What Is Node.js and Why You Should Use Node.js

In today’s digital world, where speed and scalability are paramount, web developers are constantly seeking innovative technologies to build efficient and high-performing applications.

One such technology that has gained tremendous popularity in recent years is Node.js. If you’re new to the world of web development or simply curious about this powerful runtime environment, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, we will delve into the fundamentals of Node.js, exploring its key features, advantages, and use cases. So, if you’re ready to unlock the potential of Node.js let’s dive in and discover the limitless possibilities that await you!

Key Takeaways

  • Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. You can quickly run JavaScript code outside of a web browser, enabling server-side and networking applications.
  • Node.js is well-suited for building real-time web applications, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), microservices, and even desktop applications. Its non-blocking I/O model makes it ideal for handling asynchronous operations, such as handling multiple requests simultaneously or streaming data.
  • Learning Node.js opens up numerous career opportunities, as it is in high demand by businesses seeking scalable and high-performing applications.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source, server-side runtime environment that allows developers to build scalable and high-performance network applications using JavaScript. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which makes it efficient and suitable for handling concurrent operations.

Traditionally, JavaScript was primarily used for client-side scripting in web browsers. However, Node.js development enables you to write JavaScript code to run on the server-side, which opens up a wide range of possibilities. It is built on Google Chrome V8 JavaScript engine and provides an event loop that handles asynchronous operations efficiently.

Node.js has a vast ecosystem of modules and libraries available through the Node Package Manager (NPM), which allows developers to easily integrate various Node functions into their applications. This rich ecosystem and the ease of sharing and reusing server-side code have contributed to the popularity and rapid growth of Node.js.

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Why Do We Use NodeJs?

Node.js is a popular cross-platform runtime environment for executing JavaScript code outside of a web browser. It has gained significant traction in web development for several reasons:

  1. You Can Effectively Use JavaScript on the Server-Side

    Node.js is a programming language that allows developers to use JavaScript both on the front-end and back-end, making it a full-stack development platform.

    This enables full-stack JavaScript development, allowing developers to use the same language and share code between the client and node server sides of an application. This simplifies the web application development process and reduces the need for context switching between different programming languages.

    This eliminates the need to switch between different programming languages, enhancing productivity, callback function, and code reuse.

    Node.js Developers can use the same language and code structure across the entire application stack, from the server to the client, which can simplify development and maintenance.

  2. Node.JS Strictly Supports Asynchronous and Event-Driven

    Node.js utilizes an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. This means that it can handle a large number of concurrent connections efficiently without blocking the execution of other code.

    It is well-suited for applications that involve real-time data streaming, chat applications, or handling many simultaneous client requests, such as in social media platforms or gaming servers.

    1. Easily Build High Performance Web Applications

      Node.js is built on the V8 JavaScript engine developed by Google, which is known for its high-performance execution. Node.js leverages this engine to execute JavaScript code rapidly, making it well-suited for applications that require high-speed processing.

    2. Node.JS Supports Large Ecosystem and Package Manager

      Node.js has a vast ecosystem of open-source libraries and modules available through its appropriate package manager, npm (Node Package Manager). This extensive collection of modules provides developers with ready-made solutions for common tasks, making development faster and more efficient.

    3. Node.JS is Best For Developing Scalable Applications

      Node.js is designed to scale easily, allowing applications to handle a large number of concurrent connections with low memory consumption. Its non-blocking, event-driven, single-threaded architecture enables efficient utilization of system resources, making it ideal for building scalable and high-performance applications.

    4. Community and Support

      Node.js has a large and active community of developers, which means therEvent Emitters:e are abundant resources, tutorials, and support available. This active community ensures regular updates, bug fixes, and the development of new tools and Node.js Frameworks that further enhance the Node.js ecosystem.

    5. Asynchronous and Non-blocking

      One of the key strengths of Node.js is its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. This means that Node.js can handle concurrent requests efficiently, allowing developers to build scalable and high-performance applications.

      The non-blocking nature of Node.js enables it to handle multiple connections concurrently without getting blocked, making it ideal for applications with heavy I/O operations.

    6. Large Package Ecosystem

      Node.js has a vast and vibrant package ecosystem called npm (Node Package Manager). npm provides a rich repository of open-source libraries, JS files, and modules, allowing developers to easily integrate pre-built functionalities into their applications.

