Node.js releases & version history

Node.js releases power server-side JavaScript innovation, with the OpenJS Foundation delivering runtime updates that define backend performance, async I/O patterns, and JavaScript feature support for millions of applications worldwide. This complete Node.js release history documents every major version from Node.js 0.10 through the latest releases, tracking V8 engine upgrades, API additions, performance optimizations, and breaking changes that affect backend engineers, full-stack developers, and serverless architects building APIs, microservices, and real-time systems.

Since Ryan Dahl’s 2009 creation, Node.js has evolved from an experimental server-side JavaScript runtime into the foundation of modern backend development—powering Netflix, LinkedIn, PayPal, and NASA. Each major release introduces transformative capabilities: async/await enabled readable async code in 7.6, Worker Threads brought true parallelism in 10.5, ES Modules gained stable support in 12.x-14.x, and performance improvements in recent LTS releases deliver 10-40% throughput gains in HTTP servers and event loop processing.

Why Track Node.js Releases?

Navigate LTS vs. Current Release Strategy Node.js alternates between even-numbered LTS (Long Term Support) releases with 30-month support and odd-numbered Current releases supported for only 6 months. Tracking releases helps engineering teams understand when to adopt new versions (LTS for production stability, Current for testing upcoming features) and plan migration timelines before versions reach end-of-life.

Adopt V8 Engine and ECMAScript Feature Updates Node.js bundles Google’s V8 JavaScript engine, inheriting performance improvements and new ECMAScript features. Tracking releases helps you understand when new syntax becomes available (optional chaining, nullish coalescing, top-level await, import assertions), when V8 optimizations boost performance, and when transpilation dependencies (Babel, TypeScript) can be reduced.

Optimize Performance Without Code Changes Major Node.js releases frequently include HTTP parser upgrades, stream improvements, and event loop optimizations that deliver 10-40% performance gains in API servers. By tracking performance-focused releases, backend teams can justify upgrade efforts based on quantified request-per-second improvements and reduced CPU utilization—critical for cost optimization in cloud environments.

Maintain Package Ecosystem Compatibility If you maintain npm packages, Node.js release tracking is essential. New releases can change module resolution behavior, update native addon APIs (N-API), modify stream interfaces, or introduce new globals. Our release guides document library-specific implications so you can test compatibility and update engines fields in package.json appropriately.

Use Cases: Who Uses This Release History?

Backend and API Developers Track async/await improvements, HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support, stream enhancements, and crypto module updates. Understand when new Node versions enable simpler Express/Fastify/Nest.js code patterns, when performance improvements benefit your specific workload, and when to adopt new APIs replacing deprecated patterns.

Full-Stack and JavaScript Engineers Monitor ESM (ES Modules) stabilization, npm updates bundled with Node, and package.json features (exports field, conditional exports). Know when Node versions align with frontend tooling expectations, when to migrate from CommonJS to ESM, and when bundler configurations need updates.

DevOps and Platform Engineers Plan Node.js upgrades across Docker images, Kubernetes deployments, AWS Lambda runtimes, and CI/CD pipelines. Track when cloud providers support new Node versions, understand when security patches require immediate action, and coordinate upgrades with monitoring tools and APM agents.

npm Package Maintainers Decide which Node.js versions to support in your package’s engines field. Track native addon API changes (N-API compatibility), understand when new Node features reduce dependencies, and plan when to drop support for EOL Node versions based on user adoption statistics.

Serverless and Edge Function Developers Monitor Node.js runtime availability on AWS Lambda, Vercel Edge Functions, Cloudflare Workers, and other serverless platforms. Understand performance characteristics of different Node versions in cold-start scenarios and plan migrations around provider support timelines.

FAQ Section

How often does Node.js release new versions? Node.js ships a new major version every six months: odd-numbered versions (17, 19, 21) in October, even-numbered versions (16, 18, 20) in April. Even versions become LTS after six months, receiving 30 months of active support plus 12 months of maintenance. Minor and patch updates ship continuously as needed.

