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| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|edit|qualifier|P548=Q2804309|reference|P348}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|edit|qualifier|P548=Q2804309|reference|P348}}
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|mdy|P548=Q2804309|P348|P577}}}}
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|mdy|P548=Q2804309|P348|P577}}}}
| programming language = [[JavaScript]], [[C++]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]]
| programming language = [[JavaScript]], [[C++]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[C (programming language)|C]]
| operating system = [[z/OS]], [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[SmartOS]], [[FreeBSD]], [[OpenBSD]], [[IBM AIX]]<ref name="supportedOS">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/master/BUILDING.md|title=nodejs/node|website=GitHub|date=13 April 2022}}</ref>
| operating system = [[z/OS]], [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[SmartOS]], [[FreeBSD]], [[OpenBSD]], [[IBM AIX]]<ref name="supportedOS">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/master/BUILDING.md|title=nodejs/node|website=GitHub|date=13 April 2022}}</ref>
| genre = [[Runtime system|Runtime environment]]
| genre = [[Runtime system|Runtime environment]]
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}}
}}


'''Node.js''' is a [[cross-platform]], [[Open-source software|open-source]] server environment that can run on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[Unix]], [[macOS]], and more. Node.js is a [[Frontend and Backend|back-end]] [[JavaScript]] [[Runtime system|runtime environment]], runs on the [[V8 (JavaScript engine)|V8]] [[JavaScript engine]], and executes JavaScript code outside a [[web browser]].
'''Node.js''' is a [[cross-platform]], [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[JavaScript]] [[Runtime environment|runtime environment]] that can run on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[Unix]], [[macOS]], and more. Node.js runs on the [[V8 (JavaScript engine)|V8]] [[JavaScript engine]], and executes JavaScript code outside a [[web browser]].


Node.js lets developers use JavaScript to write command line tools and for [[server-side scripting]]. The ability to run JavaScript code on the server is often used to generate [[dynamic web page]] content before the page is sent to the user's web browser. Consequently, Node.js represents a "JavaScript everywhere" paradigm,<ref>{{cite web |last=gcuomo |date=24 October 2013 |title=JavaScript Everywhere and the Three Amigos (Into the wild BLUE yonder!) |url=https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/gcuomo/entry/javascript_everywhere_and_the_three_amigos?lang=en |access-date=2013-10-24 |website=www.ibm.com}}</ref> unifying [[web application|web-application]] development around a single programming language, as opposed to using different languages for the server- versus client-side programming.
Node.js lets developers use JavaScript to write command line tools and for [[server-side scripting]]. The ability to run JavaScript code on the server is often used to generate [[dynamic web page]] content before the page is sent to the user's web browser. Consequently, Node.js represents a "JavaScript everywhere" paradigm,<ref>{{cite web |last=gcuomo |date=24 October 2013 |title=JavaScript Everywhere and the Three Amigos (Into the wild BLUE yonder!) |url=https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/gcuomo/entry/javascript_everywhere_and_the_three_amigos?lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114212619/https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/gcuomo/entry/javascript_everywhere_and_the_three_amigos?lang=en |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-24 |website=www.ibm.com}}</ref> unifying [[web application|web-application]] development around a single [[programming language]], as opposed to using different languages for the server- versus client-side programming.


Node.js has an [[event-driven architecture]] capable of [[asynchronous I/O]]. These design choices aim to optimize [[throughput]] and [[scalability]] in web applications with many input/output operations, as well as for [[real-time Web]] applications (e.g., [[real-time communication]] programs and [[browser game]]s).<ref name="readwrite">{{cite web |author=Laurent Orsini |date=2013-11-07 |title=What You Need To Know About Node.js |url=http://readwrite.com/2013/11/07/what-you-need-to-know-about-nodejs |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=readwrite.com}}</ref>
Node.js has an [[event-driven architecture]] capable of [[asynchronous I/O]]. These design choices aim to optimize [[throughput]] and [[scalability]] in web applications with many input/output operations, as well as for [[real-time Web]] applications (e.g., [[real-time communication]] programs and [[browser game]]s).<ref name="readwrite">{{cite web |author=Laurent Orsini |date=2013-11-07 |title=What You Need To Know About Node.js |url=http://readwrite.com/2013/11/07/what-you-need-to-know-about-nodejs |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=readwrite.com}}</ref>
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== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Ryan Dahl.jpg|thumb|Ryan Dahl, creator of Node.js, in 2010|alt=]]
[[File:Ryan Dahl.jpg|thumb|Ryan Dahl, creator of Node.js, in 2010|alt=]]
[[File:Node.JS Mascot.svg|thumb|Rocket Turtle, the official mascot of Node.js since February 2024|upright=0.7]]
Node.js was written initially by [[Ryan Dahl]] in 2009,<ref name="training.com">{{cite web |date=2016-09-11 |title=About Node.js, and why you should add Node.js to your skill set? |url=http://blog.training.com/2016/09/about-nodejs-and-why-you-should-add.html |access-date=23 October 2016 |website=Training.com |ref=training.com}}</ref> about thirteen years after the introduction of the first server-side JavaScript environment, [[Netscape|Netscape's]] LiveWire Pro Web.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=CNET News |date=1996-10-15 |title=Netscape opens intranet attack |language=en |work=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/netscape-opens-intranet-attack/ |access-date=2017-04-20}}</ref> The initial release supported only Linux and Mac OS X. Its development and maintenance was led by Dahl and later sponsored by [[Joyent]].<ref name="Google Groups post by Ryan Dahl about Joyent">{{cite web |url= https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nodejs/lWo0MbHZ6Tc|title= Joyent and Node|author= Ryan Dahl|publisher= Google Groups|date= 2010-11-09|access-date = 2015-02-05}}</ref>
Node.js was initially written by [[Ryan Dahl]] in 2009,<ref name="training.com">{{cite web |date=2016-09-11 |title=About Node.js, and why you should add Node.js to your skill set? |url=http://blog.training.com/2016/09/about-nodejs-and-why-you-should-add.html |access-date=23 October 2016 |website=Training.com |ref=training.com |archive-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061100/http://blog.training.com/2016/09/about-nodejs-and-why-you-should-add.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> about 13 years after the introduction of the first server-side JavaScript environment, [[Netscape|Netscape's]] LiveWire Pro Web.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=CNET News |date=1996-10-15 |title=Netscape opens intranet attack |language=en |work=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/netscape-opens-intranet-attack/ |access-date=2017-04-20}}</ref> The initial release supported only Linux and Mac OS X. Its development and maintenance was led by Dahl and later sponsored by [[Joyent]].<ref name="Google Groups post by Ryan Dahl about Joyent">{{cite web |url= https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nodejs/lWo0MbHZ6Tc|title= Joyent and Node|author= Ryan Dahl|publisher= Google Groups|date= 2010-11-09|access-date = 2015-02-05}}</ref>