      This extensive ecosystem of over a million packages provides solutions for various tasks and significantly accelerates the development process.

    7. Lightweight and Scalable

      Node.js is known for its lightweight architecture. It uses a single-threaded event loop, which consumes minimal resources and enables efficient utilization of hardware.

      This makes it highly scalable, allowing applications built with Node.js to handle a large number of simultaneous connections with relatively low memory footprint. Additionally, Node.js supports horizontal scalability through its ability to scale across multiple servers.

    8. Real-time Applications

      Node.js excels in building real-time applications that require instant data synchronization between the web server and clients.

      Its event-driven architecture and support for WebSockets make it an excellent choice for applications such as chat platforms, collaborative tools, online gaming, and live streaming.

      The ability to push data to clients in real-time without relying on constant polling can greatly enhance user experience.

    9. Microservices Architecture

      Node.js is well-suited for developing microservices-based architectures. Its lightweight nature, modularity, and ability to handle concurrent requests make it an excellent choice for building and scaling microservices.

      Node.js allows developers to break down complex applications into smaller, independent services that can be developed, deployed, and managed separately, promoting agility and scalability.

      While Node.js may not be suitable for every use case, it excels in scenarios where real-time, high-performance, scalable, and event-driven applications are required, making it a popular choice among developers.

      Related Post: Node JS Best Practices

      Understanding the Concept of Node.js Architecture

      With the help of Node environment, you can efficiently build server-side and networking applications using JavaScript. It utilizes an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, making it lightweight, efficient, and scalable.

      To understand the concept of Node.js architecture, let’s explore its key components:

      Node.js Architecture

      • V8 Engine: Node.js is built on Google’s V8 JavaScript engine, which compiles JavaScript into machine code for fast execution. V8 provides a runtime Node environment for executing JavaScript code outside the browser environment.
      • Event Loop: The event loop is at the core of Node.js architecture. It enables Node.js to handle concurrent operations efficiently. The event loop is responsible for managing I/O operations, timers, and callbacks. It continuously checks for events and executes the associated callback functions when an event occurs.
      • Callbacks: Node.js extensively uses callbacks to handle asynchronous operations. When an asynchronous operation, such as reading a file or making an HTTP request, is initiated, a callback function is provided. Node.js is a programming language that continues executing the rest of the program while waiting for the operation to complete. Once the operation finishes, the callback function is called to handle the result.
      • Event Emitters: Node.js follows an event-driven programming model, where certain objects known as event emitters emit named events, and listeners subscribe to these events. When an event occurs, all subscribed listeners are notified, and their associated callback functions are executed.
      • Modules: Node.js has a modular architecture, and its functionality is organized into modules. Modules encapsulate related code and provide a way to organize and reuse code across different applications. The built-in modules, such as http module, fs, and path, provide functionalities for handling HTTP, file system operations, and file paths, respectively.
      • Non-blocking I/O: Node.js uses non-blocking I/O operations to achieve high concurrency and efficiency. It allows a larger number of I/O operations to be executed concurrently without waiting for the completion of each operation. This enables Node.js to handle a large number of concurrent requests without blocking the execution of other code.
      • Single-Threaded: Node.js runs in a single-threaded program, which means it executes JavaScript code in a single sequence. However, it employs asynchronous I/O and non-blocking operations to handle concurrent requests efficiently. While the event loop is single-threaded, Node.js can scale across multiple cores by using child processes or worker threads.
      • NPM (Node Package Manager): NPM is the default package manager for Node.js, allowing developers to install and manage external libraries, Node.js frameworks, and dependencies for their projects. NPM provides access to a vast ecosystem of open-source modules that can be easily integrated into Node.js applications.

      Node.js architecture revolves around its event-driven, non-blocking nature, which enables efficient handling of concurrent operations and scalability. By leveraging these architectural principles, developers can build high-performance, scalable server-side applications using JavaScript.

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      How To Install NodeJS?

