Chapter 1 · Practice 1 of 4
Run an Active or Maintenance LTS release of Node.js
Why it matters
Your API should run on a Node.js line that still gets security fixes. The Node.js project says production apps should use only Active LTS or Maintenance LTS releases; odd-numbered and Current releases are for trying new features.
| Line | Status as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Node.js 24 | Active LTS until October 20, 2026, then Maintenance until April 2028 |
| Node.js 26 | Becomes LTS on October 28, 2026 |
| Odd numbers (25, 27) | Never LTS: not for production |
Keep every environment on the same line:
- Pin the major version in
enginesinpackage.json. - Use the same major in your Dockerfile base image.
- Use it again in CI.
Do
- Set
"engines": { "node": ">=24" }and match it in your Docker image - Add a reminder for each LTS end-of-life date
Avoid
- Odd-numbered releases such as 25 or 27 in production