Global Objects and the Process Object
Node.js provides useful global objects and variables such as process, console, Buffer, setTimeout, and globalThis. The process object provides information and controls for the currently running Node.js process.
Common properties include process.env for environment variables, process.argv for command-line arguments, and process.exit() for terminating a process.
Working with process
console.log('Arguments:', process.argv.slice(2));
console.log('Environment:', process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development');
console.log('PID:', process.pid);💡 This example reads command-line arguments, accesses an environment variable, and prints the process ID.
Key Takeaways
- Use
process.envfor runtime configuration. - Use
process.argvto access command-line arguments. - Avoid hardcoding secrets directly in source code.
Knowledge Check
Where are environment variables accessed in Node.js?