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Node.js Tutorial
Official Documentation
This tutorial is based on the official Node.js documentation. For the most up-to-date information, visit: https://nodejs.org/docs/
Welcome to the Node.js tutorial! Learn how to build powerful server-side applications with JavaScript.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side, outside of a web browser.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Traditional Web Development │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Browser Server │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ JavaScript │ │ PHP/Python/ │ │
│ │ (Frontend) │ ──────────► │ Ruby/Java │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ With Node.js │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Browser Server │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ JavaScript │ │ JavaScript │ │
│ │ (Frontend) │ ──────────► │ (Node.js) │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Same language everywhere! 🎉 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘Why Learn Node.js?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| JavaScript Everywhere | Use the same language for frontend and backend |
| Non-blocking I/O | Handle thousands of concurrent connections efficiently |
| NPM Ecosystem | Access to millions of open-source packages |
| Fast Performance | Powered by V8 engine, same as Chrome |
| Large Community | Extensive resources, tutorials, and support |
| Industry Adoption | Used by Netflix, PayPal, LinkedIn, Walmart |
What You'll Learn
Beginner
- Getting Started - Install Node.js and write your first program
- Modules - CommonJS and ES Modules
- File System - Read, write, and manage files
Intermediate
- Async Programming - Callbacks, Promises, async/await
- Events - Event-driven architecture
- Streams - Handle large data efficiently
Advanced
- HTTP Module - Build web servers from scratch
- NPM & Packages - Package management
- Debugging - Debug like a pro
- Advanced Topics - Performance, security, clustering
Prerequisites
Before starting this tutorial, you should have:
- ✅ Basic understanding of JavaScript
- ✅ Familiarity with command line/terminal
- ✅ A code editor (VS Code recommended)
New to JavaScript?
Check out our JavaScript Tutorial first!
Quick Start
javascript
// hello.js - Your first Node.js program
console.log('Hello, Node.js!')
// Run it with: node hello.jsbash
# Check if Node.js is installed
node --version
# Run your first program
node hello.js
# Output: Hello, Node.js!Node.js vs Browser JavaScript
| Feature | Browser | Node.js |
|---|---|---|
| DOM Access | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
window object | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
document object | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| File System | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
process object | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
require/import | Limited | ✅ Full support |
| Network access | Limited | ✅ Full access |
Video Tutorials
Recommended Video Resources
Learn Node.js through these excellent video tutorials from the community.
Free Courses
| Course | Creator | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js Full Course | freeCodeCamp | 8-hour comprehensive course |
| Node.js Crash Course | Traversy Media | 1.5-hour beginner crash course |
| Node.js Tutorial for Beginners | Programming with Mosh | 1-hour beginner tutorial |
| Node.js in 100 Seconds | Fireship | Quick 100-second explanation |
Official Resources
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Node.js Learn | Official Node.js learning resources |
| Node.js Guides | Official guides and documentation |
Topic-Specific Videos
| Topic | Video | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Async Programming | Node.js Async | ~25 min |
| File System | Node.js File System | ~20 min |
| Streams | Node.js Streams | ~30 min |
| REST API | Build REST API | ~1 hour |
Let's Begin!
Ready to start? Head over to the Getting Started guide!