Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine for executing JavaScript code outside of a browser. It provides an event-driven, non-blocking (asynchronous) I/O and cross-platform runtime environment for building highly scalable server-side applications using JavaScript.
Node.js versions are managed through a long-term support (LTS) policy, which ensures stability and extended support for key versions, making it easier for developers and organizations to maintain their applications
What is Node.js LTS Version?
LTS version stands for the Long Term Support version, where the release of the software is maintained for an extended period. The LTS version is commonly recommended for most users due to its stability and extended support.
The versions are divided into three main types:
- Current: The latest version with new features and improvements. It is updated frequently but is not recommended for production use.
- Active LTS: A stable version that receives critical bug fixes, security updates, and non-breaking improvements. This is recommended for production environments.
- Maintenance LTS: A version that is in maintenance mode, receiving only critical bug fixes and security updates. It eventually reaches its end-of-life (EOL) status.
Node.js Versions Overview
Each Node.js version introduces important changes and updates that contribute to its evolution, enhancing its capability to handle modern web development needs efficiently
In the table below, we discuss the various versions and their updates along with their release dates:
| Versions | Updates | Release Date |
|---|
| 22.2.0 | - More Clear and Concise Documentation
- Multiple bug fixes to enhance stability and reliability.
| August 2024 |
| 21.7.3 | - Patched multiple vulnerabilities to strengthen security.
- Optimizations in runtime execution and garbage collection processes.
- Enhanced diagnostics and debugging tools.
| July 2024 |
| 20.13.1 | - Enhanced WebAssembly support.
- Improvements in the experimental fetch API.
- New features in the diagnostics report.
| April 2024 |
| 18.20.2 | - Updated npm, libuv, and llhttp for improved security and stability.
- Addressed multiple vulnerabilities to enhance security.
- Numerous fixes to improve stability and reliability.
| February 2024 |
| 16.20.0 | - Various dependencies have been updated, enhancing security and stability.
- Improved support for Apple Silicon (ARM64) builds.
- Optimizations in the core runtime and garbage collection for better performance and efficiency.
| May 2020 |
| 14.0.0 | - CLI, report: move --report-on-fatal error to stable
- deps: upgrade to libuv 1.37.0
- fs: add fs/promises alias module
| April 2020 |
| 12.0.0 | - implement os.type() using uv_os_uname()
- add a welcome message in repl
- use ES6 class inheritance style
| April 2019 |
| 10.0.0 | - Async hooks API has been removed.
- Console.table() has been added.
- The file system has been improved
- Processing of HTTP Status codes
100 , 102-199 has been improved. - Multi-byte characters in URL paths are now forbidden.
| April 2018 |
| 8.0.0 | - Async hooks landed in the core.
- npm client has been updated to 5.0.0
- Native promise instances are now Domain-aware.
- Experimental support for the new N-API API has been added
- REPL magic mode has been deprecated
| May 2017 |
| 6.0.0 | - A New Buffer Constructor has been added
- Improved Error handling.
- Added API to query plain DNS PTR records.
- 'client error' can now be used to return custom errors from an HTTP server
| April 2016 |
| 4.0.0 | - npm: Upgrade to version 2.14.2 from 2.13.3, includes a security update.
- Improved Timer Performance.
- util function has been deprecated in this version.
- node-gyp updated.
| September 2015 |
| 0.12.0 | - Sockets Limit increased to infinity
- Now cluster has two modes of operations
- Introduced new TLSWrap Mechanism
- More Accurate mechanism to allocate buffer memory
- Added API's for load custom engines.
| February 2015 |
| 0.10.0 | - npm: Upgrade to 1.2.14
- core: Append filename properly in dlopen on windows (isaacs)
- zlib: Manage flush flags appropriately (isaacs)
- domains: Handle errors thrown in nested error handlers (isaacs)
- buffer: Strip high bits when converting to ascii (Ben Noordhuis)
- win/msi: Enable modify and repair (Bert Belder)
- win/msi: Add feature selection for various Node parts (Bert Belder)
- win/msi: use consistent registry key paths (Bert Belder)
- child_process: support sending dgram socket (Andreas Madsen)
- fs: Raise EISDIR on Windows when calling fs.read/write on a dir (isaacs)
- unix: fix strict aliasing warnings, macro-ify functions (Ben Noordhuis)
- unix: honor UV_THREADPOOL_SIZE environment var (Ben Noordhuis)
- win/tty: fix typo in color attributes enumeration (Bert Belder)
- win/tty: don't touch insert mode or quick edit mode (Bert Belder)
| March 2013 |
| 0.8.0 | - Node got a lot faster.
- Node got more stable.
- You can do stuff with file descriptors again.
- The cluster module is much more awesome.
- The domain module was added.
- The repl is better.
- The build system changed from waf to gyp.
- Some other stuff changed, too.
- Scroll to the bottom for the links to install i
| June 2012 |
| 0.6.0 | - Native Windows support using I/O Completion Ports for sockets.
- Integrated load balancing over multiple processes.
- Better support for IPC between Node instances
- Improved command line debugger
- Built-in binding to zlib for compression
| November 2011 |
| 0.2.0 - 0.4.0 | | August 2010 - April 2011 |
| 0.1.0 | - Runtime Environment on V8 Engine
| May 2010 |
Summary
Node.js, built on the V8 engine, is a popular JavaScript runtime for server-side development. It features regular releases with updates like performance improvements, security patches, and new APIs. Notable versions include 4.0.0 (convergence with io.js) and 18.20.2 (security enhancements).
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