Node.js Child Processes

Node.js Child Processes is a core module that enables the creation and management of subprocesses from within a Node.js application. It allows developers to execute system commands, run external scripts, or spawn other programs, facilitating parallel processing and integration with non-JavaScript tools. This is essential for tasks that require heavy computation, shell operations, or leveraging other programming languages.

Also known as: child_process, Node child processes, Node subprocesses, child process module, spawn

Why learn Node.js Child Processes?

Developers should use Node.js Child Processes when they need to offload CPU-intensive tasks to avoid blocking the main event loop, execute shell commands or system utilities, or run scripts in other languages (e.g., Python, Bash) from a Node.js app. Common use cases include building CLI tools, processing large datasets, automating system tasks, or integrating with legacy systems that rely on external executables.

Learning Resources

• docs: Node.js Child Process Documentation
• tutorial: A Complete Guide to Child Processes in Node.js
• video: Node.js Child Processes: Everything You Need to Know
• course: Mastering Node.js Child Processes on Udemy