Dahl criticized the limited possibilities of the most popular web server in 2009, [[Apache HTTP Server]], to handle a lot of concurrent connections (up to 10,000 and more) and the most common way of creating code (sequential programming), when code either blocked the entire process or implied multiple execution stacks in the case of simultaneous connections.<ref>{{cite web |last=Garbar |first=Dzmitry |title=PHP 7 vs Node.js? They Can Be Partners, Not Competitors For a Developer! |url=https://belitsoft.com/php-development-services/php7-vs-nodejs |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=belitsoft.com}}</ref>
Dahl criticized the limited capability of [[Apache HTTP Server]] to handle many (10,000+) concurrent connections, as well as the dominant programming paradigm of sequential programming, in which applications could block entire processes or cause the creation of multiple execution stacks for simultaneous connections.<ref>{{cite web |last=Garbar |first=Dzmitry |title=PHP 7 vs Node.js? They Can Be Partners, Not Competitors For a Developer! |url=https://belitsoft.com/php-development-services/php7-vs-nodejs |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=belitsoft.com}}</ref>


Dahl demonstrated the project at the inaugural European JSConf on November 8, 2009.<ref name="b3">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KGt-FxUEj48C&dq=nodejs&pg=PT24 Sams Teach Yourself Node.js in 24 Hours], Sams Publishing, 05-Sep-2012</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ubl |first=Malte |date=2009-09-09 |title=JSConf.eu 2009, Berlin, Germany |url=https://www.jsconf.eu/2009/speaker/speakers_selected.html |access-date=2009-09-09 |website=www.jsconf.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztspvPYybIY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/ztspvPYybIY |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Ryan Dahl: Original Node.js presentation|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Node.js combined [[Google]]'s [[Chrome V8|V8]] JavaScript engine, an [[event loop]], and a low-level [[Input/output|I/O]] [[Application programming interface|API]].<ref name="b1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZH6bpbcrlvYC&q=nodejs Professional Node.js: Building JavaScript Based Scalable Software], John Wiley & Sons, 01-Oct-2012</ref>
Dahl demonstrated the project at the inaugural European JSConf on November 8, 2009.<ref name="b3">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KGt-FxUEj48C&dq=nodejs&pg=PT24 Sams Teach Yourself Node.js in 24 Hours], Sams Publishing, 05-Sep-2012</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ubl |first=Malte |date=2009-09-09 |title=JSConf.eu 2009, Berlin, Germany |url=https://www.jsconf.eu/2009/speaker/speakers_selected.html |access-date=2009-09-09 |website=www.jsconf.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztspvPYybIY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/ztspvPYybIY |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Ryan Dahl: Original Node.js presentation|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Node.js combined [[Google]]'s [[Chrome V8|V8]] JavaScript engine, an [[event loop]], and a low-level [[Input/output|I/O]] [[Application programming interface|API]].<ref name="b1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZH6bpbcrlvYC&q=nodejs Professional Node.js: Building JavaScript Based Scalable Software], John Wiley & Sons, 01-Oct-2012</ref>


In January 2010, a [[package manager]] was introduced for the Node.js environment called [[Npm (software)|''npm'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/npm/npm/releases?after=v0.1.1 |title=Earliest releases of npm |website=GitHub |access-date = 27 July 2016}}</ref> The package manager makes it easier for programmers to publish and share source code of Node.js packages and is designed to simplify installation, updating, and uninstallation of packages.<ref name="b1"/>
In January 2010, a [[package manager]] was introduced for the Node.js environment called [[Npm (software)|npm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/npm/npm/releases?after=v0.1.1 |title=Earliest releases of npm |website=GitHub |access-date = 27 July 2016}}</ref> The package manager allows programmers to publish and share Node.js packages, along with the accompanying source code, and is designed to simplify the installation, update and uninstallation of packages.<ref name="b1"/>


In June 2011, Microsoft and Joyent implemented a native [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] version of Node.js.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryandahl |date=2011-06-23 |title=Porting Node to Windows With Microsoft's Help |url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/uncategorized/porting-node-to-windows-with-microsofts-help/ |access-date=17 April 2016 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref> The first Node.js build supporting Windows was released in July 2011.
In June 2011, Microsoft and Joyent implemented a native [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] version of Node.js.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryandahl |date=2011-06-23 |title=Porting Node to Windows With Microsoft's Help |url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/uncategorized/porting-node-to-windows-with-microsofts-help/ |access-date=17 April 2016 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref> The first Node.js build supporting Windows was released in July 2011.


In January 2012, Dahl stepped aside, promoting coworker and ''[[Npm (software)|npm]]'' creator Isaac Schlueter to manage the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=//groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nodejs/hfajgpvGTLY|title=New gatekeeper|last=Dahl|first=Ryan|access-date = 26 October 2013}}</ref> In January 2014, Schlueter announced that Timothy J. Fontaine would lead the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/uncategorized/tj-fontaine-new-node-lead/|title=The Next Phase of Node.js|last=Schlueter|first= Isaac|date=15 January 2014|access-date = 21 January 2014}}</ref>
In January 2012, Dahl yielded management of the project to npm creator Isaac Schlueter.<ref>{{cite web|url=//groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nodejs/hfajgpvGTLY|title=New gatekeeper|last=Dahl|first=Ryan|access-date = 26 October 2013}}</ref> In January 2014, Schlueter announced that Timothy J. Fontaine would lead the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/uncategorized/tj-fontaine-new-node-lead/|title=The Next Phase of Node.js|last=Schlueter|first= Isaac|date=15 January 2014|access-date = 21 January 2014}}</ref>


In December 2014, Fedor Indutny started io.js, a [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of Node.js. Due to the internal conflict over Joyent's governance, io.js was created as an [[open governance]] alternative with a separate technical committee.<ref name="Krill, Paul">{{cite web | url=http://www.javaworld.com/article/2855639/open-source-tools/qanda-why-io-js-decided-to-fork-node-js.html | title=Why io.js Decided to Fork Node.js | publisher=JavaWorld | date=4 December 2014 | access-date = Dec 15, 2014 | author=Krill, Paul}}</ref><ref name="iwtw">[http://www.infoworld.com/article/2855057/application-development/why-iojs-decided-to-fork-nodejs.html Q&A: Why io.js decided to fork Node.js], [[InfoWorld]] Tech Watch</ref> Unlike Node.js,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://code.google.com/p/v8/issues/detail?id=3692#c3 | title=Issue 3692: function suddenly becomes undefined | publisher=V8 JavaScript Engine Issues | author=Ben Noordhuis | date=12 November 2014 | access-date = 2 February 2015}}</ref> the authors planned to keep io.js up-to-date with the latest releases of the Google V8 JavaScript engine.<ref name="Mikeal, Rogers">{{cite web | url=https://medium.com/node-js-javascript/state-of-io-js-2b3094e6f923 | title=State of io.js | date=28 January 2015 | access-date = 2 February 2015 | author=Mikeal, Rogers}}</ref>
{{anchor|Io.js}}In December 2014, Fedor Indutny created io.js, a [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of Node.js created because of dissatisfaction with Joyent's governance as an [[open governance|open-governance]] alternative with a separate technical committee. The goal was to enable a structure that would be more receptive to community input, including the updating of io.js with the latest Google V8 JavaScript engine releases, diverging from Node.js's approach at that time.<ref name="iwtw">[http://www.infoworld.com/article/2855057/application-development/why-iojs-decided-to-fork-nodejs.html Q&A: Why io.js decided to fork Node.js], [[InfoWorld]] Tech Watch</ref>


