In the context of managing Node.js applications using PM2, understanding the difference between pm2 restart and pm2 reload is crucial for effective process management.
PM2 Restart
The pm2 restart command is used to stop and then start the process again. This command is straightforward and involves stopping the entire process and starting it anew, which can lead to some downtime. This might not be ideal in a production environment where maintaining uptime is critical. However, it is useful when changes to the environment or significant updates in the codebase require a complete refresh of the application state[1][3].
PM2 Reload
On the other hand, pm2 reload is designed for zero-downtime reloads, making it more suitable for production environments where services need to remain online without interruption. The reload command achieves this by launching new instances of the processes and then gracefully stopping the old ones, ensuring that at least one instance is always running during the transition. This method is particularly beneficial when you need to update the application without affecting the users' experience[1][3].
Use Cases
Use pm2 restart when the application requires a full reset, such as after changes to environment variables or major updates ...
