Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform, back-end JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to build scalable, high-performance applications. It is built on top of the Google V8 JavaScript engine and allows developers to write server-side code in JavaScript.

When it comes to web development, Node.js is often used to build fast, scalable, and real-time web applications. It is particularly useful for building APIs, as it allows developers to easily create and manage server-side APIs using JavaScript.

Here are some key benefits of using Node.js for web development:

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• Speed: Node.js is built on the Google V8 engine, which is known for its fast and efficient performance. This allows Node.js applications to handle a large number of requests without slowing down.
• Scalability: Node.js is designed to handle large-scale applications with ease. It is built using an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which allows it to handle multiple connections at the same time.
• Real-time: Node.js is ideal for building real-time applications such as chat apps, gaming platforms, and collaborative tools. It allows for real-time data exchange between the client and server, making it easy to build highly interactive applications.
• Cross-platform: Node.js is a cross-platform technology that can run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. This makes it easy to develop and deploy applications on different platforms.
• Large ecosystem: Node.js has a large and vibrant ecosystem of libraries and tools that make it easy to build and maintain web applications.

Some popular frameworks for building web applications with Node.js include Express, Koa, Hapi, and Sails.js. These frameworks provide developers with a set of tools and libraries for building web applications quickly and efficiently.