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.

Node.js Tutorials

The best and easiest way to learn Node.js is by going through Node.js tutorials and courses. You can choose a course based on your experience level, and some courses are even free. Read below to learn more about the best Node.js tutorials to help you advance your software developer skills. 

Best Node.js Tutorials for Beginners

Node.js Tutorials

Tutorials Teacher features Node.js tutorials for programmers to learn basic concepts of the open-source server environment. The tutorials will teach you fundamental to advanced levels of the environment using Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. You will find the tutorials in different sections featuring multiple topics.

The beginner-friendly tutorials have a step-by-step guide that makes them easier to understand. However, you will still need background knowledge in HTML, JavaScript, and web applications. To establish if you are ready for the tutorial, you can sit for the 20-question quiz offered on the platform. The quiz does not have any time limit. 

Learn Node.js Tutorial

You can master Node.js by going through TutorialsPoint’s resources. The step-by-step tutorial will teach you the fundamentals of Node.js with single-page applications, streaming sites, and building an actual application. It’s an excellent platform for software developers who want to learn the basics of Node.js and its multiple architectural concepts. 

Before you delve into the tutorial, it is essential to have background knowledge in JavaScript. It’s a beginner-friendly course, but having a basic understanding of JavaScript will ease the learning process. You should also have experience in programming languages or technologies such as HTML, AJAX library, or CSS. 

The Node.js Master Class

This master class will take you through the entirety of Node.js. Pirple curated the course for only $197 to help students master all the Node.js concepts and APIs. You will understand V8, the architecture of Node application, and different node conventions. The course also touches on building a real-world RESTful API. 

You will also learn how to add configurations, route requests, and add HTTPS support. By the end of the tutorial, you will also know how to build a web application GUI. This means creating, editing, deleting an account, creating and deleting a session, and creating a check. The platform also features videos on building a CLI and how to gain stability and performance. 

Introduction to Node.js

Learning about Node.js can help you seamlessly develop multiple server-side applications. Node.js has its own excellent introductory tutorial to help practitioners advance in tech. The tutorial teaches about different libraries that effectively support networking. Students also learn about Node.js frameworks and tools. 

You will learn Express, Egg.js, Adonis.js, Fastify, or HAPI. These are relevant libraries that are in use by the Node.js developer community to build real-world applications. You will also receive multiple documentation on Node.js API referencing, ES6, and guides featuring technical aspects of the platform.

Node.js Tutorial: Learn in 3 Days

A beginner in the field can go to the advanced level by going through the Guru99 three-day tutorial. In the first lessons, you will learn how to download and the installation process of Node.js. You will also learn different Node.js core modules, how to create HTTP web servers, and scalable network applications.

This tutorial will give you an in-depth view of GraphQL and Rest. You will learn the major differences between Node.js and Angular as well as Python. To ensure you land a job after your coding education, the platform also features possible Node.js interview questions and provides a tutorial for complete beginners. 

Best Advanced Node.js Tutorials

The Complete Node.js Developer Course (3rd Edition)

Udemy provides a 36-hour tutorial for professionals to master Node.js by building a real-time application from scratch. The third edition will take you through three programming languages, namely Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. You will learn about debugging Node.js applications and asynchronous programming. 

If you want to master how to create web servers and APIsin Express, you should consider this advanced tutorial. It also features lessons on building, testing, and launching Node applications. The content delves deeper by teaching students how to access APIs from a browser and application deployment. 

Node JS: Advanced Concepts

Udemy provides yet another advanced course to help professionals master all the advanced concepts of Node.js. For only $90, you will grasp the event loop, utilize AWS S3, worker threats, and browser automation. It is an excellent course for professionals who want to add skills to their resumes or simply strengthen their existing knowledge. 

In 16 hours, you will master C++, fundamentals of Threads, Node Event Loop Ticks, testing Single Threads, and Libuv Thread Pool. You will also learn the multiple Thread Pools, how to change the size of the Threadpool, and explain OS operations. Udemy also ensures you learn to enhance Node performance and automate headless browser testing.

