In Progress

11. Node.js

Run JavaScript outside the browser. Build fast, scalable backend servers, REST APIs, and fullstack applications — all in a single language.

Instructor: Tom Chant

Curriculum

Part 1

Welcome to Node.js

The Node runtime, the V8 engine, NPM, and how JavaScript runs outside the browser.

Part 2

Build a Node API

Wild Horizons REST API — serving data about unusual travel destinations around the planet.

Part 3

Build a Fullstack Node App

Paranormal encounters app — serve front-end files and handle processing on the back end.

Key Concepts

  • Node.js is a runtime environment, not a language — everything is still JavaScript.
  • Chrome's V8 engine is bundled with Node, enabling JS to run outside the browser.
  • Node is used for REST APIs, server-rendered apps, microservices, desktop tools, IoT, and more.
  • NPM gives you access to millions of open-source packages to build faster and smarter.
  • Understanding core Node.js makes every framework (Express, Nest, Fastify) easier to learn.
  • Prerequisites: comfortable with map, reduce, filter, fetch, and async/await.

Projects