5 These objects are available in all modules. Some of these objects aren't
6 actually in the global scope but in the module scope - this will be noted.
12 * {Object} The global namespace object.
14 In browsers, the top-level scope is the global scope. That means that in
15 browsers if you're in the global scope `var something` will define a global
16 variable. In Node this is different. The top-level scope is not the global
17 scope; `var something` inside a Node module will be local to that module.
25 The process object. See the [process object][] section.
33 Used to print to stdout and stderr. See the [console][] section.
41 Used to handle binary data. See the [buffer section][]
49 To require modules. See the [Modules][] section. `require` isn't actually a
50 global but rather local to each module.
54 Use the internal `require()` machinery to look up the location of a module,
55 but rather than loading the module, just return the resolved filename.
61 Modules are cached in this object when they are required. By deleting a key
62 value from this object, the next `require` will reload the module.
64 ### require.extensions
66 Stability: 0 - Deprecated
70 Instruct `require` on how to handle certain file extensions.
72 Process files with the extension `.sjs` as `.js`:
74 require.extensions['.sjs'] = require.extensions['.js'];
76 **Deprecated** In the past, this list has been used to load
77 non-JavaScript modules into Node by compiling them on-demand.
78 However, in practice, there are much better ways to do this, such as
79 loading modules via some other Node program, or compiling them to
80 JavaScript ahead of time.
82 Since the Module system is locked, this feature will probably never go
83 away. However, it may have subtle bugs and complexities that are best
92 The filename of the code being executed. This is the resolved absolute path
93 of this code file. For a main program this is not necessarily the same
94 filename used in the command line. The value inside a module is the path
97 Example: running `node example.js` from `/Users/mjr`
99 console.log(__filename);
100 // /Users/mjr/example.js
102 `__filename` isn't actually a global but rather local to each module.
110 The name of the directory that the currently executing script resides in.
112 Example: running `node example.js` from `/Users/mjr`
114 console.log(__dirname);
117 `__dirname` isn't actually a global but rather local to each module.
126 A reference to the current module. In particular
127 `module.exports` is used for defining what a module exports and makes
128 available through `require()`.
130 `module` isn't actually a global but rather local to each module.
132 See the [module system documentation][] for more information.
138 A reference to the `module.exports` that is shorter to type.
139 See [module system documentation][] for details on when to use `exports` and
140 when to use `module.exports`.
142 `exports` isn't actually a global but rather local to each module.
144 See the [module system documentation][] for more information.
146 See the [module section][] for more information.
148 ## setTimeout(cb, ms)
150 Run callback `cb` after *at least* `ms` milliseconds. The actual delay depends
151 on external factors like OS timer granularity and system load.
153 The timeout must be in the range of 1-2,147,483,647 inclusive. If the value is
154 outside that range, it's changed to 1 millisecond. Broadly speaking, a timer
155 cannot span more than 24.8 days.
157 Returns an opaque value that represents the timer.
161 Stop a timer that was previously created with `setTimeout()`. The callback will
164 ## setInterval(cb, ms)
166 Run callback `cb` repeatedly every `ms` milliseconds. Note that the actual
167 interval may vary, depending on external factors like OS timer granularity and
168 system load. It's never less than `ms` but it may be longer.
170 The interval must be in the range of 1-2,147,483,647 inclusive. If the value is
171 outside that range, it's changed to 1 millisecond. Broadly speaking, a timer
172 cannot span more than 24.8 days.
174 Returns an opaque value that represents the timer.
178 Stop a timer that was previously created with `setInterval()`. The callback
183 The timer functions are global variables. See the [timers][] section.
185 [buffer section]: buffer.html
186 [module section]: modules.html
187 [module system documentation]: modules.html
188 [Modules]: modules.html#modules_modules
189 [process object]: process.html#process_process
190 [console]: console.html
191 [timers]: timers.html