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Event Loop

The Node.js event loop is the mechanism that allows Node.js to perform non-blocking I/O operations despite JavaScript being single-threaded.

Overview​

Understanding the Node.js event loop is essential for writing efficient, non-blocking code and avoiding common pitfalls.

Key Questions​

What's the difference between JS & Node event loop?​

The browser JavaScript event loop and Node.js event loop have some fundamental differences:

  • Browser Event Loop: Handles DOM events, AJAX, timers, and works with the browser's rendering engine
  • Node.js Event Loop: Built on libuv, handles file system operations, network I/O, and has additional phases like setImmediate