Node.js (LTS) is an open-source JavaScript runtime for building servers, web applications, command-line tools, automation scripts, and network services with a stable long-term-support release line.
Node.js (LTS) runs JavaScript outside the browser so developers can build servers, web applications, command-line utilities, automation scripts, and network services with one language across front-end and back-end work. Its asynchronous, event-driven architecture is designed around non-blocking I/O, making it well suited to applications that handle many concurrent network connections without assigning a dedicated operating-system thread to each request. The runtime includes core modules for HTTP, file systems, streams, cryptography, processes, networking, and other common server tasks. Developers can also use both ECMAScript modules and CommonJS while drawing on the broader JavaScript package ecosystem for additional application functionality.
Node.js (LTS) combines a JavaScript engine with operating-system APIs, command-line tooling, and a release line intended for longer production maintenance than the Current channel. Built-in capabilities include a stable test runner, Web-compatible APIs, worker threads, permission controls, environment-variable support, and low-level HTTP and stream modules. Developers can run services locally, integrate them into build pipelines, or deploy them behind web servers and cloud infrastructure. Front-end applications created with the runtime can be tested in Microsoft Edge when browser behavior and client-side integration need verification. The LTS branch is generally the practical choice for production teams that prioritize predictable maintenance over receiving every new runtime feature first.
Node.js (LTS) helps development teams standardize on JavaScript for server applications, tooling, and automation while using a release line intended for sustained production maintenance. Sharing language skills between browser and server code can reduce context switching, simplify hiring and onboarding, and make common data structures or validation logic easier to reuse across a project. Its event-driven I/O model is effective for network-heavy services, APIs, streaming workloads, and real-time applications where many connections may remain active concurrently. Built-in modules cover networking, files, cryptography, processes, testing, and other routine platform needs, while the package ecosystem supplies libraries for frameworks, databases, build systems, and integrations. Long-term-support releases also give teams a clearer maintenance target for production deployments. Because the runtime is open source and cross-platform, developers can use similar application code and tooling across Windows, macOS, Linux, containers, continuous-integration systems, and common cloud environments.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Node.js (LTS) uses an event-driven execution model in which the event loop coordinates JavaScript callbacks and non-blocking network I/O. This design allows a process to manage many active connections with a relatively small number of threads. It is especially useful for APIs, gateways, real-time services, and other I/O-heavy server workloads.
Core HTTP and HTTPS modules let applications create servers and clients without requiring a third-party networking framework. Node.js (LTS) exposes low-level request, response, header, socket, and streaming controls, giving developers a foundation for web servers, APIs, proxies, development tools, and frameworks that need direct access to protocol behavior.
The runtime supports both CommonJS and ECMAScript module systems, allowing projects to use require-based packages, modern import and export syntax, or carefully managed combinations of the two. This flexibility matters when maintaining established applications while adopting current JavaScript module conventions or integrating dependencies that use different packaging approaches.
Node.js (LTS) includes the node:test module for writing and running JavaScript tests without requiring a separate test framework for basic workflows. It supports synchronous tests, promise-based tests, callbacks, suites, mocking-related capabilities, and command-line execution, giving projects a built-in foundation for automated verification and continuous-integration checks.
The stable permission model can restrict a process from accessing selected resources or performing specified actions unless permission is granted. It can limit areas such as file-system access and other runtime capabilities, helping developers reduce accidental access by trusted code. The model is a runtime control mechanism rather than a sandbox against malicious code.
Worker threads allow JavaScript applications to move CPU-intensive work away from the main event loop and execute it in parallel threads. This is useful for calculations, parsing, transformations, or other processor-heavy tasks that would otherwise delay network callbacks. Applications can exchange messages and selected data between the main thread and workers.
Node.js (LTS) provides stream and Buffer APIs for handling files, network traffic, compression, and other data flows without loading every payload completely into memory. Streaming supports incremental processing and backpressure, which is valuable for large files, uploads, downloads, proxies, media pipelines, and services that move substantial amounts of data.
The runtime is available across major desktop and server operating systems, allowing JavaScript-based tools and services to run in varied development and deployment environments. Node.js (LTS) is commonly used from terminals, build systems, containers, and continuous-integration pipelines, helping teams keep similar scripts and application workflows across different machines.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Node.js (LTS).
LTS means Long Term Support. An LTS release line is intended for production users who prefer a maintained, comparatively stable branch with scheduled fixes and security updates rather than adopting the newest Current release line immediately.
Yes. The runtime is open-source software distributed under the MIT license. It can be used for personal, commercial, server, command-line, and development workloads subject to the license terms and the licenses of any third-party packages a project installs.
Yes. The built-in HTTP and HTTPS modules can create network servers directly, and many JavaScript web frameworks build on these core capabilities. Developers can also use the runtime for APIs, proxies, WebSocket services, command-line programs, and background workers.
Yes. The runtime supports ECMAScript modules with import and export syntax as well as the older CommonJS module system. Package configuration, file extensions, and project structure determine how modules are interpreted and loaded.
Yes. The built-in node:test module provides a stable JavaScript testing facility that can run tests from the command line and supports common testing patterns. Projects can use it directly or continue using third-party testing frameworks when their workflows require additional features.
Node.js (LTS) is an open-source JavaScript runtime for building servers, web applications, command-line tools, automation scripts, and network services with a stable long-term-support release line.
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