JS Node.js Intro

Node.js

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment designed for building server-side and networking applications. It enables the development of server-side logic using JavaScript and can be executed within the Node.js runtime on OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.

Node.js comes equipped with a robust library comprising various JavaScript modules, significantly simplifying the development of web applications. In essence, Node.js can be seen as a combination of a runtime environment and a comprehensive JavaScript library.

Node.js Components:

– Runtime Environment: Executes JavaScript code on the server side.
– JavaScript Library: A collection of modules that aids in web application development.

What Can Node.js Do?

– Dynamic Page Content: Node.js is adept at generating dynamic page content, making it a powerful choice for server-side scripting.
– File Operations: It can perform file-related operations such as creating, opening, reading, writing, deleting, and closing files on the server.
– Form Data Handling: Node.js excels in collecting and processing form data submitted by users.
– Database Interaction: It is proficient in adding, deleting, and modifying data within databases.

Node.js File Characteristics

Tasks Execution: Node.js files contain tasks that are executed in response to specific events.
Initialization: These files must be initiated on the server before they have any impact.
File Extension: Node.js files have the “.js” extension, signifying that they contain JavaScript code.

Where to Use Node.js?

1. I/O Bound Applications: Well-suited for applications heavily reliant on I/O operations.
2. Data Streaming Applications: Ideal for applications involving the streaming of data.
3.
Data-Intensive Real-time Applications (DIRT): Suitable for real-time applications dealing with substantial data.
4. JSON APIs Based Applications: Frequently used for building JSON APIs to facilitate communication between clients and servers.
5. Single Page Applications: Commonly employed in the development of single-page applications requiring dynamic updates and real-time interactions.

Node.js Concepts

1. Modules: Encapsulate code for reusability.
2. Error Handling: Manage errors in sync and async code.
3. Console: Debugging with logging and error messages.
4. Cluster: Multi-process support for efficient load distribution.
5. Add-ons: Dynamically linked C/C++ modules for performance.
6. Buffer: Raw memory for efficient binary data handling.
7. Callbacks: Functions for asynchronous task completion.
8. Crypto: Provides cryptographic functions for data security.
9. Debugger: Built-in tool for code inspection and debugging.
10. Streaming: Efficient data processing in chunks for large datasets.
11. DNS: Domain Name System functionality for domain lookups.
12. Domain: Manages multiple I/O operations as a group for better error handling.
13. Global: Represents the global context, defining globally accessible variables.
14. Net: Creates TCP servers and clients for building networked applications.

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