process.argv for command line arguments in Node.js - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using process.argv for Command Line Arguments in Node.js

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple Node.js script that reads user input from the command line. This is useful when you want to pass information to your program without changing the code.

🎯 Goal: Build a Node.js script that reads two numbers from the command line arguments, adds them, and stores the result in a variable.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an array variable to hold the command line arguments using process.argv.

Create a variable to store the first number from the command line arguments.

Create a variable to store the second number from the command line arguments.

Add the two numbers and store the result in a variable called sum.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Many Node.js scripts and tools accept input from the command line to customize their behavior without changing code.

💼 Career

Understanding how to handle command line arguments is essential for backend developers and anyone writing scripts or automation tools in Node.js.

1

Set up command line arguments array

Create a variable called args and assign it the value of process.argv.

Node.js

// Create a variable called args to hold process.argv
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use const args = process.argv; to get the command line arguments.

2

Extract the first number argument

Create a variable called num1 and assign it the value of the third element in args converted to a number using Number().

Node.js

const args = process.argv;
// Extract the first number argument from args
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Remember that process.argv array starts with the node executable and script path, so the first user argument is at index 2.

3

Extract the second number argument

Create a variable called num2 and assign it the value of the fourth element in args converted to a number using Number().

Node.js

const args = process.argv;
const num1 = Number(args[2]);
// Extract the second number argument from args
// Your code here

Need a hint?

The second user argument is at index 3 in process.argv.

4

Calculate the sum of the two numbers

Create a variable called sum and assign it the sum of num1 and num2.

Node.js

const args = process.argv;
const num1 = Number(args[2]);
const num2 = Number(args[3]);
// Calculate the sum of num1 and num2
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Add num1 and num2 using the + operator.