Nodejs Q&A
Nodejs Q&A
Write its
syntax.
The command to initialize Node Package Manager (NPM) is npm init. It sets up a new or
existing project with a package.json file, which contains metadata about the project.
Syntax:
npm init
For a quicker setup without prompts, you can use npm init -y to generate a package.json
file with default values.
The file system (fs) module in Node.js is used to handle file operations such as reading, writing,
appending, deleting, and renaming files.
It also facilitates directory creation, deletion, and reading.
Example tasks include creating a file with fs.writeFile(), reading file content using
fs.readFile(), and checking if a file exists with fs.existsSync().
c) What is REPL?
d) What is Express.js?
The prompt-sync module is used to take input from the user synchronously in a Node.js
environment.
It simplifies reading input directly from the console in real-time applications.
It is especially useful in CLI-based programs where user interaction is required.
Example:
1. fs: File system module for handling file and directory operations.
2. http: Used to create HTTP servers and handle requests and responses.
3. path: Provides utilities for handling and transforming file paths.
4. os: Provides information about the operating system, such as CPU, memory, and
uptime.
The command used for deleting a file in Node.js is fs.unlink() or fs.unlinkSync() for
synchronous operation.
Example:
const fs = require('fs');
fs.unlink('file.txt', (err) => {
if (err) throw err;
console.log('File deleted successfully!');
});
Buffers in Node.js are used to handle binary data. The syntax to create a Buffer is:
This command downloads and installs the MySQL client library for Node.js in the current project
directory. You can then use it to connect and interact with MySQL databases.
1. fs (File System): Provides functionalities to work with files and directories, such as
reading and writing files.
2. http: Enables creating HTTP servers and making HTTP requests.
3. path: Utilities to work with file and directory paths.
4. os: Provides information about the operating system, such as CPU and memory details.
1. This command fetches the MySQL library and adds it to your project.
2. The package allows you to connect and interact with a MySQL database.
3. It is added under dependencies in package.json.
4. After installation, you can use require('mysql') to access its functionalities.
5. Use npm install mysql@<version> to install a specific version if needed.
1. CPU-intensive Tasks: Node.js is not ideal for heavy computational tasks like video
encoding.
2. Blocking Operations: Synchronous and blocking tasks slow down its event loop.
3. Monolithic Applications: Node.js excels with microservices, but monoliths can limit
scalability.
4. Real-time Graphics Rendering: Node.js is less suitable for rendering-intensive
applications.
5. Legacy Systems: Integration with systems requiring synchronous processes can be
complex.
j) Write steps to handle HTTP requests while creating a web server using
Node.js
1. Import HTTP Module: Use require('http') to load the HTTP core module.
2. Create a Server: Use http.createServer() to set up the server and define a
request handler.
3. Handle Requests: Write logic in the callback to handle req (request) and res
(response) objects.
4. Send a Response: Use methods like res.writeHead() and res.end() to send
responses.
5. Listen to a Port: Call server.listen(port, callback) to start the server on a
specific port.
Example Code:
server.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
});
In Node.js, packages can be installed globally using the npm (Node Package Manager)
command with the -g flag. A globally installed package is available system-wide and can be
accessed from any directory on your computer. This is particularly useful for command-line tools
and utilities.
Example:
If we want to install the nodemon package globally, which is a tool for automatically restarting a
Node.js application when file changes are detected, we use the following command:
After installation, you can check if the package is available globally by running:
nodemon --version
Node.js is a popular JavaScript runtime environment known for its scalability, efficiency, and
non-blocking I/O features. Here are some advantages:
The Node.js process model is based on a single-threaded event loop architecture, which
makes it highly efficient for handling concurrent requests. Here's an explanation:
1. Single-threaded Nature: Node.js uses a single thread to execute JavaScript code,
reducing the overhead of thread management.
2. Event Loop: The event loop handles all asynchronous operations, such as I/O tasks,
timers, and callbacks.
3. Non-blocking I/O: Instead of waiting for I/O operations to complete, Node.js delegates
these tasks to the system or worker threads, allowing the main thread to continue
executing other code.
