The Official Node.js Documentation
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime. ECMAScript (first appeared 1997) is the standard that browsers implement so we can write JS in browser.
In this guide we explore the basics of Node.
Node is an implementation of JavaScript that runs outside of the browser. When we write JS in browser, we are writing client-side JavaScript. We can now write server-side JavaScript, apps that not only work in browser but works natively. NASA use node, Netflix use node, Uber use node, almost everyone use node, so it is important to master it.
With Node, we can build:
- Web Servers
- Command Line Tools
- Native Apps (e.g. VSCode, Slack)
- Video Games (e.g. Cross-Code)
- Control drones, electric cars
Node is JavaScript, however it does not have browser stuff like window, document, DOM API, etc.
Type node
in terminal to make sure you installed it.