may use different JavaScript engines, and these engines are responsible for processing and executing JavaScript code in accordance with the ECMAScript specification, which is the standard that defines the scripting language features that JavaScript engines must support (Chhetri, N et al., 2016).
Here are some examples of popular browsers and their associated JavaScript engines:
- 1.
Google Chrome: V8
- 2.
Mozilla Firefox: Spider Monkey
- 3.
Apple Safari: JavaScriptCore
- 4.
Microsoft Edge: V8 (since the move to the Chromium project in 2020)
- 5.
Opera: V8 (since the move to the Chromium project)
In the realm of client-side browsers, the execution of JavaScript code is fundamental to the dynamic and interactive nature of web applications. A JavaScript engine embedded within the browser interprets and executes the code, enabling the seamless interaction between users and web content. However, the versatility of JavaScript extends beyond the client-side environment. Node.js, a server-side runtime environment, provides a complementary platform for executing JavaScript code on servers. By leveraging Node.js, developers can extend the capabilities of JavaScript beyond the confines of the browser, allowing for server-side scripting and enhancing the overall efficiency and scalability of web applications. This dual capability, with client-side browsers handling user interactions and Node.js managing server-side operations, contributes to the cohesive and powerful ecosystem that defines modern web development.
Node.js is neither a programming language nor a framework or library. It functions as a runtime environment on the backend, facilitating the execution of JavaScript code.
Top3. Nodejs Installation.
Node.js installation is a straightforward process, ensuring developers can quickly set up the runtime environment on their machines for efficient server-side JavaScript execution.