In February 2015, the intent to form a neutral Node.js Foundation was announced. By June 2015, the Node.js and io.js communities voted to work together under the Node.js Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/announcements/2015/06/nodejs-foundation-advances-community-collaboration-announces-new|title=Node.js Foundation Advances Community Collaboration, Announces New Members and Ratified Technical Governance|access-date = 4 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624075643/http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/announcements/2015/06/nodejs-foundation-advances-community-collaboration-announces-new|archive-date=24 June 2015}}</ref>
The Node.js Foundation, formed to reconcile Node.js and io.js under a unified banner, was announced in February 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/announcements/2015/06/nodejs-foundation-advances-community-collaboration-announces-new|title=Node.js Foundation Advances Community Collaboration, Announces New Members and Ratified Technical Governance|access-date = 4 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624075643/http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/announcements/2015/06/nodejs-foundation-advances-community-collaboration-announces-new|archive-date=24 June 2015}}</ref> The merger was realized in September 2015 with Node.js v0.12 and io.js v3.3 combining into Node v4.0.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015-09-14 |title=Node.js Foundation Combines Node.js and io.js Into Single Codebase in New Release |url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/announcements/foundation-v4-announce/ |access-date=28 January 2016 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref> This merge brought V8 [[ECMAScript#ES2015|ES6]] features into Node.js and started a long-term support release cycle.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=io.js and Node.js merge |url=https://medium.com/node-js-javascript/io-js-week-of-may-15th-9ada45bd8a28 |access-date=27 June 2015 |website=medium.com}}</ref> By 2016, the io.js website recommended returning to Node.js and announced no further io.js releases, effectively ending the fork and solidifying the merger's success.<ref>[https://iojs.org/en/ Io.js, JavaScript I/O], ''"io.js has merged with the Node.js project again. There won't be any further io.js releases. All of the features in io.js are available in Node.js v4 and above."''</ref>

In September 2015, Node.js v0.12 and io.js v3.3 were merged back together into Node v4.0.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015-09-14 |title=Node.js Foundation Combines Node.js and io.js Into Single Codebase in New Release |url=https://nodejs.org/en/blog/announcements/foundation-v4-announce/ |access-date=28 January 2016 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref> This merge brought V8 [[ECMAScript#ES2015|ES6]] features into Node.js and a long-term support release cycle.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=io.js and Node.js merge |url=https://medium.com/node-js-javascript/io-js-week-of-may-15th-9ada45bd8a28 |access-date=27 June 2015 |website=medium.com}}</ref> As of 2016, the io.js website recommends that developers switch back to Node.js and that no further releases of io.js are planned due to the merge.<ref>[https://iojs.org/en/ Io.js, JavaScript I/O], ''"io.js has merged with the Node.js project again. There won't be any further io.js releases. All of the features in io.js are available in Node.js v4 and above."''</ref>


In 2019, the JS Foundation and Node.js Foundation merged to form the [[OpenJS Foundation]].
In 2019, the JS Foundation and Node.js Foundation merged to form the [[OpenJS Foundation]].


On September 6, 2023, Node.js 20.6.0 was released. This update brings notable changes include the addition of built-in support for .env files, the unflagging of import.meta.resolve, and the introduction of a new node:module API register for module customization hooks along with a new initialize hook. Additionally, the module customization load hook now also supports CommonJS, and Node.js C++ addons have gained experimental support for cppgc (Oilpan), which is a C++ garbage collection library in V8.<ref name="Previous Releases"/>
On September 6, 2023, Node.js 20.6.0 was released. The update brought the addition of built-in support for <code>.env</code> files, the unflagging of <code>import.meta.resolve</code>, the introduction of a new <code>node:<var>module</var></code> API register for module customization hooks and a new initialize hook. Additionally, the module customization load hook now supports CommonJS, and Node.js C++ add-ons have gained experimental support for cppgc (Oilpan), which is a C++ garbage collection library for V8.<ref name="Previous Releases">{{Cite web |title=Previous Releases |url=https://nodejs.org/en/download/releases/ |website=Node.js}}</ref>

===Branding===
The Node.js logo features a green hexagon with overlapping bands to represent the cross-platform nature of the runtime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brand Guide |url=https://nodejs.org/static/documents/foundation-visual-guidelines.pdf |website=Node.js |publisher=OpenJS Foundation |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> The Rocket Turtle was chosen as the official Node.js mascot in February 2024 following a design contest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Node.JS on X: "Meet Rocket Turtle there are many ways 👋" |url=https://twitter.com/nodejs/status/1759953849849167878 |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
Node.js allows the creation of [[Web server]]s and networking tools using [[JavaScript]] and a collection of "modules" that handle various core functionalities.<ref name="b3"/><ref name="b1"/><ref name="b2"/><ref name="b4"/><ref name="b5">[https://books.google.com/books?id=G1y_5kpmatUC&q=nodejs Smashing Node.js: JavaScript Everywhere], John Wiley & Sons, 14-Aug-2012</ref> Modules are provided for [[file system]] I/O, networking ([[Domain Name System|DNS]], [[HTTP]], [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]], [[Transport Layer Security|TLS/SSL]], or [[User Datagram Protocol|UDP]]), [[Binary file|binary]] data (buffers), [[cryptography]] functions, [[Stream (computing)|data streams]], and other core functions.<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b4"/><ref>[https://nodejs.org/api/ Modules], Nodejs Website</ref> Node.js's modules use an API designed to reduce the complexity of writing server applications.<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b4">[https://books.google.com/books?id=dPaoCwAAQBAJ&q=nodejs Node.js Essentials], Packt Publishing, 10-Nov-2015</ref>
Node.js allows the creation of [[web server]]s and networking tools using [[JavaScript]] and a collection of "modules" that handle various core functionalities.<ref name="b3"/><ref name="b1"/><ref name="b2"/><ref name="b4"/><ref name="b5">[https://books.google.com/books?id=G1y_5kpmatUC&q=nodejs Smashing Node.js: JavaScript Everywhere], John Wiley & Sons, 14-Aug-2012</ref> Modules are provided for [[file system]] I/O, networking ([[Domain Name System|DNS]], [[HTTP]], [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]], [[Transport Layer Security|TLS/SSL]] or [[User Datagram Protocol|UDP]]), [[Binary file|binary]] data (buffers), [[cryptography]] functions, [[Stream (computing)|data streams]] and other core functions.<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b4"/><ref>[https://nodejs.org/api/ Modules], Nodejs Website</ref> Node.js's modules use an API designed to reduce the complexity of writing server applications.<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b4">[https://books.google.com/books?id=dPaoCwAAQBAJ&q=nodejs Node.js Essentials], Packt Publishing, 10-Nov-2015</ref>


JavaScript is the only language that Node.js supports natively, but many [[Source-to-source compiler|compile-to-JS]] languages are available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/jashkenas/coffeescript/wiki/list-of-languages-that-compile-to-js|title=List of languages that compile to JS|website=Github}}</ref> As a result, Node.js applications can be written in [[CoffeeScript]],<ref name="b6">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oda-MgEACAAJ&q=nodejs |title=CoffeeScript on Node.js |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc. |date=15 April 2013 |access-date = 17 May 2015|isbn=9781449316846 }}</ref> [[Dart (programming language)|Dart]], [[TypeScript]], [[ClojureScript]] and others.
JavaScript is the only language that Node.js supports natively, but many [[Source-to-source compiler|compile-to-JS]] languages are available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/jashkenas/coffeescript/wiki/list-of-languages-that-compile-to-js|title=List of languages that compile to JS|website=Github}}</ref> As a result, Node.js applications can be written in [[CoffeeScript]],<ref name="b6">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oda-MgEACAAJ&q=nodejs |title=CoffeeScript on Node.js |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc. |date=15 April 2013 |access-date = 17 May 2015|isbn=9781449316846 }}</ref> [[Dart (programming language)|Dart]], [[TypeScript]], [[ClojureScript]] and others.