      To install Node on your system, follow these steps:

      • Visit the official Node.js website: https://nodejs.org
      • On the homepage, you’ll see two versions: “LTS” (Long-Term Support) and “Current.” The LTS version is recommended for most users, as it provides a stable and well-tested release. Click on the “LTS” button to download the installer for the LTS version.
      • On the downloads page, you’ll see different installers for various operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux). Choose the installer that corresponds to your operating system. For example, if you’re on Windows, download the Windows Installer (.msi) file.
      • Once the installer is downloaded, double-click on the installer file to run it.
      • Follow the installation wizard’s instructions. The default settings are usually fine, so you can proceed by clicking “Next” or “Continue” on each step.
      • At one point during the installation, you may be prompted to choose optional features or customize the installation. Unless you have specific requirements, you can usually leave the default options selected.
      • On the final step, click the “Install” or “Finish” button to complete the installation process.

      After installation, you can verify if Node.js was installed successfully by opening a command prompt or terminal window and running the following command:

      node –version
      This command will display the installed Node.js version if the installation was successful.

      Additionally, the Node.js installer typically includes npm (Node Package Manager), which is a package manager for installing and managing Node.js modules. You can verify the npm installation by running the following command:

      npm –version
      This command will display the installed npm version.

      That’s it! You have now installed Node.js on your system. You can start using Node.js to run JavaScript applications or build web servers and other projects.

      Node.js Use Cases

      Common Use Cases For Node

      Node.js is a powerful Javascript runtime environment for executing JavaScript code on the server-side. It has gained significant popularity due to its non-blocking, event-driven architecture, which allows it to handle a large number of concurrent connections efficiently.

      Web Application Development

      You can often use Node.js to build a server-side application. It provides a robust set of libraries and frameworks, such as Express.js and Koa.js, which facilitate the development of scalable and high-performance web servers. Node.js is particularly well-suited for real-time applications, chat applications, collaborative tools, and CPU intensive applications requiring frequent data updates.

      API Development

      Node.js is commonly used to build APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that enable communication between different software systems. Its lightweight and efficient nature make it an excellent choice for creating RESTful APIs or GraphQL APIs, allowing clients to interact with traditional servers and exchange data seamlessly.

      Microservices Architecture

      In a microservices architecture, applications are broken down into small, independently deployable services. Node.js is often used to build microservices due to its modular design, lightweight nature, and ability to handle multiple concurrent connections efficiently. It enables developers to create scalable, loosely coupled services that can be easily managed and scaled individually.

      Real-time Applications

      Node.js excels in building real-time applications that require instant data updates and bidirectional communication between the server and clients. It utilizes technologies like WebSockets and Server-Sent Events to establish persistent connections and enable real-time data streaming. This makes it suitable for chat applications, collaborative editing tools, gaming applications, stock trading platforms, and other real-time systems.

      Command Line Tools

      Node.js provides a rich set of built-in modules that make it convenient to build command-line tools and utilities. It allows developers to create custom scripts, automate repetitive tasks, perform file system operations, and interact with external APIs, databases, or network resources. Many popular command-line tools, build systems, and task runners are built using Node.js, such as npm, Gulp, and Grunt.

      Internet of Things (IoT)

      Node.js can be used to develop applications for IoT devices. Its lightweight footprint and event-driven architecture make it a suitable choice for resource-constrained devices. It can facilitate communication between IoT devices and cloud services, process data from sensors, and control actuators.

      These are just a few examples of Node.js use cases. Its versatility and broad range of libraries and frameworks make it a flexible choice for a wide variety of applications and development scenarios.

      Related Post: PHP vs Node.js

      Develop Node.JS Application With Albiorix

      Node.js has become a game-changer in the world of web development. Its ability to bring JavaScript to the server-side has transformed the way developers build applications, improving performance, scalability, and productivity.

      With its asynchronous, event-driven architecture and extensive package ecosystem, Node.js empowers developers to create a wide range of applications, from real-time chat applications to scalable API servers.

      By embracing Node.js, developers can unlock the full potential of JavaScript, leveraging their existing skills to create robust and efficient applications. As the Node.js community continues to grow, the possibilities for innovation and development are limitless.

      So, if you’re looking to take your web development skills to the next level, feel free to consult Albiorix for the best Node.js development solutions.

Node JS Best Practices That You Need To Follow in 2023

Node.js is a web app development framework that is specifically built on the Chrome V8 engine, provides caching of single modules works as a Javascript runtime environment that helps in developing scalable apps easily.

