Node.js

Node.js is a free, open-source runtime that lets JavaScript run outside the browser, directly on a server. It is most commonly used for backend APIs, real-time applications like chat and live notifications, and the build tooling behind modern frontend frameworks. It has existed since 2009 and is now stewarded by the OpenJS Foundation.

Neither: Node.js is a runtime environment. The language is plain JavaScript; Node.js adds the server-side capabilities the browser lacks, such as file system and network access. Frameworks like Express or Next.js are then built on top of it.

Both run on the server and both can power a high-quality website. PHP dominates ready-made systems like WordPress and is easy to host cheaply; Node.js is stronger for real-time features, many simultaneous connections, and integration with the modern JavaScript ecosystem (Next.js, React). The right choice depends on the project type: neither is universally better.

Both are mature, widely used backend technologies. Node.js excels at real-time workloads and handling many parallel connections; Python (especially with the Django framework) is strong for complex business logic, admin panels and data processing. Many projects combine them: for example, a Node.js frontend server layer with a Python core backend.

Yes. Node.js is completely free and open source, distributed under the MIT license, which allows unrestricted commercial use. There are no subscription or licensing fees: the only cost is the server your project runs on.

npm (Node Package Manager) is the package manager that ships with Node.js and the largest registry of ready-made code in the world. Developers use it to add millions of free modules (payment integrations, form validation, image processing) to a project with a single command. This shortens development time and lets projects reuse well-tested code.

Its event-driven model makes keeping thousands of connections open at once cheap in terms of server resources. Combined with WebSocket (a persistent two-way channel between server and browser), this enables live chat, notifications and dashboards with minimal delay. That is why a large share of chat and live-service products are built on Node.js.

You do not have to write your site in Node.js, but it is usually involved anyway. Modern sites built with Next.js or React run on Node.js in production, and their build process requires it. The practical takeaway: if your site uses a modern stack, your hosting must support Node.js, something your web studio handles, with nothing extra required from you.

LTS stands for Long Term Support: stable Node.js versions that receive security updates for an extended period, roughly 30 months. LTS releases are what production servers should run. Even-numbered release lines get LTS status, while odd-numbered ones are for trying out new features.

Yes. The Next.js websites SaytPro builds run in a Node.js environment on the studio's own VPS servers, with dependencies and builds managed through npm. For core backend logic the studio uses Python/Django, while Node.js carries the server-rendered frontend layer.