What Can Node.js Do? 5 Must-Do Practical Projects for Beginners

Node.js is a tool based on Chrome's V8 engine that enables JavaScript to run on the server side. Its core advantages are non-blocking I/O and event-driven architecture, making it suitable for handling high-concurrency asynchronous tasks. It has a wide range of application scenarios: developing web applications (e.g., with Express/Koa frameworks), API interfaces, real-time applications (e.g., real-time messaging using Socket.io), command-line tools, and data analysis/crawlers. For beginners, the article recommends 5 practical projects: a personal blog (using Express + EJS + file reading/writing), a command-line to-do list (using commander + JSON storage), a RESTful API (using Express + JSON data), a real-time chat application (using Socket.io), and a weather query tool (using axios + third-party APIs). These projects cover core knowledge points such as route design, asynchronous operations, and real-time communication. In summary, it emphasizes that starting with Node.js requires hands-on practice. Completing these projects allows gradual mastery of key skills. It is recommended to begin with simple projects, consistently practice by consulting documentation and referring to examples, and quickly enhance practical capabilities.

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Getting Started with Node.js: The First Step in JavaScript Backend Development

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment built on the V8 engine, enabling JavaScript to run on the server - side without a browser and facilitating full - stack development. Its core advantages lie in: no need to switch languages for full - stack development, non - blocking I/O for efficient handling of concurrent requests, light weight for rapid project development, and npm providing a rich ecosystem of packages. Installation is simple; after downloading the LTS version from the official website, you can verify the success by running `node -v` and `npm -v`. For the first program, create a `server.js` file, use the `http` module to write an HTTP server, and listen on a port to return "Hello World". Core capabilities include file operations with the `fs` module and npm package management (such as installing `figlet` to achieve artistic text). It is easy to get started with Node.js. It is recommended to start with practice, and later you can explore the Express framework or full - stack projects.

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