What is Node.js? Overview of Node.js

As TipsMake mentioned in the previous article, Node.js is written based on JavaScript language and runs on many different platforms including Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, . . Please refer to TipsMake's article below to learn more about what Node.js is? Overview of Node.js.

What is Node.js? Overview of Node.js

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a Server Side platform developed based on Javascript Engine (V8 Engin) integrated on Google Chrome, and developed by Ryan Dahl in 2009, the latest version is v0.10.36.

In the official documentation, Node.js is defined as follows:

"Node.js is a platform developed based on the Javascript runtime on Chrome to build network applications faster and at larger scale. Node.js uses a non-blocking I/O model to create lightweight applications and efficient for real-time data applications running on distributed devices".

Node.js is an open source, cross-platform runtime environment used to develop server-side and network applications. Node.js applications are written in JavaScript, and can run in the Node.js runtime on OS X, Windows, and Linux platforms.

In addition, Node.js also provides a library that includes many JavaScript modules to help simplify the development of web applications using Node.js with extensions.

Node.js = Runtime Environment + JavaScript Library

Features of Node.js

Here are some important features that make Node.js the first choice of software architects:

- Asynchronous programming and Event Driven model: All Node.js library APIs are asynchronous, i.e. non-blocking. Essentially, a Node.js-based server doesn't have to wait for the API to return data. The server moves to the next API after calling, and Node.js' event notification mechanism helps the server receive responses from the previous API call.

- Extremely fast: Developed based on Javascript Engine V8 Engin on Chrome, the Node.js library executes code extremely fast.

- Handle requests in just a Single Threaded: Node.js uses Single Threaded model in event loop. The event mechanism helps the server respond non-blocking and expands its request processing capabilities compared to traditional servers that create limited threads to process requests. Node.js uses single threaded programming, which can provide services to more requests than traditional servers like Apache HTTP Server.

- No cache: Node.js applications do not store any data in memory. These simple applications export data in chunks.

- Copyright license: Node.js is released under the MIT license.

Which applications use Node.js?

The Github Wiki list is full of projects, applications, and companies using Node.js, including eBay, General Electric, GoDaddy, Microsoft, PayPal, Uber, Wikipin, Yahoo!, and Yammer.

Node.js components

Below is a diagram describing the important components of Node.js that TipsMake will introduce in more detail in subsequent articles.

What is Node.js? Overview of Node.js Picture 1

In what areas is Node.js used?

Node.js is used in the below technology areas:

- I/O bound applications.
- Data streaming application.
- Data Intensive Real-time Applications (DIRT).
- Applications based on JSON API.
- Single Page application.

In what areas should Node.js not be used?

Node.js should not be used for CPU-intensive applications.

The article above TipsMake has just introduced you to what Node.js is? Overview of Node.js. In the next article TipsMake will introduce you how to set up the Node.js environment. Also you can learn how Python and JavaScript are different? to distinguish and choose for yourself the most suitable and best programming language for yourself.

Jessica Tanner

Update 16 June 2024