Node.js is a powerful runtime environment that allows developers to execute JavaScript code outside the browser, making it ideal for building scalable, fast, and efficient server-side applications. This Node Js cheatsheet table highlights essential concepts, frequently used modules, and practical examples to make Node.js development simpler and more productive.


On This Page

Nodejs CheatSheet Table: Key Concepts and Syntax

ConceptSyntax / ModuleExample / Notes
Initialize Projectnpm init or npm init -yCreates package.json. Use -y to skip questions.
Import Moduleconst module = require('module');Example: const fs = require('fs');
Export Modulemodule.exports = object/function;Example: module.exports = { greet: () => console.log('Hello') };
HTTP Serverrequire('http');Example: http.createServer((req, res) => { res.end('Hello'); }).listen(3000);
Express Serverrequire('express');Example: const app = express(); app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello'));
Asynchronous File Readfs.readFile('file.txt', callback);Example: fs.readFile('file.txt', 'utf8', (err, data) => console.log(data));
Synchronous File Readfs.readFileSync('file.txt');Use cautiously; blocks execution until the file is read.
Write Filefs.writeFile('file.txt', data, callback);Asynchronously write data to a file.
URL Parsingrequire('url');Example: const url = new URL('https://example.com'); console.log(url.hostname);
Query Stringsrequire('querystring');Parse and stringify query strings: querystring.parse('a=1&b=2');
Event Emitterrequire('events');Example: const EventEmitter = require('events'); const emitter = new EventEmitter();
TimerssetTimeout, setIntervalExample: setTimeout(() => console.log('Hello'), 1000);
Path Modulerequire('path');Example: path.join(__dirname, 'folder', 'file.txt');
OS Modulerequire('os');Get system information: os.platform(); os.freemem();
Process Moduleprocess.argvAccess command-line arguments: node app.js arg1 arg2.
Child Processrequire('child_process');Example: child_process.exec('ls', (err, stdout) => console.log(stdout));
Stream – Readfs.createReadStream('file.txt');Stream data for large files: readStream.on('data', chunk => console.log(chunk));
Stream – Writefs.createWriteStream('file.txt');Pipe readable streams to writable streams: readStream.pipe(writeStream);
BufferBuffer.from(string)Example: const buf = Buffer.from('Hello');
Clusterrequire('cluster');Create multiple processes for better performance.
Environment Variablesprocess.env.VAR_NAMEExample: process.env.PORT; Set with PORT=3000 node app.js.
Middleware (Express)app.use((req, res, next) => { next(); });Example: app.use(express.json());
Routing (Express)app.get, app.post, app.put, app.deleteExample: app.post('/route', (req, res) => res.send('Posted'));
Body Parsingapp.use(express.json());Parse JSON body in requests.
Database Connectionrequire('mongoose');Example: mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/db');
API Fetchrequire('axios');Example: axios.get('https://api.example.com').then(res => console.log(res.data));
WebSocketrequire('ws');Example: const WebSocket = require('ws'); const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 8080 });
JWT Authenticationrequire('jsonwebtoken');Example: jwt.sign(payload, secret, options);
Session Managementrequire('express-session');Example: app.use(session({ secret: 'key', resave: false }));
CORS Handlingrequire('cors');Example: app.use(cors());
Static Filesapp.use(express.static('public'));Serve static files like HTML, CSS, and JS.
Helmet (Security)require('helmet');Example: app.use(helmet()); Enhances security by setting HTTP headers.
Rate Limitingrequire('express-rate-limit');Example: app.use(rateLimit({ windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, max: 100 }));
Error Handlingapp.use((err, req, res, next) => { res.status(500).send(err.message); });Centralized error handling.
Testingrequire('mocha');, require('chai');Example: describe('Test Suite', () => { it('should pass', () => { }); });
Promise Handling.then(), .catch()Handle asynchronous operations: asyncFunc().then().catch();
Async/Awaitasync function() { await promise; }Simplifies promise handling. Example: const data = await fetch();
Cluster Modulerequire('cluster');Use for load balancing: if (cluster.isMaster) { cluster.fork(); }

Corollary

Node.js is a cornerstone for modern server-side development, offering unparalleled speed and scalability. This cheat sheet equips you with the essential tools, modules, and syntax to accelerate your Node.js journey. Whether you’re building REST APIs, handling real-time applications, or managing server tasks, this guide is your quick reference for mastering Node.js.

