nodejs.org/
Node.js
Node.js is free. JavaScript runtime for the server. Run apps, CLIs, and build tools outside the browser.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is free. Node.js lets you run JavaScript on the server with a non-blocking I/O model. It powers Express APIs, Next.js servers, tooling like Vite and PM2, and most of the JavaScript ecosystem’s package scripts. npm ships with Node; you install packages and start processes from the same runtime.
Node.js is a tool in the Server Tools category of a tech stack.
Level
Key Features
JavaScript outside the browsernpm package ecosystemNon-blocking I/OCross-platform binariesBuilt-in modules (fs, http, path)
Node.js Pros & Cons
Pros of Node.js
Same language as front-end JavaScript
Huge package ecosystem via npm
Fits APIs, scripts, and full-stack frameworks
Cons of Node.js
CPU-heavy work needs care or workers
Version and native-module friction across machines
Not a fit if you want a different server language