4. Asynchronous Callbacks: When an asynchronous task completes, the callback
associated with the task is pushed to the event loop for execution.
5. Worker Threads: For CPU-intensive operations, Node.js uses worker threads from the
libuv thread pool to handle tasks without blocking the event loop.
6. Advantages:
○ High scalability
○ Efficient resource utilization
○ Ability to handle thousands of concurrent connections
This model is ideal for I/O-heavy applications like web servers, but less suited for CPU-intensive
applications.
When Node.js receives a file request, it uses its non-blocking I/O and asynchronous features
to handle the request efficiently. Here's the step-by-step process:
1. Receive the Request: The server listens for incoming file requests using the http or
similar modules.
2. Process the Request: Node.js processes the request and determines the file to be
served.
3. Asynchronous File Handling:
○ The fs module is used to read the file from the file system.
○ File reading is done asynchronously using methods like fs.readFile().
4. Error Handling: If the file is not found or an error occurs, an appropriate error message
(e.g., 404 Not Found) is sent to the client.
5. Send the Response: Once the file is successfully read, it is sent to the client using the
response.write() or similar methods.
The package.json file is essential for managing a Node.js project, as it stores metadata about
the project and its dependencies.
Command to create a package.json file:
npm init
Example:
When you run npm init, it prompts you with a series of questions:
npm init
Questions:
{
"name": "my-project",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "A sample Node.js project",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"author": "Your Name",
"license": "ISC",
"keywords": ["sample", "nodejs"]
}
Alternatively, use the --yes flag to skip prompts and generate a file with default values:
Node.js uses a Single Threaded Event Loop Model to handle requests efficiently. Here’s how
it works:
1. Single Thread: The Node.js process runs on a single thread to handle multiple client
requests.
2. Event Loop: The event loop continuously checks for tasks and processes them
asynchronously.
3. Non-Blocking I/O: Node.js delegates I/O operations to the system or thread pool,
freeing up the main thread.
4. Callback Queue: Once the I/O operation completes, the callback is pushed to the queue
for execution.
5. Concurrency: This approach enables Node.js to handle thousands of requests
concurrently without creating multiple threads.
Diagram:
Client Request
↓
Single Thread
↓
Event Loop --------→ Callback Queue
↓ ↑
Asynchronous Completed I/O
Task Delegation
Node.js handles file requests using its asynchronous I/O model. Here is the step-by-step
process:
1. Receiving a Request: A client sends a request to the server for a specific file.
2. Processing the Request: The Node.js server receives the request and checks if the
requested file exists.
3. Asynchronous File Access: The fs (File System) module is used to read the file. This
operation is performed asynchronously to avoid blocking the event loop.
4. Callback Execution: Once the file read operation completes, the callback function is
executed.
5. Sending the Response: The server sends the file data to the client as a response.
6. Error Handling: If the file does not exist or there is an error, the server sends an
appropriate error message.
The module.exports object is used to expose functions, objects, or variables from one file to
be used in another file. It facilitates the modularity and reusability of code in Node.js
applications. Here’s a detailed explanation:
1. Exporting Functions: Developers can create reusable functions in one file and use
them in other files by exporting them with module.exports.
2. Exporting Objects: Complex data structures like objects and arrays can be exported
and shared across different modules.
3. Default Export Mechanism: When a module is required, Node.js returns the
module.exports object of that module.
4. Code Modularity: It helps in organizing code into smaller, manageable pieces for better
maintainability.
5. Sharing Constants: Constant values or configurations can be exported for use across
the application.
6. Customizable Export: The module.exports object can be assigned custom
properties or functions to define what should be accessible from the module.
In Node.js, asynchronous file operations are performed using the fs module. Writing data to a
file asynchronously involves using fs.writeFile(), which takes a file path, data to write, and
a callback function to handle errors or confirm success. Asynchronous operations are
non-blocking, meaning the program continues execution without waiting for the operation to
complete.
Example:
const fs = require('fs');
if (err) {
return;
});
Here, fs.writeFile() starts the writing process and moves to the next statement
immediately. The callback function is executed after the write operation completes.
