Node.js 22 LTS Released: What Has Changed in the JavaScript Platform
The developer community has welcomed the long-awaited release of Node.js 22, which has received Long Term Support (LTS) status. This means this version will be stably supported and updated for an extended period, which is especially important for production projects. Let's look at the key changes and innovations introduced by the new version.
Main Innovations in Node.js 22
- Experimental WebSocket client. Node.js 22 adds a native WebSocket client that no longer requires installing third-party packages (e.g.,
ws). Now you can use the built-in module to work with WebSocket:const ws = new WebSocket('wss://example.com');. This simplifies creating real-time applications, chats, and streaming services. - V8 engine update to version 12.4. The new JavaScript engine brings improved performance and new language features, including the
Array.fromAsyncarray method and support for regular expressions with thevflag (unicode sets). This makes code faster and more expressive. - Improved require for ESM modules. Previously, loading ESM (ECMAScript Modules) format modules required using
import(). In Node.js 22, therequire()function can now load ESM modules, significantly simplifying the migration of projects from CommonJS to the modern standard. - New API for working with arrays and Sets. Methods such as
Set.prototype.intersection(),Set.prototype.union(),Set.prototype.difference(), and others have been added. This allows performing set operations without writing additional functions. - Improvements in working with the file system. The
fsmodule has received new capabilities for working with globs (path patterns), simplifying file searching by mask.
What Does This Mean for Developers?
Updating to Node.js 22 is recommended for everyone using JavaScript on the server side. The built-in WebSocket client reduces the number of dependencies in a project, and ESM support via require() simplifies the transition to modern code standards. The V8 performance improvement is especially noticeable in high-load applications and APIs.
For educational purposes, it is important to note: Node.js 22 is an excellent version for learning modern JavaScript. It combines the best practices of asynchronous programming, modularity, and network work. On our website pythonlib.ru, we are already preparing a series of lessons on the platform's new features.
How to Update?
You can install Node.js 22 from the official website nodejs.org or via the nvm version manager:
nvm install 22nvm use 22We recommend testing the new version on an isolated project to ensure the compatibility of your dependencies. Happy coding!