Introduction to Node.js — Servers, Event Loop & Building Your First Node App

In this session, we introduce Node.js for beginner programmers with JavaScript knowledge. We cover what Node.js is and why it exists, the history behind bringing JavaScript to the server, how the client-server model works, the difference between static and dynamic websites, and when you actually need a backend. We then dive into event-driven architecture and the event loop — the core of how Node.js handles multiple requests efficiently. We wrap up with a live coding example where we build a simple web app using Node's built-in http, fs, and path modules to serve an HTML page and CSS file, all launched with a single node app.js command. Topics Covered: What is Node.js and why it matters History: JavaScript from browser to server Client-server model and how servers work Static vs dynamic websites When you need a backend Event-driven architecture and the event loop Node.js vs browser JavaScript Live coding: serving static files with Node.js