Example:
console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`);
});
myEmitter.emit('greet', 'Alice');
myEmitter.emit('greet', 'Bob');
Here, addListener() is used to register a listener for the greet event. When the greet
event is emitted, the listener executes, displaying a personalized greeting.
NPM (Node Package Manager) is a powerful tool that comes with Node.js, used for managing
packages or modules in JavaScript applications. It simplifies the installation, updating, and
management of libraries and frameworks.
Key features:
1. Package Management: NPM allows developers to install and manage third-party
libraries, tools, and dependencies.
2. Global and Local Installation: Packages can be installed globally for system-wide use
or locally for project-specific use.
3. Dependency Management: It automatically resolves and installs dependencies
specified in a package.json file.
4. Version Control: NPM allows developers to install specific versions of a package or
update them.
5. Publishing Packages: Developers can publish their own modules to the NPM registry,
making them available to the global community.
Usage Example:
NPM's ecosystem is essential for modern JavaScript development, offering a vast repository of
modules.
This program establishes a connection to a MySQL database, fetches all records from the
Players table, and logs the results.
Explanation:
1. By default, every Node.js file is a module, and the exports object is its public API.
2. Assigning properties to module.exports makes them available for import in other
modules.
Node.js has several standout features that make it popular for server-side and full-stack
development:
1. Asynchronous and Event-Driven: All APIs of Node.js are asynchronous, meaning the
server does not wait for API calls to return data. This makes it efficient for I/O operations.
2. Single-Threaded Model: It uses a single-threaded event loop architecture, which can
handle many requests simultaneously without creating multiple threads.
3. Fast Execution: Built on the V8 JavaScript engine, Node.js executes JavaScript code
extremely fast, making it suitable for real-time applications.
4. Non-blocking I/O: Node.js processes multiple requests without blocking the execution
of other tasks, ensuring high scalability.
5. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Applications built with Node.js can run on Windows,
macOS, and Linux.
6. Rich Ecosystem: The npm (Node Package Manager) provides access to over a million
libraries, simplifying development.
7. Real-Time Communication: Node.js is ideal for applications like chat servers and live
notifications, where low-latency and high-throughput are essential.
8. JSON Support: Seamless handling of JSON data makes it a preferred choice for APIs
and database communication.
9. Community Support: Node.js has a vast and active community, constantly contributing
tools, frameworks, and libraries.
10. Easy Scalability: Its event-driven architecture and clustering capabilities allow scaling
applications efficiently.
host: 'localhost',
user: 'root',
password: '',
database: 'exampleDB'
});
connection.connect((err) => {
if (err) {
return;
});
if (err) {
return;
console.log(results);
});
connection.end();
const fs = require('fs');
if (err) {
return;
});
if (err) {
return;
});
Code Example:
exports.area = function(side) {
};
let side = 5;
Explanation:
1. Module Creation: square.js is a custom module that exports an
area function.
2. Import Module: The require('./square') statement imports the
module in app.js.
3. Execution: The program calculates and displays the area of a
square with a given side.
Code Example:
const fs = require('fs');
} else {
});
Explanation:
Parameters:
1. Host:
○ Specifies the hostname or IP address of the database server.
○ Example: host: 'localhost'.
2. User:
○ The username for database authentication.
○ Example: user: 'root'.
3. Password:
○ Password associated with the database user.
○ Example: password: 'yourpassword'.
4. Database:
○ The name of the specific database to connect to.
○ Example: database: 'mydatabase'.
5. Port (Optional):
○ Specifies the port number for the connection.
○ Example: port: 3306.
});
connection.connect((err) => {
if (err) {
return;
}
console.log('Connected to the database with ID:',
connection.threadId);
});
connection.end();
Explanation:
Explanation:
1. The EventEmitter module is used to handle custom events.
2. The on method registers an event listener for a specific event.
3. The emit method triggers the event, executing all associated
listeners.
4. This programming model is ideal for building scalable
applications like chat apps and real-time analytics, where
multiple asynchronous operations occur simultaneously.
Example:
};
console.log(greet('Alice'));
setTimeout(function() {
Explanation:
c) Explain is module?