Introduction to Node.js: Developing with JavaScript on the Server Side

If you’ve worked with JavaScript in the browser, you’re familiar with its versatility and power to create interactive and dynamic experiences. But what if I told you that you can bring that same power to the server side? Enter: Node.js!

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source JavaScript runtime environment built on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It allows you to run JavaScript on the server, rather than just in the browser. This opens up a world of possibilities for developing high-performance, scalable web applications.

JavaScript on Both Sides: With Node.js, you can use JavaScript on both the client and server side, providing a more consistent development experience.
Asynchronicity: Node.js is designed to be non-blocking and asynchronous, meaning it can handle many concurrent connections without the need for multithreading, making it ideal for real-time applications like chats and online games.
Robust Ecosystem: Node.js has a vast ecosystem of packages and modules, thanks to the npm package manager, which makes it easy to install and manage dependencies.

Installation: You can download and install Node.js directly from the official website. It comes with npm included, so you’ll be ready to start installing packages and building apps.
Hello World: Let’s start with the basics. Create a hello.js file and add the following code:

console.log("Hello, Node.js!");

Run it in the terminal with node hello.js and see the output.

Simple HTTP Server: Now, let’s create a basic HTTP server:

const http = require('http');

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
    res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    res.end('Hello, Node.js Server!');
});

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
server.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server running on port ${PORT}`);
});

Run the file and open your browser to http://localhost:3000 to see the message.

What is Node.js?

Why Use Node.js?

Getting Started with Node.js

Conclusion