Node.js REPL Environment: An Efficient Tool for Interactive Programming

The Node.js REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) is an interactive programming environment that provides immediate feedback through an input-execute-output loop, making it suitable for learning and debugging. To start, install Node.js and enter `node` in the terminal, where you'll see the `>` prompt. Basic operations include simple calculations (e.g., `1+1`), variable definition (`var message = "Hello"`), and testing functions/APIs (e.g., `add(2,3)` or the array `map` method). Common commands are `.help` (view commands), `.exit` (quit), `.clear` (clear), `.save`/`.load` (file operations), with support for arrow key history navigation and Tab auto-completion. The REPL enables quick debugging, API testing (e.g., `fs` module), and temporary script execution. Note that variables are session-specific, making it ideal for rapid validation rather than large-scale project development. It serves as an efficient tool for Node.js learning, accelerating code verification and debugging.