Backend Development with Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It allows developers to use JavaScript on the server side, enabling the creation of scalable and efficient web applications.

To get started with Node.js, follow these steps:

1. Install Node.js from the official website.
2. Verify the installation by running node -v and npm -v in your terminal.
3. Create a new project directory and navigate into it:

mkdir my-node-app
cd my-node-app

4. Initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

3.1 Asynchronous Programming

Node.js is built on an asynchronous, non-blocking I/O model. This design allows for handling multiple operations simultaneously without waiting for each to finish.

3.2 Event Loop

The event loop is a core part of Node.js that allows it to perform non-blocking I/O operations. It enables the processing of asynchronous events.

3.3 Express.js Framework

Express is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications.

To create a simple RESTful API using Express.js, follow these steps:

1. Install Express.js:

npm install express

2. Create a file named app.js and include the following code:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
    res.send('Hello, World!');
});

app.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});

3. Run the application:

node app.js

4. Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to see the response.

When developing with Node.js, consider these best practices:

• Use environment variables for sensitive data.
• Implement error handling mechanisms.
• Keep your code modular and organized.
• Utilize asynchronous programming techniques effectively.
• Regularly update dependencies to address security vulnerabilities.