How to Learn Node.js Online

If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning Node.js is no different.Node.js is used to build software applications that run JavaScript code without needing to access a web browser. This makes it an essential part of the software underlying streaming services, mobile applications, and digital assistants, among many other commonly used technologies. If you’ve always wanted to learn Node.js, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, your options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you. 

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a commonly used JavaScript library and is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment. Node.js is among the most commonly utilized JavaScript libraries. It is far and away the most commonly used runtime environment in the professional sector, with Node.js being utilized by upwards of 98% of Fortune 500 companies. It allows users to create server-side architecture using JavaScript to build applications and webpages that constantly communicate information to server architecture without needing specific input from either the user or the server. This makes Node.js a vital programming language for any application that needs to be constantly connected to a server without needing to query that server at any given moment. For instance, it is part of the server architecture that allows users to stream video content on the internet without needing to download an entire video file. It is what allows online chat tools to function.

Node.js is also an integral tool in the continued development and refinement of the Internet of Things. More and more of our daily lives involve interacting with devices connected to the internet, ranging from our watches and phones to our cars and refrigerators. The various applications that these objects run to serve their niche functions tend to rely on Node.js to build the server environments and the asynchronous data processing events that allow multiple physical objects to be in meaningful conversation with one another over an internet connection. If you are using your voice to tell the virtual assistant on your desk to tell your thermostat to lower the temperature, Node.js infrastructure was likely vital in that exchange.

Read more about what Node.js is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Node.js?

Node.js is an incredibly versatile runtime environment that lets users construct virtually any program that seeks to use the functionalities of a webpage without needing to open up a web browser. This is vital for many web applications, such as almost all direct messaging programs and chatbot software. If you are designing an application and want to include a live chat feature, you will likely need to use Node.js. Node.js is also used for single-page web applications like Google Docs and Gmail. Even something as simple as including push notifications or scrolling news and weather updates in your application will require using Node.js.

Node.js is also a vital part of making the Internet of Things possible. Node.js is one of the key frameworks and runtime environments that allow sensors to detect changes and stimuli and relay that information to a device connected to the internet. This means that if you use the voice command on a digital assistant to tell your Bluetooth speaker system to lower its volume, you are using a program made possible thanks to Node.js. As this technology becomes more advanced and enters into sectors like the automotive and medical fields, skilled Node.js programmers will be able to construct complex, interconnected, potentially life-saving new technologies.

Live Online Node.js Training

People who don’t live near a training facility or who want to learn Node.js from the comfort of their personal workstations may be interested in enrolling in a live online Node.js course. These classes maintain all of the advantages of in-person instruction without requiring students to leave their homes. It’s still possible to interact directly with a live instructor and receive assistance and feedback on their work. Like in-person courses, these courses tend to be more focused on general JavaScript training than Node.js in particular. In addition, students will have to supply their technology.

Noble Desktop offers all of its Node.js courses through live online instruction. These classes are taught by Noble’s expert instructors and come with all of the benefits of an in-person class taken at Noble’s Manhattan campus (save for access to the physical computer lab). Students will benefit from small class sizes and the ability to interface directly with their instructor. It’s even possible for them to permit their instructors to interact directly with their devices and code editors. Plus, students can retake the course anytime within a year. Students may also wish to explore the options offered through other online service providers, such as Udemy or Coursera.

On-Demand Node.js Classes

One drawback to most live Node.js training options is that they emphasize teaching JavaScript fundamentals as well. For anyone familiar with JavaScript, an on-demand Node.js course may be an ideal way to target their training to that specific framework. These classes are also ideal for students who need to learn a specific skill in a specific timeframe. These courses let participants move as quickly or as slowly as they need to, giving them a chance to learn at their own pace. The drawback is that these courses lack a live instructor, meaning that if students encounter difficulties with their training, they will need to find other ways to receive guidance and feedback.

These courses are available through many service providers, such as Udemy and SkillShare. These courses vary in format, delivery method, and cost. The most common kind of on-demand course is a structured and guided set of video lectures, though some are more driven by independent work modules. Some service providers will require students to purchase courses individually, while others will require a regular subscription fee to access a course library.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

Anyone interested in learning the basic features of Node.js without enrolling in an immersive JavaScript course will want to consider their options for free online classes. These classes aren’t a substitute for professional skills training, but they are an ideal place for learning the basics of the library in preparation for more advanced skills training.

Noble Desktop offers a few options for free Node.js instruction. On their official YouTube page, you can watch an Intro to Node.js seminar that will give an overview of the library and its primary functions and applications. You will learn how Node.js works and how developers can use Node.js to build web applications that operate outside a browser's scope. Once you have watched this video, if you are looking for more free online tutorials, you can explore the options available on the Web Development Playlist on their YouTube Channel or their Learn JavaScript resources page.

Interested users can also explore their options for free training seminars through training providers such as Udemy or CodeAcademy. These classes will vary in content and delivery style, but they will still provide an overview of the basic features of the Node.js library. Some may also wish to explore the resources on the office Node.js webpage for free and open-source resources that they can utilize to help them learn how to use the library.

Read about more free Node.js videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning 

Given the wide range of options that students have for learning Node.js, some may find it challenging to choose the proper method of instruction. While it will vary from student to student, the most pressing factor in choosing a Node.js course will be your level of comfort with JavaScript. People with extensive JavaScript experience will need different training than people who need to learn JavaScript (or even programming basics).

