Exploring the Top 4 Mind-Blowing Features of NodeJS

Node.js, an open-source, cross-platform, back-end runtime environment, has grown into one of the most popular platforms for building server-side applications. The platform has evolved over the years and the latest version, Node.js 18, brings a host of exciting features for developers to enhance their application development experience. Here are some of the most significant Node.js 18 features that every Node.js developer should know.

1. Nullish Coalescing

Nullish Coalescing is a feature that allows you to check if a value is null or undefined and return a default value if it is. This feature is especially useful when dealing with variables that may or may not be defined, as it helps to simplify code and make it more concise. Here’s an example of how to use Nullish Coalescing:

const variable1 = null;
const variable2 = undefined;
const variable3 = 'Some Value';

console.log(variable1 ?? 'Default Value'); // Output: 'Default Value'
console.log(variable2 ?? 'Default Value'); // Output: 'Default Value'
console.log(variable3 ?? 'Default Value'); // Output: 'Some Value'

2. Logical Assignment Operators

The Logical Assignment Operators are a set of operators that allow you to perform a logical operation and an assignment in a single statement. These operators are designed to make your code more concise and readable. Here’s an example of how to use the Logical Assignment Operators:

let variable1 = false;
let variable2 = true;

variable1 ||= true; // The equivalent of: variable1 = variable1 || true;
variable2 &&= false; // The equivalent of: variable2 = variable2 && false;

console.log(variable1); // Output: true
console.log(variable2); // Output: false

3. Promise.any()

Promise.any() is a new Promise method that returns the first resolved promise or the last rejected promise. This feature is useful when you need to fetch data from multiple sources and want to use the data from the first successful fetch. Here’s an example of how to use Promise.any():

const promise1 = new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000, 'Data from Promise 1'));
const promise2 = new Promise((_, reject) => setTimeout(reject, 500, 'Rejected Promise'));
const promise3 = new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000, 'Data from Promise 3'));

Promise.any([promise1, promise2, promise3])
  .then((result) => console.log(result)) // Output: 'Data from Promise 1'
  .catch((error) => console.error(error)); // Output: 'Rejected Promise'

4. Top-Level Await

Top-Level Await is a feature that allows you to use the await keyword outside of an async function. This feature simplifies your code and makes it more readable. Here’s an example of how to use Top-Level Await:

const fetchData = async () => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
  const data = await response.json();
  return data;
};

// With Top-Level Await
const data = await fetchData();
console.log(data);

// Without Top-Level Await
fetchData().then((data) => console.log(data));

In conclusion, Node.js 18 has brought some exciting features that can make a significant difference in the development experience of Node.js developers. Whether you’re dealing with nullish values, logical operations, promises, or async functions, these new features are designed to help you write better code and streamline your development process.