What Is the Best Way to Learn Node.js?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learning Node.js helps you understand back-end development processes for applications, equipping you with the tools of the V8 JavaScript engine anywhere. Discover the key prerequisites of Node.js and the skills you need to succeed in this space.

[Feature Image] Two learners in a brightly lit common space research the best way to learn Node.js.

If you are a front-end JavaScript web developer, you might want to learn Node.js to move to back-end or full-stack development or increase your earning potential. The best way to learn Node.js will depend on your current skills in JavaScript, your knowledge of asynchronous programming, and your experience with the Node Package Manager (NPM). It will likely also vary based on your previous experience, how many prerequisites you have, and what your goals are. 

Explore some prerequisites that make learning Node.js easier, what you can do with this development platform, and how to start gaining skills today. 

What is Node.js used for?

Node.js gives developers access to a cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment powered by the V8 JavaScript engine and built on Google Chrome. This allows you to operate beyond the browser on web servers or local machines. Node.js, which developers sometimes simply refer to as Node, is free and open-source. With Node.js, you can create:

  • Application programming interfaces (APIs)

  • Server-rendered applications like dynamic HTML pages and other web servers

  • Real-time applications like chatbots and online collaboration tools like Google Docs

  • Development of microservices

  • Developing real-time bots for applications like Discord, Twitter (X), or Slack

Node allows you to run an app as a single process with asynchronous input/output (I/O) because Node.js pauses CPU operations until the request to the server comes back with its response. This is why Node.js can run thousands of simultaneous connections to a server. 

Is Node.js easy to learn?

If you already understand JavaScript or have some experience in front-end development, learning Node.js may be easier since it uses JavaScript to write server-side code. This allows you to interact with back-end development without needing to learn an additional programming language, making your process more efficient. 

Node.js prerequisites

The official Node.js documentation on nodejs.org recommends that developers have experience in the following JavaScript concepts [1]:

  • Lexical Structure

  • Expressions

  • Data Types

  • Classes

  • Variables

  • Functions

  • this operator

  • Arrow Functions

  • Loops

  • Scopes

  • Arrays

  • Template Literals

  • Strict Mode

  • ECMAScript 2015 (ES6) and beyond

  • Asynchronous JavaScript

To utilize Node.js, you’ll also want to understand asynchronous programming concepts such as timers, callbacks, promises, async/await, closures, and event loops. Since you can develop web applications using Node.js, knowing HTTP requests, JSON APIs, and the Node Package Manager (NPM) can also help. If you have experience in front-end JavaScript development, you may already have many of these skills. 

The best way to learn Node.js

One of the best ways to learn Node.js is to determine what you already know. If you understand many of the prerequisites above, then you may be ready to start learning Node.js. If you want to test your readiness, Coursera has a Node.js Skills assessment that you can use to determine which courses might fit your skill level. You can also use the How to Start Learning Node.js: A Custom Course Guide to determine your goals, define some paths that may work for you, and the best ways for you to begin.

Other starting points for you to learn Node.js include:

  • Exploring the official Node.js documentation

  • Taking online courses

  • Explore coding boot camps

  • Verifying your skills with professional certifications

Explore the Node.js documentation

The Node.js documentation is written and maintained by official Node.js contributors. The documentation is a primary source you can use for an overview of the entire framework. It covers some prerequisites you should know, like JavaScript, an overview of the V8 JavaScript engine, and an introduction to the npm package manager. It also gives tips for debugging, how it works with TypeScript, asynchronous work, how to publish Node.js packages, and how to test code. 

By exploring the Node.js documentation, you can get a detailed overview of how to use it, the tools it integrates with, how to start a Node.js project, package it, test it, and develop continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) of your projects.

Take an online course

If you thrive in a more structured learning environment, an online course could be the most effective way for you to learn Node.js. Many professional massive open online courses (MOOCs) have Node.js courses. Some of the offerings on Coursera include:

To put your skills in action, you may want to consider a Guided Project, also on Coursera:

If you’d like to take a more self-taught approach, YouTube offers many full-length Node.js courses from various instructors and professionals. 

Attend a boot camp 

If you’d like to build skills quickly and with project-based experience, you may want to consider a boot camp. Boot camps help you develop in-demand skills with the aim of giving you job-ready skills as an alternative to a traditional degree. Some boot camps available include:

Salary and job outlook

Learning Node.js could increase the amount you earn as a software developer. According to Glassdoor, the average annual base pay for a Node.js developer is $108,087 [2]. The average base salary for a developer with skills in Node.js, according to Payscale, is $106,000 [3]. Additionally, the job outlook appears promising. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the software development field will grow by 17 percent in the decade leading up to 2033 [4]. 

Learn Node.js with Coursera

Node.js is a robust back-end development tool that allows front-end developers with JavaScript experience to expand their skills and create full-stack applications outside of the browser environment. You can begin building these in-demand skills in JavaScript development, with educational options such as the IBM Full-Stack JavaScript Developer Professional Certificate or the IBM Back-end JavaScript Developer Professional Certificate on Coursera. 

Article sources

1. 

Node.js. “How much JavaScript do you need to know to use Node.js?, https://nodejs.org/en/learn/getting-started/how-much-javascript-do-you-need-to-know-to-use-nodejs.” Accessed May 4, 2025. 

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