Students who feel they need to learn how to code will want to enroll in an immersive development career-skills course. These classes are designed to take students from novice coders to professional programmers, and they are the ideal place to learn everything from HTML/CSS to Node.js. In addition, these classes tend to offer professionalization training. Students with a background in coding or who simply want more focused JavaScript training will want to consider enrolling in a live JavaScript bootcamp. These courses are more focused on their training, making them ideal for students who need to plug a skill gap. These courses are offered as live training seminars and taught either in-person or online.

Choosing between in-person or online training may come down to a logistical decision. Students will need to gauge whether or not they can afford the time and effort required to commute to a training facility. Students who can’t (or don’t want to) commute will find their best option for immersive Node.js training through live online instruction. Both of these modes of instruction let students work directly with live instructors who can provide them with assistance and feedback. In an in-person class, students can take advantage of a training center’s computer lab, while online students can work on their personal devices from the comfort of their own workstations.

Students who understand JavaScript and want to receive focused Node.js training will want to consider enrolling in an on-demand course. These classes let participants learn at their own pace and define the kinds of skills that they want to prioritize. This makes them ideal for learning skills like Node.js because students can search for courses that assume familiarity with skills like JavaScript. The drawback to these courses is that even experienced programmers may have difficulties learning Node.js, and on-demand courses aren’t taught by live instructors. This means that students who run into difficulties need to find alternate means of receiving assistance, which can be pretty challenging to find and doesn’t ensure that the assistance being received is useful.

Tips to Succeed when Learning Node.js Online

Many students may not be accustomed to online learning environments when they enroll in a Node.js course. These students may find it difficult to shift into a new learning style, but they also shouldn’t be worried. While online learning will be different from classroom learning, the quality of the live instruction is just as helpful for students, and the resources available will help students ensure that their training is successful. Still, there are a few things students will want to consider when starting an online class for the first time.

The first thing students will need to consider is the set-up of their workspace. They will want to make sure that they are comfortable and able to work in the same space for an extended period. They will also want to ensure that their workspace is as free from distractions as they need it to be. Students often underestimate how important classroom design is to their learning. For some, this may be as simple as closing windows or blinds or moving into a different room, while for others, it may be as involved as finding someone to watch children or asking roommates to leave during online lessons.

Students will also want to ensure that they are careful to avoid internal temptations that lead to distractions. Studies continually show that people believe they are much better at multitasking than they are, leading students to make their own lives more challenging by trying other things during their lessons. Preventing this will require students to self-assess their work habits and take the appropriate steps to resist this temptation. Online learning classes lend themselves to students imagining that they can do work around the house or on other projects during an online class, but this is a surefire way to fall behind in your studies.

For students enrolled in on-demand courses, it will be important to prepare in advance to locate resources and other alternative means of finding assistance if they run into problems in their studies. On-demand courses lack live instructors, meaning it falls upon students to address problems arising as they learn Node.js. While this can sometimes be simple, as Google searches clear things up, tracking down a reliable, up-to-date solution to specific problems is often difficult.

Key Insights

• Node.js is a vital JavaScript framework that creates a runtime environment allowing software applications to execute JavaScript code outside a web browser. It is vital to a large number of mobile applications, and it is essential to smart devices.
• Many students interested in learning Node.js will want to consider enrolling in an online training course to learn the framework from their personal workspace.
• Live online classes are ideal for students to learn the breadth of coding knowledge required to work with Node.js.
• On-demand classes are better suited for students who feel comfortable in their JavaScript knowledge and simply want to learn Node.js.
• Students learning online should take steps to ensure success in their training, such as modifying their workstations and finding solid sources outside of their lessons for assistance.
• those looking for comprehensive, live online Node.js training should consult the options available through Noble Desktop.

Learn Node.js with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Since Node.js is a JavaScript library, it is rarely taught on its own. It is so ubiquitous in professional JavaScript development that it is often taught alongside JavaScript as an equally crucial professional skill. Therefore, those looking to learn how to use Node.js will likely do so within the context of a JavaScript class or bootcamp. In these classes, students will learn the basics of using JavaScript to code web applications. Then they will receive training in how to utilize Node.js to expand the scope and functionality of those web applications. Many of these classes, particularly those with a significant Node.js component, presume that students are familiar with basic coding skills, particularly HTML/CSS, so looking at course prerequisites is advised.

At Noble Desktop, students can learn Node.js in a wide array of different course settings. However, no matter what program you enroll in, you’ll stand to benefit from the chance to interface with expert instructors in their field in small, intimate classes that rarely exceed twenty students. Even online, students will be placed in private classrooms with live instructors who can answer their questions and provide feedback in real-time. You can also retake any course within one year, giving them an extra chance to hone their Node.js skills.

Noble offers JavaScript and Node.js instruction in its web development certificate curriculum. These courses provide hands-on training in JavaScript and Node.js by giving them projects to code that mirror the kind of real-world projects they can expect to work on in their professional lives. You can opt to enroll in the JavaScript Development Certificate program or the Full Stack Development Certificate program. In these classes, you will receive professional career instruction in web development skills, including JavaScript. Students in the JavaScript Development Certificate program will learn how to use the advanced features of JavaScript and Node.js to build complex web applications. Students enrolled in the Full Stack Development Certificate program will receive this training alongside introductory HTML/CSS training, React training, and backend development instruction.

These courses are career-focused training seminars, meaning they are designed to take students from novices in their field and graduate them as trained professionals ready to enter the workforce as Web Developers. These courses deliver hands-on training in the kinds of Node.js projects students will be hired to work upon and provide one-on-one professional mentorship as a part of their professional development. Students will conclude the course by working on a final web development sample portfolio. Upon completion, they will be awarded a career development certificate which signals to employers that they are prepared to start working as Node.js experts.