What does the command "node ." do?

Question

The README document of my node server instructs me to run this command on my command prompt.

node .

What does this command do? How does it start my node server?

My package.json contents are

{
  "name": "uber-api",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Move your app forward with the Uber API",
  "main": "index.js",
  "keywords": [
    "swagger"
  ],
  "license": "MIT",
  "private": true,
  "dependencies": {
    "connect": "^3.2.0",
    "js-yaml": "^3.3.0",
    "swagger-tools": "0.9.*"
  }
}

It will look for server.js in your project directory and it will start your app.. — Subburaj, May 11 '16 at 05:07
@Subburaj my project directory does not have a server.js file — Rogen George, May 11 '16 at 05:10
@RogenGeorge: Did you really provided an argument after node? Or that dot(.) was you put by mistake? — Jitendra Pancholi, May 11 '16 at 05:14
The dot `.` in unix means the current directory. So, it would execute the default file in the given directory (index.js) — aarosil, May 11 '16 at 05:18
Yea, I meant defalt file as mentioned by @RogenGeorge answer. Just letting you know what the `.` meant in case didn't know :) — aarosil, May 11 '16 at 06:37

Iurii Tkachenko · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-31T09:53:34.337

63

By default Node.js is trying to load a module located in the folder that you are passing to it as an argument (. - just bash variant of the current folder). Then it runs whatever is written in the "main" section of the package.json file found in this folder.

In your case, it'll try to run node ./index.js

Doc: https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json#main

Good point from @djechlin: if no package.json found in the folder or if no "main" section is present, then Node.js will try to run the index.js file in this particular folder you are passing.

edited May 31 '21 at 09:53

answered May 11 '16 at 05:14

Iurii Tkachenko

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I think index.js is default if package.json does not specify. – djechlin May 11 '16 at 05:27
1

You are correct djechilin. index.js is a default file for many things like import statements in React as well. – Saras Arya Sep 26 '17 at 03:48
1

In a loopback project it will automatically run server/server.js ! How does that work ? – Sethunath K M Sep 12 '18 at 09:48
@Sethunath check the `main` value in `package.json`. It says: `"main": "server/server.js"` that is how loopback works. – Iurii Tkachenko Sep 13 '18 at 10:14
1

@YuriTkachenko Thank you for clarifying – Sethunath K M Sep 13 '18 at 16:18

What does the command "node ." do?

1 Answers1