A Beginner’s guide to Node.js

Node.js is a cross-platform and open-source JavaScript run-time environment used by web developers to develop scalable applications and write codes dealing with several connections on one device. In server-side JavaScript, Node.js has become one of the greatest used tools. Various job postings aim to recruit Node.js developers due to their vast popularity. This Node.js complete guide will teach you all the essential Node.js aspects. Before proceeding with the fundamental concepts of Node.js, if you are confused about how to learn Node.js for beginners, you must know about its installation. So, let’s get started: Table of Contents

The Usefulness of Node.js

JavaScript could work only in the browser. This is because browsers include an engine that interprets JavaScript into code the machine can comprehend. But the backend lacks this engine, working as a translator for the language. This is where Node.js comes into the picture. It works as a JavaScript engine allowing your code to operate on a physical machine.

Installation of Node.js

The first step in the process of how to learn Node.js for beginners is to download its stable version from the official Node.js site. Based on your system configurations and operating system, you need to install Node.js. Subsequently, you can begin working on it instantly. Ascertain the minimum RAM capacity is 4 GB. To thoroughly learn Node.js, you should understand backend development and backend JavaScript.

Backend development

The easy way to consider backend development is to view it as the data access layer. To run any website, you have a database for storing all relevant data. The backend requests this data categorizes it and delivers it to the frontend to make sure it can be visible on screen. Moreover, the backend keeps your website running flawlessly.

Backend JavaScript

When JavaScript was initially developed, it was only able to run in the browser. It implied the backend was administered by languages like Ruby on Rails or Python. Using two different languages also led the company to find engineers proficient in both. It demanded more costs for the company and more employees. Hiring one employee for both the backend and frontend worked to be easier. Therefore, JavaScript possesses the capabilities to deal with backend duties and is regarded as a full-stack language.

Introduction to Node.js

The most important element of the Node.js beginner guide is the introduction to Node.js. You must know what Node.js is, where it’s used, why companies are implementing it, and its features. For the development of the server-side applications, it is vital to know why to select Node.js compared to other frameworks. In this part, you will learn how Node.js compiles the JavaScript code in the native machine code.

NPM (Node Package Manager)

The Node.js complete guide is incomplete without NPM. NPM is the core facet of Node.js. Once you are done with the installation, the next step is to learn NPM. NPM contains more than 800,000+ libraries used for various purposes. All these preexisting libraries have their unique code to develop various Node.js features. Hence, you need not build all things from scratch. You must install the requisite library through the NPM command and then use it in the application. Hence, these libraries assist in quickening the process of application development.

JSON file

While creating any Node.js project, developers first have to create the JSON file. Essentially, it is the manifest file in Node.js projects. You can easily find it through the name ‘package.json’ in whichever application you develop. Moreover, it comprises the project metadata. It also administers and stores the information of packages and dependencies besides the script implemented in the project. 

Node.js Fundamentals and File System

The most important part of the Node.js beginner guide is learning Node.js fundamentals. From this step onwards, you become familiar with scripting in Node.js. Its explanation begins with programming and printing “Hello World!” Subsequently, you will learn fundamental aspects like data types, variables, functions, operators, etc., in JavaScript. Before you build the application with Node.js, ascertain that you know all the concepts of JavaScript. After you learn the fundamentals, the next step is to learn how to read and write the data in a file rather than the console. Node.js uses the fs module to access the physical file system from any directory.

HTTP modules

They are the building blocks in the Node.js environment. They are extensively used for developing networking applications on the server-side. Using the HTTP module, you can easily build REST API in Node.js. Hence, you should learn HTTP modules.

Frameworks

Node.js presents plenty of frameworks that develop the application with enriched functionalities. Usually, it is a lengthy process to write code to build different features in an application. The use of the Node.js framework helps you quickly build any required feature.

List of some famous Node.js frameworks:

·         Express.js

·         Meteor.js

·         NestJs

·         AdonisJs

·         Sails

·         LoopbackJS

·         KoaJS

Databases

Along with knowing how to develop a Node.js application, it is essential to learn to store information. Based on your requirement or type of application, you can select any database and subsequently configure it using Node.js.

List of the certain databases for Node.js:

·         Relational

o   SQL Server

o   PostgreSQL

o   MariaDB

o   MySQL

·         Search Engines

o   ElasticSearch

o   Solr

o   Sphinx

·         Cloud Databases

o   CosmoDB

o   DynamoDB

·         NoSQL

o   MongoDB

o   Redis

o   Cassandra

o   CouchDB

Testing

No application should be released in the market before appropriate testing. When going through the Node.js guide, you must possess the knowledge of testing libraries or frameworks for the Node.js applications.

Here is the list of testing and libraries for the Node.js application:

·         Unit, Behavior, Integration Testing

o   Jest

o   Jasmine

o   Enzyme

o   Mocha

o   Chai

·         E2E Testing

o   Puppeteer

o   Selenium

When can you use Node.js?

·         Node.js is recommended for use in streaming applications or event-based real-time applications.

·         Streaming servers: Node.js offers tools for connecting to a service and then sending & receiving data.

·         Game servers: To develop quick and efficient servers that process tons of requests at once, the knowledge of Node.js is recommended.

·         Suitable for the collaborative environment: Multiple people can post their documents and log some activity in a document management environment. Node.js is suitable for a collaborative environment since the event loop can be activated whenever there are changes in documents.

·         Advertisement servers: Node.js is a suitable framework when receiving multiple handling requests to access advertisements from a central server.

·         Chat applications: Node.js is developed in Javascript. So, it is a highly suitable option for building client-side applications that use the identical Javascript framework.