NodeJS is a general purpose application development technology. It basically consists of a Javascript execution platform, known as a "runtime", on which all kinds of programs can be executed.
To put it simply, NodeJS is the Javascript language taken out of the browser context. The most common use of NodeJS is developing web services that return data in JSON format, which we commonly call the REST API.

Also, with Node we can build cross-platform desktop applications, compatible with Windows Linux and Mac, as well as console programs. Many day-to-day tools for developers are made using NodeJS, from editors like Atom or VSCode, to task automation like Gulp or asset packers like Webpack or Rollup.
Node has the characteristic of undertaking many tasks with little consumption of resources, which makes it especially interesting for the development of high concurrency services.

NodeJS uses

NodeJS is a language that allows a large number of applications, useful for all types of users but especially for developers.

Backend language: it is a platform that allows server-side programming. With NodeJS, web services based on REST API or other technologies such as GraphQL, perform very comfortably. Of course, it is also possible to develop traditional websites with Node, there are even several cms based on this platform.
Console programs: The most straightforward application of NodeJS would be the creation of console programs. Programs that are run through commands in the terminal. In fact, most of the frontend tools are developed with this Javascript execution platform.

Desktop programs: the contribution of Node.js in the creation of programs and applications that run on computers of any operating system is also notable. Common applications such as Visual Studio code, Atom, the Slack application and many others are made with NodeJS and a framework called Electron.

How to install NodeJS
Installing NodeJS is as simple as going to the Node page and downloading the executable that allows you to install the engine on your system. For Windows and Linux the process is as simple as installing any other program.

In the case of Linux, on the download page they explain what we have to do, since we must add the official repositories of the platform and then install the packages. In addition, the commands to carry out this process may vary between distributions.

Now, the recommendation to install NodeJS is to do it through a Node version manager, since it allows us to have several versions of the platform installed and exchange them whenever we want. This action is usually quite necessary if we develop projects in NodeJS, because many times there are version requirements depending on the case.

The most common version managers are:

nvm for Linux and Mac
n for Windows

Note: Although there is an nvm for Windows, it is not as powerful and stable as the one for Linux and Mac, so "n" could be more interesting.

Installing NodeJS through a node version manager has another advantage, which saves us some typical problems on Linux and Mac systems, where it is sometimes necessary to use "sudo" to install global npm packages, something that is not always recommended.

Apart from installing the program yourself, you can rely on an agency to do the work for you. One of them is Innuy, a Uruguayan agency with plenty of experience in this tool. By hiring them or any other professional agency that uses the tool, you can enjoy all the benefits of this software, while saving your own time to invest it on your core business. By outsourcing this service, you can be extremely efficient while getting the best from technology.