Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine for building server-side applications. Why use it? Node.js offers fast performance and scalability, making it ideal for real-time applications and APIs. Best practices include using async/await, modularizing code, and using event-driven programming. Node.js was first released in 2009.

JavaScript is a high-level, dynamic programming language used to create interactive web applications. Why use it? JavaScript is essential for adding interactivity, controlling multimedia, and handling events on web pages. Best practices include using ES6+ features like arrow functions, promises, and async/await. JavaScript was first developed in 1995.

Express.js is a fast and minimalist web application framework for Node.js. Why use it? Express simplifies routing, middleware, and server setup, making it ideal for building APIs and web applications. Best practices include using middleware for handling errors and request validation. Express.js was first released in 2010.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. REST APIs allow communication between clients and servers over HTTP. Why use it? REST APIs are scalable, stateless, and easy to integrate into web services. Best practices include using proper HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and stateless communication. REST APIs became popular in the 2000s.

E-commerce refers to buying and selling goods or services over the internet. Why use it? E-commerce enables businesses to reach global markets, streamline operations, and provide 24/7 access to products. Best practices include optimizing product pages, ensuring secure payment gateways, and providing excellent customer service. E-commerce has been evolving since the 1990s.

Microservices is an architectural style where an application is built as a collection of small, loosely coupled services. Why use it? Microservices enable scalability, flexibility, and maintainability, allowing teams to develop and deploy services independently. Best practices include defining clear service boundaries and ensuring proper communication between services. The microservices architecture became popular in the early 2010s.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on objects that contain data and methods. Why use it? OOP promotes code reusability, scalability, and maintainability by organizing code into modular, reusable components. Best practices include following principles like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. OOP gained popularity in the 1980s.

Error and exception handling refers to the process of managing runtime errors in software to prevent crashes and unexpected behaviors. Why use it? Proper error handling ensures stability, improves debugging, and provides a better user experience. Best practices include using try-catch blocks and logging errors for analysis. Exception handling has been a core concept in programming for decades.

Heroku is a cloud platform as a service (PaaS) that enables developers to build, run, and operate applications entirely in the cloud. Why use it? Heroku simplifies deployment and management of apps, with support for multiple programming languages and easy integrations. Best practices include using Heroku’s built-in monitoring tools for performance insights. Heroku was founded in 2007.

ESLint is a static code analysis tool for identifying and fixing problems in JavaScript code. Why use it? ESLint helps ensure consistent code quality by enforcing coding standards and catching errors early. Best practices include setting up a shared configuration for teams and using auto-fix features. ESLint was first released in 2013.

Mocha is a JavaScript test framework that runs on Node.js and in the browser, designed for asynchronous testing. Why use it? Mocha provides flexibility and easy integration with other libraries to perform unit and integration tests. Best practices include writing tests for all new code and integrating Mocha with CI/CD pipelines. Mocha was first released in 2011.

Chai is a JavaScript assertion library that works with Mocha and other testing frameworks. Why use it? Chai enables expressive and readable tests by providing functions like `should`, `expect`, and `assert` for assertions. Best practices include using it in combination with Mocha for unit testing. Chai was first released in 2011.

Istanbul (and NYC) is a JavaScript code coverage tool that provides insights into which parts of your code are tested. Why use it? Istanbul helps ensure that your tests cover all important areas of your code, preventing untested code from causing bugs. Best practices include integrating Istanbul/NYC with testing frameworks like Mocha and Jest. Istanbul has been in use since 2010.