Node.js is primarily used to build network programs such as Web servers.<ref name="b2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KZQQAlhTOBgC&q=nodejs Node.js for PHP Developers], O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2013</ref> The most significant difference between Node.js and [[PHP]] is that most functions in PHP [[Asynchronous I/O|block]] until completion (commands execute only after previous commands finish), while Node.js functions are [[Asynchronous I/O|non-blocking]] (commands execute [[Concurrent computing|concurrently]] or even in [[Parallel computing|parallel]],<ref name="node_cluster_module_doc">{{cite web |title=Node.js's cluster module |url=https://nodejs.org/api/cluster.html |access-date=19 October 2017 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Node.js's child_process module |url=https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html |access-date=19 October 2017 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref>{{Synthesis inline|date=November 2023|reason=This is a terrible and misleading way to explain the difference based on re-interpretation of primary sources not supported by the statement directly.}} and use [[Callback (computer programming)|callbacks]] to signal completion or failure).<ref name="b2"/>
Node.js is primarily used to build network programs such as web servers.<ref name="b2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=KZQQAlhTOBgC&q=nodejs Node.js for PHP Developers], O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2013</ref> The most significant difference between Node.js and [[PHP]] is that most functions in PHP [[Asynchronous I/O|block]] until completion (commands execute only after previous commands finish), while Node.js functions are [[Asynchronous I/O|non-blocking]] (commands execute [[Concurrent computing|concurrently]] or even in [[Parallel computing|parallel]],<ref name="node_cluster_module_doc">{{cite web |title=Node.js's cluster module |url=https://nodejs.org/api/cluster.html |access-date=19 October 2017 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Node.js's child_process module |url=https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html |access-date=19 October 2017 |website=nodejs.org}}</ref>{{Synthesis inline|date=November 2023|reason=This is a terrible and misleading way to explain the difference based on re-interpretation of primary sources not supported by the statement directly.}} and use [[Callback (computer programming)|callbacks]] to signal completion or failure).<ref name="b2"/>


Node.js is officially supported on [[Linux]], {{nowrap|[[macOS]]}} and [[Microsoft Windows]] 8.1 and Server 2012 (and later),<ref name="supportedOS" /> with tier 2 support for [[SmartOS]] and [[IBM AIX]] and experimental support for [[FreeBSD]]. [[OpenBSD]] also works, and LTS versions available for [[IBM i]] (AS/400).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Node js |title=Installing Node.js via package manager |url=https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/ |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Node.js |language=en}}</ref> The provided source code may also be built on similar operating systems to those officially supported or be modified by third parties to support others such as [[NonStop OS]]<ref name="bomBora - Node.js for NonStop">{{cite web |title=bomBora - Node.js for NonStop |url=http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=infrasoft.com.au |publisher=Infrasoft |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311040354/http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Unix]] servers.
Node.js is officially supported by [[Linux]], {{nowrap|[[macOS]]}} and [[Microsoft Windows]] 8.1 and Server 2012 (and later),<ref name="supportedOS" /> with Tier 2 support for [[SmartOS]] and [[IBM AIX]] and experimental support for [[FreeBSD]]. [[OpenBSD]] also works, and LTS versions are available for [[IBM i]] (AS/400).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Node js |title=Installing Node.js via package manager |url=https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/ |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Node.js |language=en}}</ref> The source code may also be built on similar operating systems that are not officially supported, such as [[NonStop OS]]<ref name="bomBora - Node.js for NonStop">{{cite web |title=bomBora - Node.js for NonStop |url=http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=infrasoft.com.au |publisher=Infrasoft |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311040354/http://infrasoft.com.au/bomBora.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Unix]] servers.


=== Platform architecture ===
=== Platform architecture ===
Node.js enables development of fast web servers in JavaScript using [[event-driven programming]].<ref name="b1"/> Developers can create scalable servers without using [[Thread (computing)|threading]], by using a simplified model of [[event-driven programming]] that uses callbacks to signal the completion of a task.<ref name="b1"/>{{Page needed|date=November 2023|reason=Event-driven programming generally doesn't rely on threads and is often more complex; unclear what was meant in the source.}} Node.js connects the ease of a scripting language (JavaScript) with the power of Unix network programming.<ref name="b1"/>
Node.js enables development of fast web servers in JavaScript using [[event-driven programming]].<ref name="b1"/> Developers can create scalable servers without using [[Thread (computing)|threading]] by using a simplified model that uses [[Callback (computer programming)|callbacks]] to signal the completion of a task.<ref name="b1"/>{{Page needed|date=November 2023|reason=Event-driven programming generally doesn't rely on threads and is often more complex; unclear what was meant in the source.}} Node.js connects the ease of a scripting language (JavaScript) with the power of Unix network programming.<ref name="b1"/>


Node.js was built on top of [[Google]]'s [[V8 JavaScript engine]] since it was open-sourced under the [[BSD license]]. It is proficient with internet fundamentals such as [[HTTP]], [[DNS]], and [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]].<ref name="b3"/> [[JavaScript]] was also a well-known language, making Node.js accessible to the [[web developer|web development community]].<ref name="b3"/>
Node.js was built on top of Google's V8 JavaScript engine since it was open-sourced under the [[BSD license]], and it contains comprehensive support for fundamental protocols such as [[HTTP]], [[DNS]] and [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]].<ref name="b3"/> JavaScript's existing popularity made Node.js accessible to the [[web developer|web-development community]].<ref name="b3"/>


=== Industry support ===
=== Industry support ===
There are thousands of open-source libraries for Node.js, most of them hosted on the [[Npm (software)|npm]] website. There are multiple developer conferences and events that support the Node.js community, including NodeConf, Node Interactive, and Node Summit as well as a number of regional events.
There are thousands of open-source libraries for Node.js, most of which are hosted on the npm website. Multiple developer conferences and events are held that support the Node.js community, including NodeConf, Node Interactive and Node Summit, as well as a number of regional events.


