How to Run a Server with JavaScript and Node.js

In a previous discussion about the several different things you can do with JavaScript, it was mentioned that you can build a server with JavaScript using Node.js. So, before we dive into practical applications, let's explore how you can run a server with JavaScript.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a runtime environment. A runtime environment is the setting in which a program or an application is executed. Essentially, Node.js allows you to run a JavaScript program outside a browser like Firefox or Chrome. Node.js achieves this by running the V8 engine, which is the core of Google Chrome, outside the browser.

Node.js has gained significant attention from front-end developers, who can now build server-side applications with the programming language they're already familiar with, instead of needing to learn a new one.

Leveraging NPM Packages

Node.js also allows you to use numerous NPM packages, which provide the easiest and fastest way to incorporate JavaScript modules. A module is a block of code designed to perform a specific function. For instance, if someone has written the code to build a calendar, a chart, or a table, each of these can be considered a module. If a module is registered in NPM (Node Package Manager), you can very easily import and integrate it into your project.

For example, if you want to add a calendar to your blog to check what kind of posts you've written on a certain date, you don't have to write every single line of code yourself.

Note: You can simply install a calendar package with NPM and integrate it into your project, saving significant development time.

As you continue with your projects, you will encounter many popular packages and become familiar with them.

Why is Node.js So Efficient?

Frameworks like Express.js and Nest.js have become very popular, and many companies use Node.js as the backbone of their server infrastructure. This popularity is partly because Node.js runs in a single process. This architecture means that Node.js can handle thousands of concurrent requests on a single server, making it highly efficient.

When building a server with Node.js, the process for handling a new blog post would look something like this: a request is sent to the server, and Node.js handles that request, saving the post to a database. Subsequently, when someone else tries to access the blog, the server will fetch this data, allowing visitors to read the post.