How to Learn Node.js: Event-Driven Programming Made Easy

Creating web applications and websites can be lucrative, fun, and helpful. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are essential tools of the trade, but Node.js, a derivative of JavaScript, is becoming just as important for web developers. Due to its relative ease of use, quality of life improvements, and dedicated development team, learning Node.js is well worth the effort.

Let’s find out how getting to know Node.js can help you start a career in tech. 

What Is Node.js?

Node.js is a cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that specializes in running JavaScript without the aid of a web browser. It allows front-end web developers to create dynamic web applications and other content more easily. 

Node.js runs on the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine, and it’s completely free and open-source.

Developed by software engineer Ryan Dahl over a decade ago, Node.js is the perfect tool for front-end web development. It allows developers to make critical changes to web servers using JavaScript. This allows for an easy transition to the client-side. 

In short, Node.js makes a developer’s job a lot less stressful. This is especially true on the front end, as Node.js’s event-driven framework eliminates the need to learn a different programming language. It allows web developers to run and test web applications and website functions outside of the web browser, all in real time. 

What Is Node.js Used For?

Mastering Node.js can be extremely beneficial for you in the real world. Let’s see where specific aspects of the runtime environment find the most use. 

Front-End Web Development 

As you can surmise, front-end web developers benefit significantly from the effortless writing of command lines in JavaScript. Node.js allows for a more optimized, streamlined way of coding. And while both front-end and backend developers can benefit from learning Node.js, the former definitely get a little extra use out of Node.js.

Software Engineering

Becoming a software engineer is a fantastic idea and so is knowing the basics of Node.js. Node.js is a key resource in a software developer’s toolkit.

Node.js Development

Even programming tools can reap the benefits of self-improvement. Node.js development focuses on diligently updating, testing, and improving the open-source framework.

Learn Node.js: Step-by-Step 

The journey to learn Node.js might not be immediately obvious. Sure, you could go off on your own and learn at your own pace, but not everyone has that luxury. Let’s take a look at what the critical steps are to learn Node.js in a more structured way.

1. Learn JavaScript

It makes sense that to master Node.js you must also know everything about JavaScript. After all, what do you think the “js” stands for? 

Learning JavaScript is a fantastic first step to eventually mastering Node.js. And it’s a great tool to know in general anyway. If you’re looking to start a career in web development, knowing JavaScript is arguably the most crucial skill to have. Node.js and JavaScript go hand in hand.

Luckily, JavaScript is one of the top programming languages you should learn, regardless of Node.js. Once you have a working knowledge of JavaScript, it’s time to move onto the second step.

2. Install Node.js

Now that you have a working knowledge of JavaScript (no need to be a master yet), it is time to install Node.js onto your system. Since Node.js is cross-platform and open-source, all you need to do is make your way to the download page.

This is a prebuilt installer, and there are versions for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platforms. Make sure to explore the index of all versions. You can access the source code from the index as well.

3. Take an Online Class

You can find an online class in almost anything these days. If you have the drive and determination to learn something, there’s a class for it. 

Luckily for you, Node.js isn’t some obscure subject. There are multiple courses taught by experts in software and web development. Some online courses even allow you to earn certificates in Node.js, which will be a useful addition to your CV. 

4. Enroll in a Coding Bootcamp

If you’re looking for a more traditional form of education, we recommend coding bootcamps. Coding bootcamps are a fantastic way to learn various in-demand tech skills quickly. Over a few weeks or months (depending on the subject), you will learn everything there is to know about a particular programming language. 

These coding bootcamps also assist you when it is time to land your lucrative job in tech. Payment plans are often flexible, and there are even coding bootcamp scholarship opportunities. 

5. Practice and Experiment 

Knowing how Node.js works isn’t worth a thing without practical experience. Practicing and experimenting are great ways to familiarize yourself with Node.js and build out your web development portfolio at the same time. With a cursory Google search, you can find great project ideas, lines of code, and ways to perfect your craft.

The Best Node.js Courses

Taking online courses is one of the fundamental steps of learning Node.js and it can help immensely. And there are both free and paid course options for you to choose from. These courses can give you adequate Node.js training to explore a future career.

Let’s look at some of the most notable, best-selling Node.js courses on the market today.

Node with React: Fullstack Web Development

In this course, you learn Node.js alongside React, which is a wildly popular JavaScript library. Using these two tools, you exponentially improve your ability to create dynamic web pages and web applications. This course, taught by Stephen Grider, teaches you how to use Node.js along with React to engage in effective full-stack development. 

Using tools like Mongo as well as React, students will immediately start creating JavaScript projects. Over nearly 26 hours of course time, students will master Node.js and React as well as learn how to think critically about how web pages connect and work with one another.

A great way to prepare for this course is by checking out the official Node.js documentation. It’s an unparalleled way to learn things like file systems, event-driven non-blocking, and how to master the command line.

Learn Node.js from Codecademy

The experts at Codecademy offer this comprehensive curriculum in Node.js. This course aims to imbue students with essential knowledge of server-side web development. 

Students will learn everything there is to know about backend web development, how Node.js reacts with JavaScript runtime, and how to develop web applications for the real world. There are two lessons in this program, focusing on front-end and backend web development, server-side information, storing data, using APIs, and a final review.

The only prerequisite for Codecademy’s course is that you know a little bit about JavaScript. While you don’t need to be a master in JavaScript, you will need it as the bedrock of your knowledge to learn Node.js.

The Complete Node.js Developer Course (Third Edition)

Full-stack web developers Andrew Mead and Robert Percival take Ryan Dahl’s creation and make it feel like second nature to students. This course takes rookie JavaScript users and turns them into dynamic web developers using the Node.js and React libraries. This combination of tools will enable students to partake in fantastic group projects and experiments. 

At the end of the course, students will have the ability to launch their Node apps into production. To take this course, students will need to have a basic grasp of JavaScript and also have a computer. 

You can supplement this course material by checking out the W3Schools page on Node.js. Browse through 11 main sections covering the server-side of web development, and then branch out into using Node.js in conjunction with MySQL and Raspberry Pi. 

Learn and Understand NodeJS

Sure, you can learn about Node.js, but what does it mean to truly understand a framework like Node? Anthony Alicea takes you on an in-depth journey to learn Node.js. You will use the V8 JavaScript engine to master Node concepts. You will also use APIs to build web pages and gain an invaluable understanding of JavaScript and Node’s technical aspects. 

Over 13 hours, students will go from not knowing anything about Node to creating web applications and understanding everything about the command line. 

You will need to understand the basics of JavaScript, like loops, essential functions, and variables to take this course. You will also need to know some basic HTML and have a text editor at your disposal. 

Node JS: Advanced Concepts

This class is perfect for those who have gone through the Node basics and want to increase their knowledge. Stephen Grider returns to teach an even more technically advanced course.

Students will master the event loop, get familiar with adding and editing images, implement browser testing, and use working threads and clustering. 

Although this isn’t the place to start learning Node.js, it’s the logical next step after getting familiar with the framework. If you find yourself struggling with some of the material, maybe check out the OpenJS Foundation. 

Is Learning Node.js Right for You?

Whether you are developing web applications for Google Chrome or Safari, harnessing Node.js skills will be hugely advantageous.

Learning Node.js gives web developers the ability to handle requests, share projects, and effortlessly create for the client-side web server without any hassle. After learning JavaScript, learning Node.js is quite possibly the most useful aspect of web development to explore.