Node.js ES6+ Features

Node.js ES6+ Features

Node.js supports most modern JavaScript (ES6, ES7, ES8, ES2020+) features because it uses the V8 engine, the same engine Chrome uses.

These features make your code faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain.

Below are the most important ES6+ features used in Node.js development.

✅ 1. let and const (Block Scoped Variables)


  • let → reassignable

  • const → cannot be reassigned

  • Both have block scope, unlike var.

✅ 2. Arrow Functions (=>)


Benefits:

  • Shorter syntax

  • Automatically binds this

✅ 3. Template Literals (Backticks)


Allows multi-line strings + variable interpolation.

✅ 4. Default Parameters


✅ 5. Destructuring (Objects & Arrays)

Objects:


Arrays:

const [a, b] = [10, 20];

✅ 6. Spread & Rest Operators (… )

Spread (expands values):


Rest (collects values):


✅ 7. Classes & Inheritance


 

✅ 8. Modules (ESM)

Supported in Node.js (with .mjs or "type": "module" in package.json).

Export:


Import:


✅ 9. Promises


✅ 10. Async / Await (ES8)


Cleaner alternative to callbacks & .then()

✅ 11. Enhanced Object Literals


 

✅ 12. For…of Loop (Iterable Loop)


✅ 13. Map & Set

Map:


Set:


✅ 14. Optional Chaining (?.)


Prevents errors if a property is missing.

✅ 15. Nullish Coalescing Operator (??)


Returns right-hand value only if left is null or undefined.

✅ 16. BigInt (ES2020)


For handling large integers beyond JS limits.

⭐ Summary Table

Feature Purpose
let/const Block-scoped variables
Arrow functions Short syntax, lexical this
Template literals Strings with variables
Default params Function defaults
Destructuring Extract values easily
Spread/Rest Expand/collect values
Classes OOP in JS
ES Modules import/export syntax
Promises Async handling
Async/Await Cleaner async code
Maps/Sets Modern data structures
Optional Chaining Safe property access
Nullish Coalescing Fallback values
BigInt Very large numbers

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