Many times, it happens that this cross-platform and open-source technology might create complex errors if you’re not strictly following Node JS best practices.

Big names like Netflix, Uber, Twitter, and Trello are using the Node.js framework as their first choice for backend development services and get tremendous improvement in their software services. You need to know Nodejs best practices to achieve such results.

Let’s explore Node.js best practices in 2023 that help you design and create robust web applications for your business needs.

Node JS Best Practices in 2023 To Follow

It’s time to explore Node.js best practices that you must implement in developing robust web application for your business needs.

  1. Initiate Your Node.js Development using npm init

    One of the standard and best practices of Node.js that you need to follow is to start your Node.js development using npm (Node Package Manager). The excellent part of npm is that you can efficiently add couplings and dependencies in your web application development.

    Moreover, npm plays an essential role in browsing all of the Node.js packages required for your business.

    Initiate Your Node.js Development Using NPM Init

    It will be helpful to you, as it provides you with a new bundle for every project you create. In addition, with JSON, you may include a ton of metadata that will be useful to other Node.js developers working on the same project.

    With the help of Node.js, it becomes easy to add versioning-compliant updates of Node.js within the same package. This is among the most critical Node JS best practice.

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  2. Setup .npmrc For Your Node.js Development

    The .npmrc file is the essential file, especially for Node.js developers. Do you know why?

    It is the sole responsibility of the .npmrc file to ensure that the npm install always updates the package.json and requires an exact match for the installed dependency’s version.

    Setup .npmrc for Your Node.js Development

    So, just mention your script object and property in your node.js project’s package and a start key in the JSON file.

    Copy
    {
      "name": "albiorixtech",
      "version": "1.0.0",
      "description": "Project description",
      "main": "main.js",
      "scripts": {
        "test": "node main.js"
      },
      "author": "albiorix",
      "license": "ISC"
    }
    
    

    Now, everything is ready, and you need to push the command “npm start”. All the dependencies from node modules/.bin will be redirected to the $PATH, and you won’t need to install dependencies using NPM globally.

    Related Post: NodeJS vs Python

  3. Use Environment Variables

    Node.js is a programming language that requires robust configuration management. It includes the process of decoupling code, services, database configuration files, and many more, especially during development, production, or quality analysis.

    The primary role of accessing environment variables configuration management is to find the values from process.env in your code. For example, you can efficiently examine the NODE ENV environment variables in the Node.js env file.

    So, the biggest and most important Node.js best practice you must follow is appropriately using the environment variable in your program. In addition, you would use it to discover values during the intelligent web development process.

    With the help of the command nvm, you can quickly deal with the process of adding additional consequent plans, regular expressions, and most code setup workflows. Also, it is one of the biggest advantages for many cloud-hosting providers.

    Copy
    //main.js
    console.log("Server is Running at "  + process.env.NODE_ENV);
    
  4. Use Components For Better Application Structure

    One of the most challenging part for large applications is to prepare and maintain a huge coding structure with multiple dependencies.

    Such code complexity results in slowing down the developer’s skills and they cannot include new features in the existing Node.js applications.

    To overcome such a situation, the best option is to perform the code partitions into components. In simple words, we can say that every components will have its own dedicated folders/codebase, resulting in keeping every unit small and simple.

    Let’s explore an example of proper Node.Js folder structure.

    Nodejs Best Practices Steps

  5. Making Appropriate Usage of Style Guide

    The next in our list of best Node.js practices that you must follow is selecting an existing Node.js coding rule and ensuring code readability throughout the entire project chain.

    Let’s say your defined Javascript coding style differs from the developers who have previously worked on the project; what would you do?

    No worries at all!!! You need to replace the spaces with tabs or adjust the position of the braces, and you’re good to go. Yeah, it’s a time-consuming activity and is actively responsible for making your task tedious.

    I would like to personally highlight some of the code styles guides that are specifically adopted by global tech behemoths:

    • Airbnb – https://github.com/airbnb/javascript
    • Google – https://google.github.io/styleguide/javascriptguide.xml
    • jQuery – https://contribute.jquery.org/style-guide/js/

    Trust me; it’s among the innovative and most preferred node.js development best practices.

    Related Post: jQuery vs Angular

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  6. Avoid synchronous functions

    If you’re using Synchronous functions in the Nodejs application, you can smoothly eliminate other coding functionality from running since it is completed.