Advanced Node.js

You can go through Pluralsight’s advanced Node.js tutorial to increase your knowledge. This tutorial will help you to master all the concepts of Node.js in under four hours. You will learn Node.js architecture, Node’s CLI, and C++ addons. The video tutorial teaches event loop, event-driven architecture, and Node for networking. 

This is an excellent online course for you to take your skills for building projects to the next level. You will learn child processes, event loops, strand, and module management. You will also learn to be proficient in modern JavaScript, the fundamentals of Node.js, and building a server-side application. 

Code with Node: Learn by Doing

DevSprout features an online tutorial that helps professionals gain deep insight into creating production-grade functionalities and features for a web application using Node and Express.js. This tutorial will teach you ES6, geospatial indexing, search, pagination, or image uploading step by step. 

You will learn Bootstrapping of Express design, models, user routes, post resources, and user authentication. You will also learn how to upload images using Cloudinary and set up geolocation using Mapbox. You can access the 30-minute tutoring service at $100 or the one-hour service at $200. 

Node with React: Fullstack Web Development

Udemy features a 25-hour tutorial to help professionals learn how to build projects using Node.js, React, Redux, and Express. In the online course, you will learn all the major deployment techniques and web technologies. By the time you complete this course, you will know server-side development, authentication with Google, and how to add MongoDB. 

This course requires you to have some knowledge of JavaScript, React, and Redux. It is a relatively demanding course that will help you combine skills in Express and MongoDB through building a full stack web app. By the time you finish, you will have a fully functional Node.js application that can send emails to different users. 

Best Free Node.js Tutorials

Node.js: Getting Started

Pluralsight offers a tutorial to help professionals learn Node.js from scratch. This training will help you strengthen your software development skills. This tutorial is taught by advanced developers. You will gain real-world experience to help you land a job at top-tier tech companies like LinkedIn and Netflix.

You will cover REPL Mode, executing scripts, and working with timers and command-line interface. You will also touch on modern JavaScript concepts and techniques. Students learn variables, arrow functions, object literals, template strings, and classes. By the end of the course, you will have in-depth knowledge of Node.js.

Node.js Tutorial 

W3Schools is a popular platform offering different coding courses, tutorials, and resources to experienced developers and beginners in the field. The platform features multiple examples to help professionals learn about Node.js through examples. You can also try out your own code in the command line interface. 

In addition to live examples, you will find built-in modules and downloadable Node.js resources from the official website. Students will learn how Node.js uses asynchronous code as well as its features and functionalities. These tutorials are a great way to learn this popular framework, and even an experienced developer can benefit.

Node.js Basics

Academind takes professionals through introductory to advanced levels in Node.js through 27 video tutorials on YouTube. The video tutorials will teach you how to build your first application as well as multiple JavaScript modules and functions for this runtime environment. Before you start, you should know at least one programming language.

You will also learn how to render HTML as response and routing. The free tutorial also touches on MongoDB, Mongoose, and Monk. You will learn how to update, modify and delete data on MongoDB after setting it up. This is tutorial video is one of the most accessible Node.js tutorials out there for learning server-side code.

Node Js Tutorial for Beginners: Getting Started with Node

Smartherd features 27 video tutorials to help professionals learn all the fundamentals of Node.js. By going through the tutorials, you will learn the fundamental skills to create scalable and reliable backend services using Node.js. You will also learn multiple tools that come with Node. 

Smartherd also features step-by-step tutorials about package management, event-driven strategies, and writing code on interfaces. To complete the tutorial, you will learn modern aspects of JavaScript to use with Node.js. 

Learn Node.js and Express with This Free 8-hour Back End Development Course

freeCodeCamp features an eight-hour tutorial to help professionals learn core concepts of Node.js and Express. John Smilga, an instructor, will help you learn the basics of Node and Express. He will also teach you the process of building a Rest API web application. You will also build a MERN application and multiple Node projects. 

The YouTube tutorial will also take you through HTTP Intro, NPM Command, Global Install, Event Loop Slides, and Events Emitter. This will help you learn how to create data-intensive real-time applications at no cost. You will also learn about database access and how to avoid application errors.

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.