Bookmark this cheat sheet for your next project and level up your Node.js skills!

node js cheatsheet table

FAQs

What is Node.js used for?

Node.js is a runtime environment that allows you to execute JavaScript on the server side. It is commonly used for:
–Building RESTful APIs
–Developing real-time applications (e.g., chat apps)
–Creating server-side rendered (SSR) applications
–Streaming data and handling asynchronous tasks

What makes Node.js faster than traditional server-side technologies?

Node.js uses the V8 JavaScript engine and operates on a non-blocking, event-driven architecture, which allows it to handle multiple requests concurrently without waiting for I/O operations to complete.

How does Node.js handle asynchronous programming?

Node.js handles asynchronous programming using:
Callbacks: Functions passed as arguments to execute after a task.
Promises: Represent the eventual completion (or failure) of an asynchronous operation.
Async/Await: Cleaner syntax to handle asynchronous code.

What are the key differences between require and import in Node.js?

require is used in CommonJS modules (default in Node.js).
import is used in ECMAScript modules (ESM) and requires "type": "module" in package.json.
require is synchronous, while import is asynchronous.

How do I handle errors in Node.js?

Use a combination of:
Try-Catch blocks: For synchronous and async/await operations.
Error callbacks: For functions using callbacks.
Global error handlers: Use process.on('uncaughtException', handler) for unhandled exceptions.

What is the difference between process.nextTick and setImmediate?

process.nextTick schedules a callback to execute before the next event loop iteration.
setImmediate schedules a callback to execute after the current event loop phase.

How do I handle environment variables in Node.js?

Use the process.env object to access environment variables.
Store variables in a .env file and use the dotenv package to load them into process.env.

How do I scale a Node.js application?

Clustering: Use the cluster module to run multiple instances of your app across CPU cores.
Load Balancers: Distribute traffic among server instances using tools like NGINX.
Microservices Architecture: Break your application into smaller, independent services.

What is the best way to manage dependencies in Node.js?

Use package.json to list dependencies.
Use npm install or yarn to manage libraries.
Regularly update dependencies with npm outdated and audit vulnerabilities with npm audit.

How do I secure a Node.js application?

Use Helmet to set secure HTTP headers.
Sanitize user inputs to prevent injection attacks.
Use bcrypt for password hashing.
Implement rate limiting with tools like express-rate-limit.
Regularly scan for vulnerabilities with npm audit.

How do I debug Node.js applications?

Use the Node.js Debugger with node inspect app.js.
Use debugging tools like Chrome DevTools or VS Code debugger.
Add console.log() for quick debugging (although not recommended for production).

What are some common performance issues in Node.js applications?

Blocking the event loop: Avoid long-running synchronous tasks.
Memory leaks: Use tools like heapdump or node-inspect to detect leaks.
Improper database queries: Optimize queries and use connection pooling.
Poor use of streams: Use Node.js streams effectively for large data handling.

What is the difference between npm and npx?

npm: Node Package Manager used to install and manage packages.
npx: Executes Node.js packages directly without installing them globally.

How do I handle file uploads in Node.js?

Use middleware like Multer for parsing multipart/form-data.
Example:

const multer = require('multer');
const upload = multer({ dest: 'uploads/' });
app.post('/upload', upload.single('file'), (req, res) => res.send('File uploaded!'));

Can I use TypeScript with Node.js?

Yes, install TypeScript and its type definitions for Node.js:

npm install typescript @types/node

Create a tsconfig.json file and compile TypeScript files to JavaScript using tsc.

What are the common Node.js frameworks?

Express.js: Lightweight, flexible, and popular.
Koa: Minimalist framework created by the same team as Express.
NestJS: Built with TypeScript, ideal for scalable server-side apps.
Hapi: Rich plugin architecture for building robust APIs.

How do I handle CORS in Node.js?

Use the cors package:

const cors = require('cors');
app.use(cors());

How do I test Node.js applications?

Mocha and Chai for unit testing.
Jest for an all-in-one testing solution.
Mock APIs and services with Sinon.js or nock.

How can I use WebSockets in Node.js?

Use the ws package to handle WebSocket connections:

const WebSocket = require('ws');
const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 8080 });
wss.on('connection', ws => ws.send('Hello Client'));

What tools can I use for monitoring Node.js applications?

PM2: Process manager for Node.js apps.
New Relic or AppDynamics: For performance monitoring.
Log management tools: Use Winston or Bunyan for logging.

You May Also Like

More From Author

2Comments

Add yours

+ Leave a Comment