Node.js v18.12.1 documentation


Table of contents

Deprecated APIs#

Node.js APIs might be deprecated for any of the following reasons:

  • Use of the API is unsafe.
  • An improved alternative API is available.
  • Breaking changes to the API are expected in a future major release.

Node.js uses three kinds of Deprecations:

  • Documentation-only
  • Runtime
  • End-of-Life

A Documentation-only deprecation is one that is expressed only within the Node.js API docs. These generate no side-effects while running Node.js. Some Documentation-only deprecations trigger a runtime warning when launched with --pending-deprecation flag (or its alternative, NODE_PENDING_DEPRECATION=1 environment variable), similarly to Runtime deprecations below. Documentation-only deprecations that support that flag are explicitly labeled as such in the list of Deprecated APIs.

A Runtime deprecation will, by default, generate a process warning that will be printed to stderr the first time the deprecated API is used. When the --throw-deprecation command-line flag is used, a Runtime deprecation will cause an error to be thrown.

An End-of-Life deprecation is used when functionality is or will soon be removed from Node.js.