javascript node.js next()

Question

I see a lot of use next in node.js.

What is it, where does it come from? What does it do? Can I use it client side?

Sorry it\'s used for example

Answer 1

It is naming convention used when passing callbacks in situations that require serial execution of actions, e.g. scan directory -> read file data -> do something with data. This is in preference to deeply nesting the callbacks. The first three sections of the following article on Tim Caswell's HowToNode blog give a good overview of this:

http://howtonode.org/control-flow

Also see the Sequential Actions section of the second part of that posting:

http://howtonode.org/control-flow-part-ii