Node.js VS JavaScript - The Comprehensive Guide

Node.js and Javascript both are the most widely used programming languages these days. These two languages are together used to build full-stack applications that help us to use a single language for both frontend and backend. We don’t need to learn any other programming language. Javascript is used for the frontend part, and Node.js is used for the backend part.

In this blog, we will learn about Javascript and Node.js and their differences in detail.

 Table of Contents

• What is Node.js? 
• What is JavaScript?
• Difference Between Node.js and JavaScript
• Node.JS – Syntax, Features, and Use Case
• Java Script – Syntax, Features, and Use Case

What is Node.js? 

Node.js is a runtime environment that allows us to run javascript code outside a web browser, like on a server or your computer. Node.js is commonly used for web servers, APIs, and full-stack applications. It is mainly used for backend development. It is built upon the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine and operates on a non-blocking, event-driven model that makes it the developer’s first choice.

Node.js was developed by Ryan Dahl in 2009. It is used to build web applications, real-time servers, command-line apps, chat applications, etc.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a very powerful high-level programming language. It is widely used to create interactive and dynamic content on websites. It runs directly on the browser. It can be used for both frontend and backend development. It allows developers to create responsive and engaging websites by adding features like DOM manipulations, form validations, and event handling. It is lightweight and easy to use which makes it a popular choice for web developers.

Javascript was developed by Brendan Eich in 1995 in just 10 days.

Master Web Development

Learn to Build Stunning Websites and Apps from Scratch

Explore Program

Difference Between Node.js and JavaScript

Here are the following differences between Node.js and Javascript:

Node.JS: Syntax, Features, and Use Case

Syntax of Node.js to create a server

const http = require('http');
http.createServer((req, res) => {
 res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
  res.end('Hello, World!\n');
}).listen(3000, '127.0.0.1', () => {
  console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/');

Key Features of Node.js

Here are the following key features of Node.js:

1. Single-Threaded Architecture: Node.js is a single-threaded programming language that will run multiple operations simultaneously.
2. Scalability: The scalability provided by Node.js enables developers to run large-scale applications effectively.
3. Non-blocking I/O: Node.js has a non-blocking I/O architecture, allowing it to process multiple requests at once without delaying the progress of other activities.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Node.js runs on major operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc., which enables developers to build applications that can be deployed on multiple environments.
5. Fast and high-performance: Node.js doesn’t wait for one task to finish before starting another, making it super fast. 

Use Cases of Node.js

Here are the following use cases of Node.js:

1. APIs and Microservices: Node.js is used to create efficient APIs and small microservices.
2. Real-time applications: Node.js can also be used to build real-life applications like chat applications, online gaming, and collaborative applications.
3. Command-line Tools: Node.js can also be used to build command-line tools.
4. Web servers: Node.js can also be used to build scalable web servers.

Become a Web Developer

Learn to Code, Create, and Launch Your Own Websites

Explore Program

Java Script – Syntax, Features, and Use Case

Syntax of Javascript to add two numbers:

function addNumbers(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}
console.log(addNumbers(5, 10)); 
Output: 15

Key Features of JavaScript

1. Client-Side Scripting: Javascript is majorly used for the client-side, that is for the frontend part of the applications like: logic building, event handling, etc.
2. Lightweight: JavaScript is a lightweight programming language that will do a lot of things in less code.
3. Event Handling: Javascript can handle the events triggered by the user like: clicking a button, scrolling the page, hovering over the button, double-clicking, etc.
4. Asynchronous Operations: Since Javascript is a single-threaded synchronous programming language, we can also do asynchronous tasks using Javascript with the help of Javascript Promises and Async/await Keywords.

Use Cases of JavaScript

Here are some real-life use cases of javascript:

1. Mobile Applications: Javascript frameworks like React Native can be used to build mobile applications.
2. Web Applications: Javascript frameworks like React, Angular, and VueJs can be used to build Web applications.
3. Web sites: JavaScript is used to build interactive and dynamic web pages.

Conclusion

So far in this article, we have learned that Javascript is a programming language that works in web browsers to make websites interactive. On the other hand, Node.js is a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to run outside the browser, like on a server.  We have also learned the difference between Node.js and Javascript.
You can explore more in this domain by enrolling in Intellipaat’s Web Development Courses and making your career the right choice.