What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open source, cross-platform runtime environment that is typically used for developing server-side web, and networking applications.

Node.js applications are written in JavaScript but it is not a JavaScript framework. Many of its basic modules are written in JavaScript, and developers can write new modules in the same language.

The JavaScript runtime is built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine and it works by using an event driven, non-blocking I/O model that is designed to make it lightweight and efficient.

Node.js is an integral component for many companies. Find out who’s using it on the next page.

Put simply, Node.js is another programming language that is particularly well suited to real-time web applications employing push technology over websockets.

Node.js has become an integral part of some of the biggest companies in the world, Netflix, PayPal, LinkedIn, and Uber are all using it.

LinkedIn uses it to power its mobile server, which powers the iPhone, Android, and mobile web products.

Node.js is popular because it operates on a single thread, so instead of taking up system RAM it uses non-blocking I/O calls that can support tens of thousands of concurrent connections.