Before we begin with the tutorial on installing Node.js, let’s first understand what Node.js is and why it is important. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side, making it ideal for building scalable network applications. It also has an event-driven architecture that allows for asynchronous I/O, making it lightweight and efficient.
Now, let’s move on to the installation process of Node.js:
Step 1: Download Node.js
The first step is to download Node.js from the official website at https://nodejs.org. On the homepage of the website, you will find a big green button that says "Download Node.js". Click on this button to start the download process.
Step 2: Choose the version
There are two versions of Node.js available for download – LTS (Long-Term Support) and Current. The LTS version is recommended for most users as it is more stable and is supported for a longer period of time. However, if you want to use the latest features and improvements, you can choose the Current version.
Step 3: Install Node.js on Windows
Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file to start the installation process. Click on "Next" on the welcome screen, read and accept the license agreement, and choose the installation location. You can leave the default options as they are. Click on "Next" and then on "Install" to begin the installation process. Once the installation is complete, click on "Finish" to close the installer.
Step 4: Verify the installation
To verify that Node.js has been installed successfully, open a command prompt and type the following command:
node -vThis command will display the installed version of Node.js on your system. If you see the version number, it means that Node.js has been installed successfully.
Step 5: Install npm
npm (Node Package Manager) is a package manager for Node.js that allows you to install and manage dependencies for your Node.js projects. Node.js comes bundled with npm, so you don’t need to install it separately. To verify that npm has been installed successfully, open a command prompt and type the following command:
npm -vThis command will display the installed version of npm on your system.
That’s it! You have successfully installed Node.js on your system. Now you can start building server-side applications using JavaScript. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, you can refer to the official documentation on the Node.js website for troubleshooting tips.