The open-source community has developed [[web framework]]s to accelerate the development of applications. Such frameworks include Connect, [[Express.js]], [[Socket.IO]], Feathers.js, Koa.js, Hapi.js, [[Sails.js]], [[Meteor (web framework)|Meteor]], Derby, and many others.<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b7">[https://books.google.com/books?id=5eGRAwAAQBAJ&q=nodejs Express.js Guide: The Comprehensive Book on Express.js], Azat Mardan, 28-May-2014</ref> Various packages have also been created for interfacing with other languages or runtime environments such as [[Microsoft .NET]].<ref>[http://www.techrepublic.com/article/edge-js-bridges-the-gap-between-node-js-and-net/ Edge.js bridges the gap between Node.js and .NET], TechRepublic, Tony Patton, 1 July 2014</ref>
The open-source community has developed [[web framework]]s to accelerate the development of applications. Such frameworks include [[Express.js]], [[Socket.IO]], [[Sails.js]], [[Next.js]] and [[Meteor (web framework)|Meteor]].<ref name="b1"/><ref name="b7">[https://books.google.com/books?id=5eGRAwAAQBAJ&q=nodejs Express.js Guide: The Comprehensive Book on Express.js], Azat Mardan, 28-May-2014</ref> Various packages have also been created for interfacing with other languages or runtime environments such as [[Microsoft .NET]].<ref>[http://www.techrepublic.com/article/edge-js-bridges-the-gap-between-node-js-and-net/ Edge.js bridges the gap between Node.js and .NET], TechRepublic, Tony Patton, 1 July 2014</ref>


Modern desktop [[integrated development environment|IDEs]] provide editing and debugging features specifically for Node.js applications. Such IDEs include [[Atom (text editor)|Atom]], [[Brackets (text editor)|Brackets]], [[JetBrains MPS|JetBrains]] [[WebStorm]],<ref>[https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/help/node-js.html Node.js], WebStorm supports integration with the Node.js runtime environment, WebStorm Help</ref><ref>[https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/help/running-and-debugging-node-js.html Running and Debugging Node.js], WebStorm Help</ref> [[Microsoft Visual Studio]] (with Node.js Tools for Visual Studio,<ref>{{cite web |title=Node.js Tools for Visual Studio |url=https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/features/node-js-vs.aspx |access-date=1 Feb 2016 |website=microsoft.com}}</ref> or [[TypeScript]] with Node definitions,<ref>[https://github.com/soywiz/typescript-node-definitions soywiz/typescript-node-definitions TypeScript's typings for some popular node.js modules], GitHub</ref><ref>[https://github.com/DefinitelyTyped/DefinitelyTyped DefinitelyTyped], GitHub</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://definitelytyped.org/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203083254/http://definitelytyped.org/|url-status=dead|title=The repository for high quality TypeScript type definitions|archivedate=3 February 2016|website=definitelytyped.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.typescriptlang.org/Samples#ImageBoard ImageBoard, A Node.js + Express + MongoDB application built using TypeScript on the server], TypeScript Samples</ref>) [[NetBeans]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |date=2015-11-10 |title=Node.js takes center stage in NetBeans 8.1 |url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/3003414/java/nodejs-takes-center-stage-in-netbeans-81.html |access-date=2015-11-10 |website=infoworld.com |publisher=[[InfoWorld]]}}</ref> [[Nodeclipse]] Enide Studio<ref>[http://www.nodeclipse.org/ Nodeclipse, Enide -- Node.JS development in Eclipse], Nodeclipse Website</ref> ([[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]]-based), and [[Visual Studio Code]].<ref>[https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/cloud-with-a-silver-lining/hello-visual-studio-code-nodejs Hello Visual Studio Code (with NodeJS)], Channel 9, Microsoft
Modern desktop [[integrated development environment|IDEs]] provide editing and debugging features specifically for Node.js applications. Such IDEs include [[Atom (text editor)|Atom]], [[Brackets (text editor)|Brackets]], [[JetBrains MPS|JetBrains]] [[WebStorm]],<ref>[https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/help/node-js.html Node.js], WebStorm supports integration with the Node.js runtime environment, WebStorm Help</ref><ref>[https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/help/running-and-debugging-node-js.html Running and Debugging Node.js], WebStorm Help</ref> [[Microsoft Visual Studio]] (with Node.js Tools for Visual Studio,<ref>{{cite web |title=Node.js Tools for Visual Studio |url=https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/features/node-js-vs.aspx |access-date=1 Feb 2016 |website=microsoft.com}}</ref> or [[TypeScript]] with Node definitions<ref>[https://github.com/soywiz/typescript-node-definitions soywiz/typescript-node-definitions TypeScript's typings for some popular node.js modules], GitHub</ref><ref>[https://github.com/DefinitelyTyped/DefinitelyTyped DefinitelyTyped], GitHub</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://definitelytyped.org/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203083254/http://definitelytyped.org/|url-status=dead|title=The repository for high quality TypeScript type definitions|archivedate=3 February 2016|website=definitelytyped.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.typescriptlang.org/Samples#ImageBoard ImageBoard, A Node.js + Express + MongoDB application built using TypeScript on the server] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518111659/http://www.typescriptlang.org/samples/#ImageBoard |date=18 May 2019 }}, TypeScript Samples</ref>), [[NetBeans]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |date=2015-11-10 |title=Node.js takes center stage in NetBeans 8.1 |url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/3003414/java/nodejs-takes-center-stage-in-netbeans-81.html |access-date=2015-11-10 |website=infoworld.com |publisher=[[InfoWorld]]}}</ref> Nodeclipse Enide Studio<ref>[http://www.nodeclipse.org/ Nodeclipse, Enide -- Node.JS development in Eclipse], Nodeclipse Website</ref> ([[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]]-based) and [[Visual Studio Code]].<ref>[https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/cloud-with-a-silver-lining/hello-visual-studio-code-nodejs Hello Visual Studio Code (with NodeJS)], Channel 9, Microsoft
</ref><ref>
</ref><ref>
[https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/runtimes/nodejs Node.js Applications with VS Code], Visual Studio Code
[https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/runtimes/nodejs Node.js Applications with VS Code], Visual Studio Code
⚫
</ref> Some [[Online integrated development environment|online IDEs]] also support Node.js, such as [[Codeanywhere]], [[Eclipse Che]], [[Cloud9 IDE]] and the visual flow editor in [[Node-RED]].
</ref>
⚫
Certain online web-based IDEs also support Node.js, such as [[Codeanywhere]], [[Codenvy]], [[Cloud9 IDE]], Koding, and the visual flow editor in [[Node-RED]].


Node.js is supported across a number of cloud-hosting platforms like [[Jelastic]], [[Google Cloud Platform]], [[AWS Elastic Beanstalk]], [[Joyent]] and others.
Node.js is supported across a number of cloud-hosting platforms such as [[Jelastic]], [[Google Cloud Platform]], [[AWS Elastic Beanstalk]], [[Azure Web Apps]] and [[Joyent]].


