Node.js for Scripting

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows JavaScript programs to execute outside the browser and interact with operating-system resources such as files, processes, networks, and streams.

It provides the runtime and standard-library APIs that form the foundation of server-side JavaScript applications.

One of Node.js's defining characteristics is its asynchronous, event-driven execution model, which allows applications to perform operations such as reading files or communicating over a network without unnecessarily blocking the execution of other work.

Node.js also comes with a mature module and package ecosystem through npm, making it possible to organize applications into reusable modules and extend them with third-party packages.

Learning objectives

In this module, you'll learn the Node.js fundamentals required to build command-line programs and prepare for server-side application development.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain how Node.js executes asynchronous operations through the event loop.
• Write asynchronous code using callbacks, promises, and async/await.
• Organize applications using CommonJS and ECMAScript modules.
• Build command-line programs and process command-line arguments.
• Load and access application configuration through environment variables.
• Read, write, copy, and remove files and directories.
• Work with events, buffers, and data streams.
• Compose streaming data-processing pipelines.