Deno is a modern JavaScript/TypeScript runtime built by the creator of Node.js, designed as a more secure and developer-friendly alternative. Unlike Node, Deno runs with strict permissions (no file, network, or environment access by default) and includes TypeScript support out of the box. It also natively supports modern web APIs and provides built-in utilities like testing and formatting, reducing the need for external dependencies. Plus, it’s modular, offering direct URL-based imports instead of relying on node_modules.