Calling JavaScript from C++ with node.js

Is there a way to call JS functions from C++ through node.js (as callbacks or something like that)? If yes, how? I’m searching for it on the web, but haven’t found any helpful resource.

Thanks in advance

Answer

One way to do it form a native addon can be using the provided function as a callback, for example let’s gonna assume that you have a function named setPrintFunction() declared in your native environment (A native addon):

(Call this for example main.cc)

#include <node.h>
#include <string>

v8::Persistent<v8::Function> fn;

// Call this at any time, but after the capture!
void printToNode(std::string msg) {
  auto isolate = fn->GetIsolate();
  // This part is the one that transforms your std::string to a javascript
  // string, and passes it as the first argument:
  const unsigned argc = 1;
  auto argv[argc] = {
      v8::String::NewFromUtf8(isolate,
                          msg.c_str(),
                          v8::NewStringType::kNormal).ToLocalChecked()
  };
  cb->Call(context, Null(isolate), argc, argv).ToLocalChecked();
}

// This is your native function that captures the reference
void setPrintFunction(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
  auto isolate = args.GetIsolate();
  auto context = isolate->GetCurrentContext();
  auto cb = v8::Local<v8::Function>::Cast(args[0]);
  fn = v8::Persistent<v8::Function>::New(cb);
}

// This part exports the function
void Init(v8::Local<v8::Object> exports, v8::Local<v8::Object> module) {
  NODE_SET_METHOD(module, "exports", setPrintFunction);
}

NODE_MODULE(NODE_GYP_MODULE_NAME, Init)

Then, just importing your addon and using it like:

(Call this for example index.js)

const { setPrintFunction } = require('<your path to .node file>');

function printNodeMsg(msg) {
  console.log('<msg>: ' + msg);
}

setPrintFunction(printNodeMsg);

So what you’re basically doing is capturing the reference to the v8::Function (Which is the javascript function, but in the native environment) and then invoking it and passing "Hello World!" as the first (and unique) parameter.

More on the subject: https://nodejs.org/api/addons.html