Node.js v26.0.0 documentation

Usage and example#

Usage#

node [options] [V8 options] [script.js | -e "script" | - ] [arguments]

Please see the Command-line options document for more information.

Example#

An example of a web server written with Node.js which responds with 'Hello, World!':

Commands in this document start with $ or > to replicate how they would appear in a user's terminal. Do not include the $ and > characters. They are there to show the start of each command.

Lines that don't start with $ or > character show the output of the previous command.

First, make sure to have downloaded and installed Node.js. See Installing Node.js via package manager for further install information.

Now, create an empty project folder called projects, then navigate into it.

Linux and Mac:

mkdir ~/projects
cd ~/projects
bashcopy

Windows CMD:

mkdir %USERPROFILE%\projects
cd %USERPROFILE%\projects
powershellcopy

Windows PowerShell:

mkdir $env:USERPROFILE\projects
cd $env:USERPROFILE\projects
powershellcopy

Next, create a new source file in the projects folder and call it hello-world.js.

Open hello-world.js in any preferred text editor and paste in the following content:

const http = require('node:http');

const hostname = '127.0.0.1';
const port = 3000;

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.statusCode = 200;
  res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
  res.end('Hello, World!\n');
});

server.listen(port, hostname, () => {
  console.log(`Server running at http://${hostname}:${port}/`);
});
jscopy

Save the file. Then, in the terminal window, to run the hello-world.js file, enter:

node hello-world.js
bashcopy

Output like this should appear in the terminal:

Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/
consolecopy

Now, open any preferred web browser and visit http://127.0.0.1:3000.

If the browser displays the string Hello, World!, that indicates the server is working.