24. What is Node.js and what are its advantages?

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Google Chrome's V8 engine that allows for running JavaScript on the server side. Node.js enables the creation of scalable and efficient web applications.

Advantages of Node.js:

1. Asynchronicity: The asynchronous and event-driven model allows for handling multiple requests simultaneously without blocking.
2. Unified language: Using JavaScript on both the client and server side simplifies the development process.
3. Performance: The V8 engine provides high performance and fast code execution.
4. Rich ecosystem: NPM (Node Package Manager) offers a vast number of libraries and tools available to developers.
5. Scalability: Node.js is ideal for creating applications that need to handle a large number of concurrent connections, such as real-time applications and APIs.