Guide · Open source
How to use node-interview: read the ElemeFE Node.js interview guide
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
node-interview is a written guide from ElemeFE, the frontend team behind Ele.me, that describes how they assess senior backend Node.js developers. It is a catalog of interview topics, not a plain list of questions and answers. This tutorial shows you how to get the material, where to start reading, and what it is and is not useful for.
node-interviewElemeFE/node-interview · ★ 10.5k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the guide. Visit the project homepage at https://elemefe.github.io/node-interview/ to read it online.
- 2Clone the repository. To read locally, run git clone https://github.com/ElemeFE/node-interview in your terminal.
- 3Pick a language. Open sections/en-us/ for English or sections/zh-cn/ for Simplified Chinese.
- 4Read the topic catalog. Go through the backend Node.js topics and mark which ones you can explain in depth.
- 5Study the gaps. Use other resources for the topics where your knowledge is thin, since the English translation may be incomplete.
What node-interview is and who it is for
The repository is documentation only. ElemeFE wrote it because many candidates who came from frontend had leaky knowledge of backend systems, and they found it hard to hire senior Node.js developers focused on backend work rather than full-stack.
It is best suited to developers preparing for senior Node.js backend interviews, frontend developers who want to learn backend system knowledge, and hiring managers who want a reference for backend Node.js topics.
Get the guide: clone the repository or read it online
The source lists read-online as the install method and names no prerequisites. To read the guide locally, clone the repository with the command below. You can also use the project homepage to read it in a browser.
The homepage is https://elemefe.github.io/node-interview/.
- Read online: open the project homepage in your browser.
- Read locally: clone the repository and open the files in it.
git clone https://github.com/ElemeFE/node-interviewChoose the English or Chinese entry
The README links two entry points: an English entry at sections/en-us/ and a Simplified Chinese entry at sections/zh-cn/. Pick the one you read most comfortably.
The README notes that the content was translated from Chinese and that the English translation has only just started, so you may not be able to read all of it yet. The maintainers welcome help improving the translations.
- English: sections/en-us/
- Simplified Chinese: sections/zh-cn/
Work through the topic catalog
The guide is organized as a catalog of interview topics rather than a question bank. Read it as a map of what deep backend Node.js knowledge looks like, then check your own understanding of each area.
Because the material assumes existing Node.js experience, use it to find gaps in your knowledge and decide what to study next, rather than as a list to memorize answers from.
- Note topics you can explain in depth without notes.
- Note topics where you only know the surface.
- Study the gaps with other resources, since the guide is not a full answer key.
Use it as a reference and contribute fixes
Hiring managers can use the catalog as a reference for backend Node.js topics when they plan interviews.
Because the translation is incomplete, contributions to the translations are welcome. The README invites readers to help improve them.
What people use it for
- Preparing for a senior Node.js backend interview by checking your coverage of backend topics.
- A frontend developer learning what backend system knowledge looks like in practice.
- A hiring manager building a reference list of backend Node.js topics for interviews.
- Reading the Chinese entry if you prefer the original language of the guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is node-interview free to use?
The source lists the licence as MIT, which is an open-source licence. The guide is free to read online or in a local clone.
What are the requirements for node-interview?
The source lists no prerequisites. You only need a browser to read it online, or git to clone it. The material itself assumes you already have Node.js experience.
Does node-interview include questions and answers?
Not as a plain answer key. The project describes itself as an interview catalog, not just questions and answers, and the README says the translation may be incomplete.
Is node-interview available in English?
Yes, there is an English entry at sections/en-us/. The README says the translation was only just started, so parts may not be available yet.
Can I run code from node-interview or install it as a library?
No. The source describes it as documentation only, with no runnable code or software library.
Are there alternatives to node-interview?
The source lists no comparable projects, so it does not name alternatives. For Node.js practice material, you would need to look elsewhere.
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Our verdict
node-interview is worth reading if you are preparing for a senior Node.js backend interview, learning backend system knowledge as a frontend developer, or building a reference for hiring. Skip it if you want runnable code, a library, a complete answer key, or you are new to programming, since the guide assumes existing Node.js experience and its translation is incomplete.
Install options & downloads