    One of the best recommendations is that you turn on the -trace-sync-io flag, making it easy for you to ensure that no synchronous function is now a part of the code. Moreover, it displays a warning when an asynchronous API is encountered.

    The primary role of Asynchronous API is to prevent other code files from running while an asynchronous code is in use. Furthermore, such an inspiring async function is the most challenging factor for other programmers to understand an application’s business logic flow.

    With the help of async functions, your coding throws an alert directly to your node.js app’s asynchronous API. However, the async function automatically outputs warnings and stack traces during the testing phase.

    Related Post: Best NodeJS Frameworks

  7. Handle inaccuracies

    A minor inaccuracy is solely responsible for getting bad feedback for your entire Node.js development process. It will eventually throw multiple errors on your business application, and there are more chances of losing your app’s customer experience.

    An application relies heavily on accurate exception management. And the easiest way to cope with the many programming faults is to adopt the asynchronous code structures while writing asynchronous code for your Node.js application.

    For example, promises provide you with a.catch() handler that will elegantly propagate all possible code errors to be dealt with.

    Copy
    //main.js
    doSomething()
    .then(doNextStage)
    .then(recordTheWorkSoFar)
    .then(updateAnyInterestedParties)
    .then(tidyUp)
    .catch(errorHandler)
    
    

    So, even in the case of failure of the previous function, you’ll get the error Handler option that will prompt you with the results to manage the error handling process smoother.

    And yes, it’s one of the NodeJS best practices that every Node.js developer or business owner should adopt. Therefore, you must be following these Node JS best practice for product development.

  8. Confirm that your app restarts automatically

    Your web application can be efficiently affected by the slight mistake of dependency, even if you’re dealing with the perfect error-handling standards.

    So I recommend you opt for the process manager to ensure that the app recovers successfully from a runtime fault or when the server fails.

    Apart from this, the best option is to restart your program if you feel that your entire service fails. Your program needs to continue as soon as possible for this particular case. PM2 KKeymetrics is the perfect option for process management.

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  9. Use the latest stable version of Node.js

    One of the Node best practices that you need to take care of is always keep your Node.js version up to date to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. Till date, Node.js 20 is the stable version of Node.js development.

  10. Use package.json for dependency management

    Utilize the package.json file to manage your project dependencies and specify their versions. This helps ensure consistent and reproducible builds.

  11. Use npm or Yarn

    Use package managers like npm (Node Package Manager) or Yarn to install and manage your project dependencies. They provide helpful features like dependency resolution, version management, and script execution.

  12. Modularize your code

    Break your code into smaller, reusable modules with clear responsibilities. This improves maintainability, testability, and business logic code reusability.

  13. Follow the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP)

    Each module or function should have a single responsibility, making it easier to understand, test, and maintain. Avoid creating monolithic functions or modules that perform multiple tasks.

  14. Handle errors gracefully

    Use proper error handling techniques, such as try-catch blocks or error-first callbacks, to catch and handle errors effectively. Implement appropriate custom error objects logging and error response mechanisms.

  15. Implement logging and debugging

    Incorporate logging statements strategically throughout your codebase to aid in debugging and dealing with any robust monitoring system. Tools like Winston or Bunyan can be used for more advanced logging needs.

  16. Implement proper security measures

    Follow security best practices to protect your Node.js applications. This includes sanitizing input, validating user input, using parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection, and applying security headers.

  17. Implement automated testing

    Write unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests to ensure the correctness of your Javascript code and detect regressions. Popular testing frameworks for Node.js include Jest, Mocha, and Chai.

  18. Utilize static code analysis and linting

    Use tools like ESLint or TSLint to enforce code style and catch common errors or specifically anti-patterns for built-in error object. This helps maintain a consistent codebase and plays an essential role to improve code quality using various leading static analysis tools.

  19. Optimize performance

    Identify and optimize performance bottlenecks in your application, such as database queries, network requests, or CPU-intensive operations. Use tools like profiling, load testing, and caching to enhance performance.

  20. Implement proper logging and monitoring

    Monitor the health and performance of your Node.js applications using logging, metrics, and tracing. Tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or New Relic can assist in monitoring and diagnosing issues.

