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[WebDev][Node.js] What is Node.js? Understanding the Basics and Key Features

5hr1rnp 2025. 2. 11. 23:47
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1. What is Node.js?


Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment built on the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine. Traditionally, JavaScript was only executed in web browsers, but with Node.js, JavaScript can now run on servers as well.


2. Key Features of Node.js


2.1. Single-Threaded Event Loop

  • Node.js operates on a single-threaded model but uses an event loop and asynchronous I/O to handle multiple requests efficiently.
  • Instead of blocking operations, Node.js processes input/output in a non-blocking manner, allowing it to handle many concurrent connections.

2.2. Asynchronous I/O

  • Node.js supports asynchronous programming with callbacks, Promises, and async/await, ensuring high performance.
  • Its event-driven architecture maximizes server efficiency.

2.3. High Execution Speed

  • Powered by the V8 engine, Node.js executes JavaScript at high speeds.
  • JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation optimizes JavaScript into machine code, further improving execution performance.

2.4. Cross-Platform Support

  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Easily deployable in containerized environments like Docker.

2.5. Rich Module Ecosystem (NPM)

  • Comes with NPM (Node Package Manager), the world's largest package repository with over 2 million packages.
  • Developers can quickly add functionalities and build applications efficiently.

3. Common Use Cases of Node.js


3.1. Web and API Servers

  • Frameworks like Express.js enable developers to create lightweight and fast web servers.
  • Used for building RESTful APIs and GraphQL APIs.

3.2. Real-Time Applications

  • Supports WebSockets and Socket.io for building real-time chat applications, streaming services, and live data updates.

3.3. Microservices Architecture

  • Node.js is ideal for microservices-based applications due to its lightweight and scalable nature.

3.4. Serverless Applications

  • Works seamlessly in serverless environments such as:
    • AWS Lambda
    • Google Cloud Functions
    • Azure Functions

3.5. Web Scraping and Data Collection

  • Libraries like Puppeteer allow developers to automate web crawling and data extraction.

4. Conclusion


Node.js is a high-performance and asynchronous server environment, making it ideal for various use cases such as web servers, real-time applications, and web scraping.

With NPM's extensive ecosystem and rapid development capabilities, Node.js remains a powerful choice for modern web development.

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