== Releases ==
== Releases ==
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| 2026-04-30
| 2026-04-30
|-
|-
| {{Version|c|21.x}}
| {{Version|co|21.x}}
| {{Version|c|Current}}
| {{Version|co|Maintenance}}
| <ref name="Release" />
| <ref name="Release" />
| 2023-10-17
| 2023-10-17
| 2024-05-30
| 2024-06-01
|-
|-
|-
|-
| {{Version|p|22.x}}
| {{Version|c|22.x}}
| {{Version|p|Planned}}
| {{Version|c|Current}}
| Jod <ref name="Codenames" /><ref name="Release" />
| Jod <ref name="Codenames" /><ref name="Release" />
| 2024-04-15
| 2024-04-24
| 2027-04-28
| 2027-04-30
|-
|-
|-
|-
Line 214: Line 215:
| <ref name="Release" />
| <ref name="Release" />
| 2024-10-14
| 2024-10-14
| 2025-05-27
| 2025-06-01
|-
|-
| {{Version|p|24.x}}
| {{Version|p|Planned}}
| Krypton <ref name="Codenames" />
| 2025-04-22
| 2028-04-30
|-
|-
| colspan="5" | <small>{{Version |l |show=111101}}</small>
| colspan="5" | <small>{{Version |l |show=111101}}</small>
Line 225: Line 233:


=== Internals ===
=== Internals ===
Node.js uses [[libuv]] under the hood to handle asynchronous events. Libuv is an abstraction layer for network and file system functionality on both Windows and [[POSIX]]-based systems such as Linux, [[macOS]], OSS on [[NonStop (server computers)|NonStop]], and Unix. Node.js relies on [https://www.nghttp2.org nghttp2] for HTTP support. As of version 20, Node.js uses the [https://github.com/ada-url/ada ada library] which provides up-to-date [[WHATWG]] [[URL]] compliance. [https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v19.5.0 As of version 19.5], Node.js uses the [https://github.com/simdutf/simdutf simdutf library] for fast Unicode validation and transcoding.
Node.js uses [[libuv]] under the hood to handle asynchronous events. Libuv is an abstraction layer for network and file system functionality on both Windows and [[POSIX]]-based systems such as Linux, [[macOS]], OSS on [[NonStop (server computers)|NonStop]], and Unix. Node.js relies on [https://www.nghttp2.org nghttp2] for HTTP support. As of version 20, Node.js uses the [https://github.com/ada-url/ada ada library] which provides up-to-date [[WHATWG]] [[URL]] compliance. [https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v19.5.0 As of version 19.5], Node.js uses the [https://github.com/simdutf/simdutf simdutf library] for fast Unicode validation and transcoding. [https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v21.3.0 As of version 21.3], Node.js uses the [https://github.com/simdjson/simdjson simdjson library] for fast JSON parsing.

=== Threading ===
=== Threading ===
Node.js operates on a [[Single threading|single-thread]] [[event loop]], using [[non-blocking I/O]] calls, allowing it to support tens of thousands of concurrent connections without incurring the cost of thread [[context switch]]ing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.caustik.com/2012/08/19/node-js-w1m-concurrent-connections/|title=Node.js w/1M concurrent connections!|work=caustik's blog|date=19 August 2012}}</ref> The design of sharing a single thread among all the requests that use the [[observer pattern]] is intended for building highly concurrent applications, where any function performing I/O must use a [[Callback (computer programming)|callback]]. To accommodate the single-threaded event loop, Node.js uses the [[libuv]] library—which, in turn, uses a fixed-sized thread pool that handles some of the non-blocking asynchronous I/O operations.<ref name="readwrite" />
Node.js operates on a [[Single threading|single-thread]] [[event loop]], using [[non-blocking I/O]] calls, allowing it to support tens of thousands of concurrent connections without incurring the cost of thread [[context switch]]ing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.caustik.com/2012/08/19/node-js-w1m-concurrent-connections/|title=Node.js w/1M concurrent connections!|work=caustik's blog|date=19 August 2012}}</ref> The design of sharing a single thread among all the requests that use the [[observer pattern]] is intended for building highly concurrent applications, where any function performing I/O must use a [[Callback (computer programming)|callback]]. To accommodate the single-threaded event loop, Node.js uses the [[libuv]] library—which, in turn, uses a fixed-sized thread pool that handles some of the non-blocking asynchronous I/O operations.<ref name="readwrite" />
Line 239: Line 246:


=== Package management ===
=== Package management ===
[[npm (software)|npm]] is the pre-installed package manager for the Node.js server platform. It installs Node.js programs from the [https://www.npmjs.com/ npm registry], organizing the installation and management of third-party Node.js programs. Packages in the npm registry can range from simple helper libraries such as [[Lodash]] to task runners such as [[Grunt (software)|Grunt]].
[[npm (software)|npm]] is the pre-installed package manager for the Node.js server platform. It installs Node.js programs from the [https://www.npmjs.com/ npm registry], organizing the installation and management of third-party Node.js programs.


=== Event loop ===
=== Event loop ===
Line 265: Line 272:
In August 2017, a third of the TSC members resigned due to a dispute related to the project's code of conduct.<ref>Whittaker, Zack, ''[http://www.zdnet.com/article/after-governance-breakdown-node-js-leaders-fight-for-its-survival/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_related&ftag=TREc64629f&bhid=24465828771686428160302951310435/ After governance breakdown, Node.js leaders fight for its survival]'', ZDNet, 25 August 2017</ref>
In August 2017, a third of the TSC members resigned due to a dispute related to the project's code of conduct.<ref>Whittaker, Zack, ''[http://www.zdnet.com/article/after-governance-breakdown-node-js-leaders-fight-for-its-survival/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_related&ftag=TREc64629f&bhid=24465828771686428160302951310435/ After governance breakdown, Node.js leaders fight for its survival]'', ZDNet, 25 August 2017</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
==See also==
|+ Current TSC Members<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/nodejs/node?tab=readme-ov-file#tsc-voting-members|title=tsc-voting-members|website=Github.com|date=16 May 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Deno (software)|Deno]]—a back-end runtime environment for JavaScript and TypeScript, also created by Ryan Dahl.
! Username !! Full Name
|-
| aduh95 || Antoine du Hamel
|-
| apapirovski || Anatoli Papirovski
|-
| benjamingr || Benjamin Gruenbaum
|-
| BridgeAR || Ruben Bridgewater
|-
| GeoffreyBooth || Geoffrey Booth
|-
| gireeshpunathil || Gireesh Punathil
|-
| jasnell || James M Snell
|-
| joyeecheung || Joyee Cheung
|-
| legendecas || Chengzhong Wu
|-
| marco-ippolito || Marco Ippolito
|-
| mcollina || Matteo Collina
|-
| mhdawson || Michael Dawson
|-
| MoLow || Moshe Atlow
|-
| RafaelGSS || Rafael Gonzaga
|-
| richardlau || Richard Lau
|-
| ronag || Robert Nagy
|-
| ruyadorno || Ruy Adorno
|-
| ShogunPanda || Paolo Insogna
|-
| targos || Michaël Zasso
|-
| tniessen || Tobias Nießen
|}



==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:58, 14 June 2024

Node.js
Original author(s)Ryan Dahl
Developer(s)OpenJS Foundation
Initial releaseMay 27, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-05-27)[1]
Stable release
22.0.0[2] Edit this on Wikidata / April 24, 2024; 60 days ago (April 24, 2024)
Repository
Written inJavaScript, C++, Python, C
Operating systemz/OS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, SmartOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, IBM AIX[3]
TypeRuntime environment
LicenseMIT License[4][5]
Websitenodejs.org Edit this on Wikidata

Node.js is a cross-platform, open-source JavaScript runtime environment that can run on Windows, Linux, Unix, macOS, and more. Node.js runs on the V8 JavaScript engine, and executes JavaScript code outside a web browser.

Node.js lets developers use JavaScript to write command line tools and for server-side scripting. The ability to run JavaScript code on the server is often used to generate dynamic web page content before the page is sent to the user's web browser. Consequently, Node.js represents a "JavaScript everywhere" paradigm,[6] unifying web-application development around a single programming language, as opposed to using different languages for the server- versus client-side programming.

