Node.js is not a JavaScript framework—it’s a JavaScript runtime environment. Here’s what that means:
What is Node.js?
- Runtime Environment: Node.js allows JavaScript to run outside of the browser. Traditionally, JavaScript could only execute in the browser (like in Chrome or Firefox), but Node.js enables it to run on the server or your local machine.
- Powered by V8 Engine: It uses Google’s V8 JavaScript engine to execute code, providing high performance.
- Event-Driven and Non-Blocking: It uses an event-driven, asynchronous architecture, making it great for building scalable, real-time applications.
What’s the Difference Between a Framework and a Runtime?
- Runtime: Provides an environment to execute code (e.g., Node.js runs JavaScript on servers).
- Framework: A collection of tools and libraries designed to simplify application development (e.g., Express.js is a framework built on Node.js).
Examples of Frameworks vs. Runtimes
| Runtime | Framework |
|---|---|
| Node.js (JavaScript) | Express.js |
| Python (Runtime) | Django, Flask |
| Java (Runtime/Platform) | Spring, Hibernate |
In summary, Node.js is a runtime, not a framework. Frameworks like Express.js are built on top of Node.js to simplify building web applications.
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