  21. Regularly update dependencies

    The last on our list of Node JS best practices that you need to follow is to keep your project dependencies up to date to benefit from bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements. Regularly review and update your dependencies while considering compatibility and stability.

    To regularly update dependencies in a Node.js application, you can follow these steps:

    • Understand your project’s dependencies: Review the package.json file in your Node.js project to identify the dependencies and their versions. Note down any specific version constraints or compatibility requirements.
    • Monitor for updates: Regularly check for updates to your project’s dependencies. One way to do this is by using tools like npm-check or npm outdated. These tools provide information about outdated packages and their available updates.
    • Evaluate the updates: Assess the updates based on their release notes, changelogs, and documentation. It’s essential to understand any breaking changes, new features, or bug fixes introduced in the updated versions.
    • Update one dependency at a time: To minimize potential issues, update one dependency at a time instead of updating all dependencies simultaneously. This allows you to isolate and troubleshoot any compatibility or regression issues that may arise.
    • Update the package.json file: Manually update the version numbers of the dependencies you want to update in your package.json file. Alternatively, you can use the npm update command followed by the specific package name(s) to update them automatically.
    • Run tests and perform integration checks: After updating a dependency, run your application’s tests and perform integration checks to ensure everything still functions as expected. This step helps catch any compatibility or regression issues early on.
    • Resolve conflicts and compatibility issues: In case of conflicts or compatibility issues, you may need to adjust your application’s code to work with the updated dependency. This can involve making code flow changes, updating config files, or finding alternative packages that are compatible with your project.
    • Repeat the process: Regularly repeat steps 2 to 7 to keep your dependencies up to date. This helps ensure your application benefits from the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.

Conclusion

To conclude, I must say that you need to follow the NodeJS best practices discussed in the article to ease the work of developers and business owners. Furthermore, following such practices for your business application development can efficiently boost business productivity.

By adequately implementing such Node best practices, your business application can automatically minimize JavaScript runtime errors and turn into a high-performance, robust node.js application and node process.

Still, if you’ve any queries regarding the Node.js development, feel free to contact Albiorix. We have a strong team of talented Node.js developers to help you build innovative and robust web applications.

What’s New in Node.js 19? Features & Updates That You Must Know

Node.js 19 is now live!

And I know you’re too much excited to know the features and major updates that are introduced in Node.js 19.

If you ask me about what’s exciting about Node.js 19, then I must say that you can expect new releases approximately every two weeks. Since this is an odd-numbered release line, Node version 19 will not be promoted to LTS. Let’s move ahead with your question about what’s new in Node.js 19.

Overview of Node.js 19

With the release of Node.js 19 in the market, a big convenience for Node.js developers came where they can easily deal with early feature testing.

Some of the key highlights that are introduced with Node.js 19 include the update of the V8 JavaScript engine to 10.7 and HTTP(s)/1.1 KeepAlive enabled by default.

Node.js 19 will effectively become the “Current” release line and is going to replace Node.js 18 definitely when it enters long-term support (LTS). So, till then, Node.js 19 will officially be the ‘Current’ release for the next six months, until April 2023.

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What are the Updates on Node.js 19?

Node.js is going to benefit you in many ways especially for dealing with back-end development services. It’s time to explore the major updates that have been introduced the Node.js 19 version.

  1. node –watch (experimental)

    Support for running in “watch” mode using the node —watch option is an intriguing new feature recently added to the runtime. It will restart when an imported file is updated while your application is running in “watch” mode.

    $ node –watch index.js

    This feature is available in v19.0.0 and v18.11.0+.

    Let’s explore this feature with an example.

    In our server/index.js:

    Copy
    const express = require("express");
    const path = require("path");
    const app = express();
    app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, "../build")));
    
    app.listen(8080, () =>
      console.log("Express server is running on localhost:8080")
    );
    

    So, we were using a nodemon tool to run the server and to make instant file changes whenever we restarted our application. We were using the “nodemon server” command to apply the effect for the same.

    Now, with the release of node.js 19, you do not need to type such a command or install the additional tool. Instead, just execute the command “node –watch” to automatically restart the application when file changes are detected.

