Getting Started with Node.js in 2024

Node.js has revolutionized server-side JavaScript development. In this tutorial, we'll walk through everything you need to know to get started.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside a web browser. It lets developers use JavaScript to write command line tools and for server-side scripting.

Installation

Windows

Download the installer from the official website.
Run the .msi file and follow the prompts.
Open Command Prompt and type node -v to verify.

macOS

The easiest way is using Homebrew:

bash

brew install node

Your First Script

Create a file named hello.js:

javascript

console.log("Hello, World!");

Run it with:

bash

node hello.js

Congratulations! You just ran your first Node.js program.

Next Steps

Now that you have Node.js installed, you can start exploring its vast ecosystem of packages on npm (Node Package Manager). In the next tutorial, we'll build a web server!