whats new in nodejs 24?

 

Node.js 24, released on April 22, 2025, introduces a host of new features and enhancements that aim to improve performance, streamline development workflows, and bolster security. This article delves into the key updates in Node.js 24, providing developers with insights into how these changes can impact their projects.​

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🚀 Key Features in Node.js 24

1. Native .env File Support

Node.js 24 introduces built-in support for loading environment variables from .env files using the --env-file flag. This eliminates the need for third-party packages like dotenv, simplifying configuration management.

bash
node --env-file=.env index.js
:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
# :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

This feature is particularly beneficial for managing different environments (development, testing, production) without additional dependencies.

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2. Built-in Test Runner

Node.js now includes a native test runner accessible via require('node:test'). This built-in tool supports synchronous and asynchronous tests, subtests, and test skipping, reducing reliance on external testing libraries.

const test = require('node:test');
const assert = require('assert');

test('synchronous passing test', (t) => {
  assert.strictEqual(1, 1);
});

This addition streamlines the testing process and integrates seamlessly into Node.js applications.

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3. Built-in Watch Mode

The new --watch flag enables Node.js to monitor file changes and automatically restart the application, similar to tools like nodemon.​

bash
node --watch index.js

Developers can also specify particular paths to watch using --watch-path, enhancing development efficiency.

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4. Experimental WebSocket Support

Node.js 24 introduces experimental support for WebSockets, allowing developers to create WebSocket clients and servers without external libraries. This feature is enabled using the --experimental-websocket flag.

bash
node --experimental-websocket index.js

This native support simplifies real-time communication implementations in Node.js applications.

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5. Asynchronous Context Tracking with AsyncLocalStorage

The AsyncLocalStorage class provides a mechanism to maintain context across asynchronous operations, facilitating features like request tracing and logging.

javascript
const { AsyncLocalStorage } = require('async_hooks');
const asyncLocalStorage = new AsyncLocalStorage();

asyncLocalStorage.run(new Map(), () => {
  asyncLocalStorage.getStore().set('key', 'value');
  // The context is preserved across asynchronous calls
});

This feature enhances the ability to manage state in asynchronous workflows.

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6. Enhanced ECMAScript Module (ESM) Support

Node.js 24 continues to improve ESM support, including better interoperability between CommonJS and ESM modules. Developers can now import ESM modules from CommonJS scripts using the --experimental-require-module flag.

bash
node --experimental-require-module index.cjs

This enhancement simplifies the adoption of ESM in existing codebases. ​

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7. Improved Security Features

Node.js 24 introduces several security enhancements:​

• Permission Model: An experimental permission model (--experimental-permission) allows developers to restrict access to specific resources, enhancing application security.
• TLS/SSL Improvements: Updates to TLS/SSL libraries improve secure communication between servers and clients, crucial for sensitive applications.
• Security Patches: Regular updates address known vulnerabilities, ensuring applications remain protected against potential threats.

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8. Native Support for Web Streams API

Node.js 24 adds native support for the Web Streams API, aligning server-side streaming capabilities with browser standards. This feature facilitates handling of streaming data, such as processing large files or real-time data feeds.

Use cases include:

• Processing large files in chunks
• Handling real-time data in IoT applications
• Optimizing media streaming services

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9. Improved HTTP/3 and HTTP/2 Support

Node.js 24 enhances support for HTTP/2 and introduces experimental support for HTTP/3, built on the QUIC protocol. These updates offer faster load times, better resource utilization, and improved security for web applications.

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10. Enhanced Worker Threads

Improvements to the Worker Threads API in Node.js 24 make it easier to implement multithreading, benefiting CPU-intensive applications. The updated API simplifies the creation of multithreaded applications, enhancing performance for tasks like machine learning, real-time data processing, and computational simulations.

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🧠 Conclusion

Node.js 24 brings a host of features that streamline development, enhance performance, and bolster security. From native .env support and a built-in test runner to improved module interoperability and experimental WebSocket support, this release marks a significant step forward for Node.js developers. By adopting Node.js 24, developers can build more efficient, secure, and modern applications with reduced reliance on external dependencies.