Chapter 1: Introduction to Node.js 16

Node.js 16 has officially launched, introducing significant enhancements!

Every six months, a new major version of Node.js is rolled out, with even-numbered releases designated for Long-Term Support (LTS). Node.js 16 follows this pattern.

RegExp Match Indices

One of the standout features is the RegExp Match Indices, which allows developers to retrieve the positions of matches in a string. Consider this example matching the string "foobar" with the regex /(foo)(bar)/d:

const myString = "foobar";

const regex = /(foo)(bar)/d;

const result = regex.exec(myString);

console.log(result.indices);

// Output: [ [ 0, 6 ], [ 0, 3 ], [ 3, 6 ], groups: undefined ]

The output includes an array of indices, indicating the full match and individual group matches.

Timers Promises API (Stable)

The Timers Promises API now offers timer functions that return promise objects directly, eliminating the need for util.promisify. For instance, here’s how setTimeout can now be used:

import { setTimeout } from 'timers/promises';

async function doTimeout() {

await setTimeout(1000);

console.log('1 second later');

}

This feature was initially available in Node.js 15 as an experimental offering but has now been stabilized in version 16.

AbortController (Web API)

The new AbortController interface allows for the cancellation of multiple web requests seamlessly. Here’s a brief example using the fetch API:

const controller = new AbortController();

const signal = controller.signal;

function fetchData() {

fetch(url, {signal}).then(...).catch((err) => console.error("request cancelled"));

}

This functionality is beneficial for managing request cancellations effectively.

Base64 Encoding and Decoding

Node.js 16 introduces the atob and btoa functions for encoding and decoding base64 strings, making it straightforward to handle string transformations:

const base64 = atob("foobar"); // Encodes to base64

const initialString = btoa(base64); // Decodes back to "foobar"

Web Crypto API (Experimental)

Lastly, an experimental feature, the Web Crypto API, provides tools for encrypting and decrypting data. This addition can enhance security in applications, allowing for end-to-end encryption on the backend.

Chapter 2: Conclusion

In summary, Node.js 16 brings forth a range of exciting features aimed at improving developer efficiency and application performance. This overview highlights the most important updates, and for a deeper dive into the changes, refer to the official documentation.

The first video provides an overview of Node.js 16, detailing its new features and enhancements.

The second video discusses what's new in Node.js 20, including the introduction of the Permissions API and Test Runner.