    Copy
    % node --watch server
    (node:67643) ExperimentalWarning: Watch mode is an experimental feature. 
    This feature could change at any time
    (Use `node --trace-warnings ...` to show where the warning was 
    created)
    Express server is running on localhost:8080
    
  2. HTTP(S)/1.1 KeepAlive by default

    Node.js 19 sets keepAlive to true by default. This means that any outgoing HTTP(s) connection will automatically use HTTP 1.1 keepAlive. The default keepAlive duration is 5 seconds.

    If we consider the same example,

    Copy
    const http = require('node:http');
    console.log(http.globalAgent);
    const https = require('node:https');
    console.log(https.globalAgent);
    

    And if we use Node.js 16 to run the file using the command “nvm use 16”, you’ll see that HTTP.globalAgent and HTTPS.globalAgent set keepAlive false.

    But that’s not the case with Node.js 19. If you execute the server with “nvm use 19”, the output goes something like this.

    • HTTP.globalAgent sets keepAlive true, and the default keepAlive duration is 5 seconds (5000 ms).
    • HTTPS.globalAgent sets keepAlive true, and the default keepAlive duration is 5 seconds (5000 ms).

    Keeping keepAlive to true will generally deliver better throughput as connections are reused by default.

  3. Stable WebCrypto

    The WebCrypto API is a feature-rich interface that helps you build systems using cryptography. With node.js 19, the WebCrypto API is stable (by excluding the algorithms: Ed25519, Ed448, X25519, and X448).

    To access this module, you can use globalThis.crypto or require(‘node:crypto’).webcrypto. Let’s go through an example where we will perform a number of low-level cryptographic functions:

    Copy
    const { subtle } = globalThis.crypto;
    
    (async function() {
    
      const key = await subtle.generateKey({
        name: 'HMAC',
        hash: 'SHA-256',
        length: 256
      }, true, ['sign', 'verify']);
    
      console.log('key =', key);
    
      const enc = new TextEncoder();
      const message = enc.encode('I love cupcakes');
    
      console.log('message =', message);
    
      const digest = await subtle.sign({
        name: 'HMAC'
      }, key, message);
    
     console.log('digest =', digest);
    
    })();
    
    

    (The above code is taken from GitHub)

    If you run the server, the output goes like this.

    Copy
    % node server
    key = CryptoKey {
      type: 'secret',
      extractable: true,
      algorithm: { name: 'HMAC', length: 256, hash: [Object] },
      usages: [ 'sign', 'verify' ]
    }
    message = Uint8Array(15) [
       73, 32, 108, 111, 118,
      101, 32,  99, 117, 112,
       99, 97, 107, 101, 115
    ]
    digest = ArrayBuffer {
      [Uint8Contents]: <30 01 7a 5c d9 e2 82 55 6b 55 90 4f 1d de 36 d7 89 dd fb fb 1a 9e a0 cc 5d d8 49 13 38 2f d1 bc>,
      byteLength: 32
    }
    
    
  4. Custom ESM Resolution Adjustments

    Node.js has removed the –experimental-specifier-resolution flag. Its functionality can now be achieved via custom loaders.

  5. Dropped DTrace/SystemTap/ETW Support

    For the following two reasons, Node.js has dropped the support for DTrace/SystemTap/ETW:

    • There are no clear indicators anyone is using DTrace, SystemTap, or ETW.
    • The complexity of maintaining and supporting these tools has proved not worth the effort.
  6. V8 JavaScript engine is updated to V8 10.7

    Node.js 19 has updated the V8 JavaScript engine to V8 10.7, which includes a new function, Intl.NumberFormat, for language-sensitive number formatting.

    Intl.NumberFormat(locales, options)

    locales is an optional parameter, which is a BCP 47 language tag or an array of such strings.

    These are the major changes that have been introduced in Node.js version 19. If you need any help regarding Node.js installation or upgradation, hire Node.js developers on part-time or full-time basis.

Upgrade to Node.js 19 Now!

What are you waiting for?

Go ahead and download Node.js 19.0.0 today.

Being a Node.js development company Australia, we have a team of expert Node.js developers for hire who are proficient in dealing with application testing and modules in the Node.js 19 version. And yes, by selecting Node.js as your preferred technology for your project needs, you can efficiently build responsive web apps.

find the release post of Node v19.0.0 (Current) which contains the full list of commits included in this release.