What is Node.js: Common use cases and how to install it

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment used to build scalable server-side and network applications using the . It offers non-blocking input/output (I/O) operations and is built on an asynchronous, event-driven architecture to help developers create diverse projects efficiently and easily.

This article will cover how node.js works, and discuss some of its common use cases. We will also explore the differences between Node.js and npm. Lastly, we will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to install Node.js on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

doWhat is Node.js?

Node.js is a single-threaded, cross-platform runtime environment based on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It is open source software for building scalable, real-time network applications.

How does Node.js work?

Compared to other platform, Node.js has a particular workflow. It runs as a single process, which means it doesn’t create a new thread for each request. A thread is a set of instructions to be performed by the server.

Node.js uses non-blocking I/O operations: when a client sends a request to the web server, the single-threaded event loop picks it up and sends it to a worker thread for processing.

Instead of blocking the thread and wasting CPU resources waiting for a response, Node.js will continue working on the next task. In this way, it can handle a massive number of simultaneous requests.

That said, Node.js is not suitable for CPU-intensive tasks, as these might prevent the main thread from handling other requests, effectively blocking it.

asynchronous architecture

As discussed above, the Node.js thread does not wait for a response and proceeds to process a subsequent request. In the asynchronous architecture, the event loop operates in an event-driven manner. Once it has received a response from the previous API call, it puts the response in the event queue.

The event loop will finish all previous and current requests before executing a callback function to send the response from the server to the client.

Since Node.js uses a single-threaded event loop, it can serve multiple requests simultaneously with faster execution times and lower resource usage.

By comparison, synchronous architecture software performs one task at a time. Therefore, the event loop will only go to the next one if the previous task has finished.

Node.js use cases

Node.js is a good solution for real-time analytics or data-intensive tasks, as it has an asynchronous architecture and non-blocking I/O features. Some popular use cases include:

• Chat in real time. Node.js can work with data-intensive programs like chat applications as it handles I/O efficiently. It uses push technology over web sockets, which allows bidirectional communication between servers and clients. As a result, the server does not need to maintain separate threads for each open connection due to Node.js’ single-threaded asynchronous architecture.
• Data streaming. Node.js has built-in modules that support data flow, allowing the creation of read and write streams. Node.js will help queue data and distribute it asynchronously without blocking or interrupting. It’s a good option for businesses that have streaming capabilities that can process files while they’re uploading.
• Server-side proxies. Node.js can handle a massive number of simultaneous connections using a non-blocking approach. It can be used as an efficient server-side proxy that collects data from various third-party resources. In some cases, Node.js is used to build client-side applications to manage assets and proxies and stubs of API requests.
• System control boards. Thanks to the Node.js event loop feature, you can create a web-based dashboard to check the status of any service asynchronously. All this can be reported live and in real time on the status of both internal and public services.
• REST API. Node.js has a number of packages like Express.js and Koa.js that can be used to build web applications. It can speed up the API integration process and be the foundation for a fast, lightweight REST API.
• Single Page Applications (SPA). Entire SPAs load on a single page for a desktop-like experience. Because Node.js can efficiently handle asynchronous calls between heavy I/O operations, it allows SPAs to have data updates without refreshing the page.

It’s also important to note that Node.js supports both frontend and backend development. Here are the reasons why it works for both:

• Reusable code. Multiple Node.js components can be reused for both backend and frontend.
• High efficiency. Using Node.js can reduce context switching between multiple programming languages.

Node.js vs. npm

While Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment, the it’s a big part of the Node.js ecosystem.

It is a package manager that allows the JavaScript and Node.js communities to publish and share their node modules with other people. This makes the application development process faster and more efficient.

npm consists of two parts:

• A command-line interface (CLI) tool for downloading and publishing packages.
• An online repository that stores JavaScript and Node.js packages.

npm hosts millions of downloadable packages that are organized into multiple categories. It is considered the largest software registry in the world. The entire library of packed modules can be found in the .

By default, npm comes with every Node.js installation. To use it, you need to download the packages in the .

How to install Node.js

Node.js can be installed in different ways. Here are the most convenient methods to install it depending on the operating system, Windows, macOS, and Linux:

Windows

Follow these instructions to install Node.js on a Windows computer:

1. Download directly from the official website.
2. Double click the downloaded file, the download window will open. Node.js installation. Press Next.

3. Review the End User License Agreement and check I accept the terms in the License Agreement. Press Next.
4. Choose the destination folder and press Next.

5. Select the features to install. If you’re not sure, leave the default values ​​and press Next.

6. On the next page, check Automatically install the necessary tools. click on Next and then in Installl. You may be asked if you want to allow the setup program to make changes, choose And it is.
7. After the default installation is complete, a command prompt window will open for configuration of additional tools. Press any key twice to continue.

8. Once the process is finished, the interface will ask you to press Enter to close the window.

9. To check the version of Node.js, open the symbol of the system and run the following command:

node -v npm -v

macOS

Here’s how to install Node.js on a macOS machine:

1. Download the latest version of the from the official website.
2. Double-click the downloaded file and the Node.js installation window will open. click on Continue.

3. Review the Software License Agreement and select Continue.
4. Select the destination folder and press Continue.

5. Check the type of installation and press Install.
6. The installation process will begin.
7. Both Node.js and NPM will be available after installation. Press Close to finish the installation.

8. Then press the icon launch pad in the dock and open Terminal.
9. Verify the installation of Node.js and NPM by typing the following commands:

node -v npm -v

Linux

Follow the steps below to install Node.js on Linux. In this tutorial we will use Ubuntu.

1. Click the button show apps and open Terminal.
2. Run the following command for :

sudo apt install nodejs

3. Once your Linux device has completed the installation, you will need to install NPM.

sudo apt install npm

4. Next, check the version of Node.js by running these commands:

nodejs -v npm -v

conclusion

Node.js is a cross-platform, open source JavaScript runtime environment used to develop scalable server-side and network applications. It is based on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript runtime.

Processing a request with Node.js is efficient and lightweight. The software is suitable for real-time and data-intensive applications such as real-time chats, data streaming, server-side proxies, system dashboards, REST APIs and SPAs.

To install Node.js on Windows and macOS, download the installer from the official website. Linux users will have to get it via a Terminal command.

We hope this article has helped you understand Node.js. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments section below.

The author

Diana Catalina Herrera Infante

Diana is a translator with extensive experience in different types of documents, including tutorials and specialized articles on website creation. In addition, she has experience in the area of ​​digital marketing. In her spare time, she likes to exercise and watch a good movie.