Node.js has an event-driven architecture capable of asynchronous I/O. These design choices aim to optimize throughput and scalability in web applications with many input/output operations, as well as for real-time Web applications (e.g., real-time communication programs and browser games).[7]

The Node.js distributed development project was previously governed by the Node.js Foundation,[8] and has now merged with the JS Foundation to form the OpenJS Foundation. OpenJS Foundation is facilitated by the Linux Foundation's Collaborative Projects program.[9]

History[edit]

Ryan Dahl, creator of Node.js, in 2010
Rocket Turtle, the official mascot of Node.js since February 2024

Node.js was initially written by Ryan Dahl in 2009,[10] about 13 years after the introduction of the first server-side JavaScript environment, Netscape's LiveWire Pro Web.[11] The initial release supported only Linux and Mac OS X. Its development and maintenance was led by Dahl and later sponsored by Joyent.[12]

Dahl criticized the limited capability of Apache HTTP Server to handle many (10,000+) concurrent connections, as well as the dominant programming paradigm of sequential programming, in which applications could block entire processes or cause the creation of multiple execution stacks for simultaneous connections.[13]

Dahl demonstrated the project at the inaugural European JSConf on November 8, 2009.[14][15][16] Node.js combined Google's V8 JavaScript engine, an event loop, and a low-level I/O API.[17]

In January 2010, a package manager was introduced for the Node.js environment called npm.[18] The package manager allows programmers to publish and share Node.js packages, along with the accompanying source code, and is designed to simplify the installation, update and uninstallation of packages.[17]

In June 2011, Microsoft and Joyent implemented a native Windows version of Node.js.[19] The first Node.js build supporting Windows was released in July 2011.

In January 2012, Dahl yielded management of the project to npm creator Isaac Schlueter.[20] In January 2014, Schlueter announced that Timothy J. Fontaine would lead the project.[21]

In December 2014, Fedor Indutny created io.js, a fork of Node.js created because of dissatisfaction with Joyent's governance as an open-governance alternative with a separate technical committee. The goal was to enable a structure that would be more receptive to community input, including the updating of io.js with the latest Google V8 JavaScript engine releases, diverging from Node.js's approach at that time.[22]

The Node.js Foundation, formed to reconcile Node.js and io.js under a unified banner, was announced in February 2015.[23] The merger was realized in September 2015 with Node.js v0.12 and io.js v3.3 combining into Node v4.0.[24] This merge brought V8 ES6 features into Node.js and started a long-term support release cycle.[25] By 2016, the io.js website recommended returning to Node.js and announced no further io.js releases, effectively ending the fork and solidifying the merger's success.[26]

In 2019, the JS Foundation and Node.js Foundation merged to form the OpenJS Foundation.

On September 6, 2023, Node.js 20.6.0 was released. The update brought the addition of built-in support for .env files, the unflagging of import.meta.resolve, the introduction of a new node:module API register for module customization hooks and a new initialize hook. Additionally, the module customization load hook now supports CommonJS, and Node.js C++ add-ons have gained experimental support for cppgc (Oilpan), which is a C++ garbage collection library for V8.[27]

Branding[edit]

The Node.js logo features a green hexagon with overlapping bands to represent the cross-platform nature of the runtime.[28] The Rocket Turtle was chosen as the official Node.js mascot in February 2024 following a design contest.[29]

Overview[edit]

Node.js allows the creation of web servers and networking tools using JavaScript and a collection of "modules" that handle various core functionalities.[14][17][30][31][32] Modules are provided for file system I/O, networking (DNS, HTTP, TCP, TLS/SSL or UDP), binary data (buffers), cryptography functions, data streams and other core functions.[17][31][33] Node.js's modules use an API designed to reduce the complexity of writing server applications.[17][31]

JavaScript is the only language that Node.js supports natively, but many compile-to-JS languages are available.[34] As a result, Node.js applications can be written in CoffeeScript,[35] Dart, TypeScript, ClojureScript and others.

Node.js is primarily used to build network programs such as web servers.[30] The most significant difference between Node.js and PHP is that most functions in PHP block until completion (commands execute only after previous commands finish), while Node.js functions are non-blocking (commands execute concurrently or even in parallel,[36][37][improper synthesis?] and use callbacks to signal completion or failure).[30]

Node.js is officially supported by Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 (and later),[3] with Tier 2 support for SmartOS and IBM AIX and experimental support for FreeBSD. OpenBSD also works, and LTS versions are available for IBM i (AS/400).[38] The source code may also be built on similar operating systems that are not officially supported, such as NonStop OS[39] and Unix servers.

Platform architecture[edit]

Node.js enables development of fast web servers in JavaScript using event-driven programming.[17] Developers can create scalable servers without using threading by using a simplified model that uses callbacks to signal the completion of a task.[17][page needed] Node.js connects the ease of a scripting language (JavaScript) with the power of Unix network programming.[17]

Node.js was built on top of Google's V8 JavaScript engine since it was open-sourced under the BSD license, and it contains comprehensive support for fundamental protocols such as HTTP, DNS and TCP.[14] JavaScript's existing popularity made Node.js accessible to the web-development community.[14]

Industry support[edit]

There are thousands of open-source libraries for Node.js, most of which are hosted on the npm website. Multiple developer conferences and events are held that support the Node.js community, including NodeConf, Node Interactive and Node Summit, as well as a number of regional events.

The open-source community has developed web frameworks to accelerate the development of applications. Such frameworks include Express.js, Socket.IO, Sails.js, Next.js and Meteor.[17][40] Various packages have also been created for interfacing with other languages or runtime environments such as Microsoft .NET.[41]

Modern desktop IDEs provide editing and debugging features specifically for Node.js applications. Such IDEs include Atom, Brackets, JetBrains WebStorm,[42][43] Microsoft Visual Studio (with Node.js Tools for Visual Studio,[44] or TypeScript with Node definitions[45][46][47][48]), NetBeans,[49] Nodeclipse Enide Studio[50] (Eclipse-based) and Visual Studio Code.[51][52] Some online IDEs also support Node.js, such as Codeanywhere, Eclipse Che, Cloud9 IDE and the visual flow editor in Node-RED.

Node.js is supported across a number of cloud-hosting platforms such as Jelastic, Google Cloud Platform, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Azure Web Apps and Joyent.