What’s the difference between Current and LTS Node.js releases? Current releases (odd-numbered: 17, 19, 21) receive updates for only 6 months and are for testing upcoming features. LTS releases (even-numbered: 16, 18, 20) receive 30 months of active support plus 12 months of maintenance updates—they’re production-ready and recommended for applications. Use LTS in production, Current for local development experimentation.

Can I use different Node.js versions in the same project? Not simultaneously—a process runs one Node version. However, use nvm, fnm, or volta to switch Node versions per project directory. Docker containers isolate Node versions per service. Monorepos typically standardize on one Node version across workspaces. Our guides include multi-version testing strategies for library maintainers.

How do I know if upgrading Node.js will break my application? Check our release guide for the target version—we document breaking changes, deprecated APIs, and behavior changes. Test your application and dependencies against the new version in staging. Run npm ls to check for native addons that may need rebuilding. Most Node upgrades within LTS lines (18.12 → 18.19) are safe; major version jumps (16 → 20) require testing.

What does “Active LTS” vs. “Maintenance LTS” mean? Active LTS (first 18 months) receives new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes. Maintenance LTS (final 12 months) receives only critical bug fixes and security patches—no new features. Plan to upgrade before versions enter Maintenance mode to benefit from ongoing improvements.

Should I always use the latest Node.js LTS version? For new projects: yes, use the latest LTS. For existing projects: upgrade when benefits (performance, security, new features) justify migration effort and testing. Applications on Node 16 should prioritize upgrading since it reached EOL September 2023. Libraries should support Active LTS versions covering 90%+ of users.

What’s the relationship between Node.js and npm versions? Node.js bundles specific npm versions—upgrading Node often upgrades npm. However, you can update npm independently using npm install -g npm@latest. New Node versions may require minimum npm versions for features like package.json exports. Our guides document bundled npm versions and notable npm changes per Node release.

Where does ReleaseRun get Node.js release data? We aggregate from official Node.js release notes (https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/), the Node.js GitHub repository (https://github.com/nodejs/node/releases), and the Node.js changelog. Each release guide links to original announcements, notable pull requests, and V8 upgrade details.

How detailed are ReleaseRun’s Node.js release guides? Our guides average [~1,000] words and include: comprehensive feature breakdowns with code examples, V8 engine updates and performance benchmarks, API additions and deprecations, ESM progress tracking, breaking change documentation with migration paths, npm updates, framework compatibility notes (Express, Fastify, Nest.js), cloud platform availability timelines, and LTS support status. They’re designed for backend engineers who need strategic context beyond raw changelogs.

Does Node.js maintain backward compatibility? Within major versions (20.1 → 20.5): yes, fully backward compatible except for security fixes. Between major versions (18 → 20): mostly compatible with documented breaking changes and deprecations. Node.js follows semantic versioning and provides extensive deprecation warnings before removing features. Our guides distinguish between expected breaking changes and surprising incompatibilities.

Resources Section

Official Node.js Resources

• Node.js Release Notes – Official version announcements and changelogs
• Node.js Documentation – Comprehensive API reference per version
• Node.js Release Schedule – LTS timelines and EOL dates
• Node.js Changelog – Detailed change history
• V8 JavaScript Engine – V8 updates affecting Node.js performance

How ReleaseRun Complements Official Documentation
Node.js release notes excel at comprehensive change listings and API documentation. ReleaseRun release guides focus on practical implementation: we explain why HTTP/2 support matters for API performance, provide before/after code showing how new async features simplify error handling, benchmark performance improvements in realistic Express server scenarios, categorize changes by developer persona (API developers vs. library maintainers vs. DevOps), and provide framework-specific migration strategies. Our guides serve as the strategic implementation layer between Node’s technical changelog and your upgrade decision, with specific Docker image update procedures, AWS Lambda runtime migration timelines, and dependency compatibility matrices.