Global Objects | Node.js v9.6.0 Documentation

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# Global Objects#

These objects are available in all modules. The following variables may appear to be global but are not. They exist only in the scope of modules, see the module system documentation:

- `__dirname`
- `__filename`
- `exports`
- `module`
- `require()`

The objects listed here are specific to Node.js. There are a number of built-in objects that are part of the JavaScript language itself, which are also globally accessible.

## Class: Buffer#

Added in: v0.1.103

- <Function>

Used to handle binary data. See the buffer section.

## __dirname#

This variable may appear to be global but is not. See `__dirname`.

## __filename#

This variable may appear to be global but is not. See `__filename`.

## clearImmediate(immediateObject)#

Added in: v0.9.1

`clearImmediate` is described in the timers section.

## clearInterval(intervalObject)#

Added in: v0.0.1

`clearInterval` is described in the timers section.

## clearTimeout(timeoutObject)#

Added in: v0.0.1

`clearTimeout` is described in the timers section.

## console#

Added in: v0.1.100

- <Object>

Used to print to stdout and stderr. See the `console` section.

## exports#

This variable may appear to be global but is not. See `exports`.

## global#

Added in: v0.1.27

- <Object> The global namespace object.

In browsers, the top-level scope is the global scope. This means that within the browser `var something` will define a new global variable. In Node.js this is different. The top-level scope is not the global scope; `var something` inside a Node.js module will be local to that module.

## module#

This variable may appear to be global but is not. See `module`.

## process#

Added in: v0.1.7

- <Object>

The process object. See the `process` object section.

## require()#

This variable may appear to be global but is not. See `require()`.

## setImmediate(callback[, ...args])#

Added in: v0.9.1

`setImmediate` is described in the timers section.

## setInterval(callback, delay[, ...args])#

Added in: v0.0.1

`setInterval` is described in the timers section.

## setTimeout(callback, delay[, ...args])#

Added in: v0.0.1

`setTimeout` is described in the timers section.