Releases[edit]

Release[53] Status Code name Release date Maintenance end
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.10.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2013-03-11 2016-10-31
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.12.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2015-02-06 2016-12-31
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Argon[54] 2015-09-08 2018-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2015-10-29 2016-06-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Boron[54] 2016-04-26 2019-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 7.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2016-10-25 2017-06-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 8.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Carbon[54] 2017-05-30 2019-12-31
Old version, no longer maintained: 9.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2017-10-01 2018-06-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 10.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Dubnium[54] 2018-04-24 2021-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 11.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2018-10-23 2019-06-01
Old version, no longer maintained: 12.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Erbium[54] 2019-04-23 2022-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 13.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2019-10-22 2020-06-01
Old version, no longer maintained: 14.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Fermium[54] 2020-04-21 2023-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 15.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2020-10-20 2021-06-01
Old version, no longer maintained: 16.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life Gallium[54] 2021-04-20 2023-09-11[55]
Old version, no longer maintained: 17.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2021-10-19 2022-06-01
Older version, yet still maintained: 18.x Older version, yet still maintained: Maintenance LTS Hydrogen[54] 2022-04-19 2025-04-30
Old version, no longer maintained: 19.x Old version, no longer maintained: End-of-Life 2022-10-18 2023-06-01
Older version, yet still maintained: 20.x Older version, yet still maintained: Active LTS Iron[56] 2023-04-18 2026-04-30
Older version, yet still maintained: 21.x Older version, yet still maintained: Maintenance [54] 2023-10-17 2024-06-01
Current stable version: 22.x Current stable version: Current Jod [56][54] 2024-04-24 2027-04-30
Future release: 23.x Future release: Planned [54] 2024-10-14 2025-06-01
Future release: 24.x Future release: Planned Krypton [56] 2025-04-22 2028-04-30
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

New major releases of Node.js are cut from the GitHub main branch every six months. Even-numbered versions are cut in April and odd-numbered versions are cut in October. When a new odd version is released, the previous even version undergoes transition to Long Term Support (LTS), which gives that version 18 months of active support from the date it is designated LTS. After these 18 months expire, an LTS release receives an additional 12 months of maintenance support. An active version receives non-breaking backports of changes a few weeks after they land in the current release. A maintenance release receives only critical fixes and documentation updates.[54] The LTS Working Group manages strategy and policy in collaboration with the Technical Steering Committee of the Node.js Foundation.

Technical details[edit]

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that processes incoming requests in a loop, called the event loop.

Internals[edit]

Node.js uses libuv under the hood to handle asynchronous events. Libuv is an abstraction layer for network and file system functionality on both Windows and POSIX-based systems such as Linux, macOS, OSS on NonStop, and Unix. Node.js relies on nghttp2 for HTTP support. As of version 20, Node.js uses the ada library which provides up-to-date WHATWG URL compliance. As of version 19.5, Node.js uses the simdutf library for fast Unicode validation and transcoding. As of version 21.3, Node.js uses the simdjson library for fast JSON parsing.

Threading[edit]

Node.js operates on a single-thread event loop, using non-blocking I/O calls, allowing it to support tens of thousands of concurrent connections without incurring the cost of thread context switching.[57] The design of sharing a single thread among all the requests that use the observer pattern is intended for building highly concurrent applications, where any function performing I/O must use a callback. To accommodate the single-threaded event loop, Node.js uses the libuv library—which, in turn, uses a fixed-sized thread pool that handles some of the non-blocking asynchronous I/O operations.[7]

A thread pool handles the execution of parallel tasks in Node.js. The main thread function call posts tasks to the shared task queue, which threads in the thread pool pull and execute. Inherently non-blocking system functions such as networking translate to kernel-side non-blocking sockets, while inherently blocking system functions such as file I/O run in a blocking way on their own threads. When a thread in the thread pool completes a task, it informs the main thread of this, which in turn, wakes up and executes the registered callback.

A downside of this single-threaded approach is that Node.js does not allow vertical scaling by increasing the number of CPU cores of the machine it is running on without using an additional module, such as cluster,[36] StrongLoop Process Manager,[58] or pm2.[59] However, developers can increase the default number of threads in the libuv thread pool. The server operating system (OS) is likely to distribute these threads across multiple cores.[60] Another problem is that long-lasting computations and other CPU-bound tasks freeze the entire event-loop until completion.[citation needed]

V8[edit]

Main article: V8 (JavaScript engine)

V8 is the JavaScript execution engine which was initially built for Google Chrome. It was then open-sourced by Google in 2008. Written in C++, V8 compiles JavaScript source code to native machine code at runtime.[7] As of 2016, it also includes Ignition, a bytecode interpreter.

Package management[edit]

npm is the pre-installed package manager for the Node.js server platform. It installs Node.js programs from the npm registry, organizing the installation and management of third-party Node.js programs.

Event loop[edit]

Node.js registers with the operating system so the OS notifies it of asynchronous I/O events such as new connections. Within the Node.js runtime, events trigger callbacks and each connection is handled as a small heap allocation. Traditionally, relatively heavyweight OS processes or threads handled each connection. Node.js uses an event loop for concurrent I/O, instead of processes or threads.[61] In contrast to other event-driven servers,[which?] Node.js's event loop does not need to be called explicitly. Instead, callbacks are defined, and the server automatically enters the event loop at the end of the callback definition. Node.js exits the event loop when there are no further callbacks to be performed.

WebAssembly[edit]

Node.js supports WebAssembly and as of Node 14 has experimental support of WASI, the WebAssembly System Interface.

Native bindings[edit]

See also: Foreign function interface

Node.js provides a way to create "add-ons" via a C-based API called N-API, which can be used to produce loadable (importable) .node modules from source code written in C/C++.[62] The modules can be directly loaded into memory and executed from within JS environment as simple CommonJS modules. The implementation of the N-API relies on internal C/C++ Node.js and V8 objects requiring users to import (#include) Node.js specific headers into their native source code.[62]

As the Node.js API is subject to breaking changes at a binary level, modules have to be built and shipped against specific Node.js versions to work properly. To address the issue, third parties have introduced open-sourced С/С++ wrappers on top of the API that partially alleviate the problem. They simplify interfaces, but as a side effect they may also introduce complexity which maintainers have to deal with. Even though the core functionality of Node.js resides in a JavaScript built-in library, modules written in C++ can be used to enhance capabilities and to improve performance of applications.

In order to produce such modules one needs to have an appropriate C++ compiler and necessary headers (the latter are typically shipped with Node.js itself), e.g., gcc, clang or MSVC++.

The N-API is similar to Java Native Interface.

Project governance[edit]

Main article: OpenJS Foundation

In 2015, various branches of the greater Node.js community began working under the vendor-neutral Node.js Foundation. The stated purpose of the organization "is to enable widespread adoption and help accelerate development of Node.js and other related modules through an open governance model that encourages participation, technical contribution, and a framework for long-term stewardship by an ecosystem invested in Node.js' success."[63]

The Node.js Foundation Technical Steering Committee (TSC) is the technical governing body of the Node.js Foundation. The TSC is responsible for the core Node.js repo as well as dependent and adjacent projects. Generally the TSC delegates the administration of these projects to working groups or committees.[64] The LTS group that manages long term supported releases is one such group. Other current groups include Website, Streams, Build, Diagnostics, i18n, Evangelism, Docker, Addon API, Benchmarking, Post-mortem, Intl, Documentation, and Testing.[65]

In August 2017, a third of the TSC members resigned due to a dispute related to the project's code of conduct.[66]

Current TSC Members[67]
Username Full Name
aduh95 Antoine du Hamel
apapirovski Anatoli Papirovski
benjamingr Benjamin Gruenbaum
BridgeAR Ruben Bridgewater
GeoffreyBooth Geoffrey Booth
gireeshpunathil Gireesh Punathil
jasnell James M Snell
joyeecheung Joyee Cheung
legendecas Chengzhong Wu
marco-ippolito Marco Ippolito
mcollina Matteo Collina
mhdawson Michael Dawson
MoLow Moshe Atlow
RafaelGSS Rafael Gonzaga
richardlau Richard Lau
ronag Robert Nagy
ruyadorno Ruy Adorno
ShogunPanda Paolo Insogna
targos Michaël Zasso
tniessen Tobias Nießen


References[edit]

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Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Node.js.

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