How to Learn Node.js: A Guide to Getting Started

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment used to execute JavaScript outside of the browser.

It is a lightweight and easy framework to learn for frontend developers because it incorporates JavaScript into the backend server without having to learn another language.

A server, with use of a representational state transfer application programming interface (RESTful API), is an event-driven backend that uses endpoints to perform logic whose result will be transferred to the frontend so that the frontend developer can use it on the client side.

Why Should You Learn Node.js?

JavaScript is one of the cornerstones of web development at this moment. Along with HTML and CSS, JavaScript is one of the most popular languages for getting a website up and running.

We use Node.js on the server-side to test our applications outside of a browser environment. Learning Node.js works great in the creation of real-time streaming apps and those network applications that require significant use of a database.

For these reasons, it is a popular choice to include in our tech stack for our backend service.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Node.js?

Consistency is key as you are developing a habit to learn new things and think like an engineer. How long it will take for you to learn Node.js well enough to set out on a career of your own really depends on the time you can devote to learning. 

Ultimately, though, the learning will never truly end. You will eventually become an expert as long as you keep learning. The language and the runtime environment is ever-evolving and learning about those changes will take continued reading and education.

Step-by-Step Plan to Learn Node.js for Free

Step 1: Determine your motivation

Is there a particular reason why you want to learn Node.js specifically?

Do you have an end goal in mind?

What purpose will Node.js serve for your project or career?

What does the future hold as far as job prospects go?

If web development, particularly backend development, was part of your answer at all, you’re on the right path!

Step 2: Learn Node.js By Mastering JavaScript fundamentals

You won’t be able to get started in Node.js development until you have a firm grasp in JavaScript fundamentals. The following is a checklist of topics you need to master before moving on to the creation of backend applications that will serve a full-stack project:

Getting Started

• Learn how to create a small program to test Node.js Environment
• Learn the difference between let, const, and var when it comes to variables
• Use typeof to learn differences between data types
• Logging statements to the JavaScript console
• Arithmetic Operations, including add, subtract, multiply, divide, and modulo 
• Comments, both single line and multi-line

Conditionals

• Be able to write a traditional if-else statement and a ternary statement

Loops

• Traditional For Loops (ES5)
• Advanced Array Methods, including map, reduce, filter, and forEach (ES6)

Functions

• Named Functions
• Anonymous Functions
• Higher Order Functions

Asynchronous JavaScript

• Be sure to know what asynchronous JavaScript is and how it’s used

Backend Basics

• Use npm or yarn to install node modules that can be used in your backend server
• What is an HTTP Request and how it works
• Express.js and other Node.js frameworks to use on as part of your backend application
• Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS)
• Difference between SQL and NoSQL Databases
• Learn how to create a RESTful API

This list is by no means comprehensive.

There are many other topics in the Node.js world that can be learned. These topics are the absolute bare minimum you should master to become a well-rounded Node.js Developer. In the next section, after the step-by-step guide, we’ll take a look at some of the more popular free Node.js tutorials to get you started.

Step 3: Build Projects

Incorporate your new found knowledge to projects that use Node.js. Getting those reps in will not only solidify your knowledge of backend JavaScript and how to use it, but will also help you create a portfolio-worthy code to show off to potential employers.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Create a RESTful API that has endpoints to create, read, update, and delete entries in a directory of some sort. Use a NoSQL database to store your information.
2. Add on to the first project by adding registration and login endpoints. Allow only logged in users to create, update, or delete an entry.
3. Use Socket.io to create a chat application between two people.

Step 4: Progress to More Difficult Projects

Progress towards more difficult projects by adding a frontend to your already created backend project and make it work so it looks great when a user interacts with it online. Try using all kinds of databases to practice using the different types so you know when to choose one over the other. Lastly, take a look at projects you have already created to see if they can be made more efficient. 

More advanced project ideas: 

1. Collaboration tool like Zoom or Google Hangouts
2. Web Scraping a Website to Get Information 
3. URL/link shortener
4. Work on an open-source project and create a Pull Request for it

After you have completed these four steps, the world is yours when it comes to creating Node.js applications! In the next section, we will take a look at some of the tutorials and guides to help you get to this point.

Free Online Node.js Tutorials

JavaScript for Cats, Max Ogden (online, free)

“So easy your human companion could do it too!” 

JavaScript for Cats uses felines to illustrate popular JavaScript concepts. It’s a great single page basic primer on how the language works, covering many topics from variables to callback functions. Use this to understand basic concepts before going on to more advanced topics.

Freecodecamp Basic JavaScript , ES6 JavaScript, and Basic Node and Express, FreeCodeCamp.org (online, free)

Freecodecamp offers a basic JavaScript course that teaches you the programming language with ES5 syntax. Students then graduate to a separate curriculum with ES6 syntax.

This prepares you for interviews that require you to describe your methods, for instance, the difference between a variable declaration with ES5 keyword “var” vs. a variable declaration using the ES6 keyword “let”.

In addition, Freecodecamp offers an API and Microservices Certification that includes a curriculum on using npm, basic Node and Express, and more. Node Package Manager (npm) is just that – a package manager that allows you to add modules to your application. Express is a Node.js framework that makes setting up a server on the backend incredibly simple.

Freecodecamp works well in this regard with its presentation of the material. The learning platform uses testing to make sure you have mastered the material before it shows that you have completed it.

Eloquent JavaScript, Marijn Haverbeke (online, free; print, $)

Eloquent JavaScript is one of the gold standards in references on learning how to write JavaScript with best practices. This book is a fantastic resource for solidifying concepts you have learned with some of the beginning JS tutorials mentioned above. It also talks about how HTTP and Node.js works.

It is in an online book format with a built-in IDE for end-of-chapter exercises. If you prefer an actual tangible product, there is an option for purchasing as well.

Introduction to Node.js, Node.js Tutorials

Node.js provides a basic one-page introduction to the runtime environment as part of its documentation on its website. The sidebar here lists topics that can be of some interest to a Node.js developer and primers on how to get started with those topics. There are many guides available from Node.js to help you become proficient!

Node.js Tutorial for Beginners, @thenewboston (YouTube.com)

This YouTube playlist is a pretty comprehensive first look at Node.js and how it works. The first couple of videos start completely from installation on your respective operating system to diving directly into concepts that will help you to create a server to handle multiple HTTP requests. Really great, free resource!

Wrapping Up

When learning Node.js, we have to take a look at JavaScript and learn the idiosyncrasies of that language to move forward. Once mastered, we can then use that knowledge to create backend applications that will eventually interact with frontend applications to create a full-stack web application.

Learning JavaScript and being able to translate it to work in your Node.js project is not easy. It’ll take some time, but the payoff will be worth it once you get that first working application under your belt.