How To Make A Javascript Discord Bot

This step-by-step guide shows you how to create a JavaScript Discord bot using Discord.js and Node.js — from registering your bot with Discord to writing its code and running it.

Prerequisites

• Basic JavaScript knowledge recommended.
• Node.js — a program that runs JavaScript on your computer. Download from nodejs.org.
• A Discord account and a server where you can invite the bot.

Setting Up the Bot on Discord

1. Create an application — Go to the Discord Developer Portal and click New Application. Give it a name. An application is how your bot is registered with Discord.
2. Get the bot token — Go to the Bot tab, click Reset Token, and copy it. The token is a secret key that lets your bot log in to Discord — keep it secret and never share it.
3. Create a .env file — In your project folder, create a file named .env with:

   TOKEN=your-bot-token-here

   This file safely stores your token so it stays out of your main code.
4. Invite the bot — In the Developer Portal, go to OAuth2 > URL Generator. Select scopes bot and applications.commands, then set the required permissions. Use the generated URL to invite the bot to your server.

Creating the Bot with Discord.js

Discord.js is a library (a set of pre-written code) that makes it easy to build Discord bots with JavaScript.

Setup

Run these commands in your project folder to install the libraries your bot needs:

npm install discord.js
npm install dotenv

Basic Bot Code

Create index.js (your bot's main file):

const { Client, Events, GatewayIntentBits } = require('discord.js');
require('dotenv').config();

const client = new Client({
    intents: [
        GatewayIntentBits.Guilds,
        GatewayIntentBits.GuildMessages,
        GatewayIntentBits.MessageContent
    ]
});

client.once(Events.ClientReady, (c) => {
    console.log(`Logged in as ${c.user.tag}`);
});

client.login(process.env.TOKEN);

Message Command Example

This code makes the bot reply "Pong!" whenever someone sends ?ping in a channel it can see:

client.on(Events.MessageCreate, (message) => {
    if (message.content === '?ping') {
        message.reply('Pong!');
    }
});

Adding Slash Commands

Slash commands are commands players run by typing a / command in Discord (like /ping). Create a commands folder with a command file. Example commands/ping.js:

const { SlashCommandBuilder } = require('discord.js');

module.exports = {
    data: new SlashCommandBuilder()
        .setName('ping')
        .setDescription('Replies with Pong!'),
    async execute(interaction) {
        await interaction.reply('Pong!');
    }
};

Then load commands using fs and a Collection, and handle InteractionCreate to execute them.

Deploying Commands

Deploying sends your slash command definitions to Discord so they appear in the chat box. Create a deploy-commands.js file:

const { REST, Routes } = require('discord.js');
require('dotenv').config();

const commands = [
    new SlashCommandBuilder()
        .setName('ping')
        .setDescription('Replies with Pong!')
].map(cmd => cmd.toJSON());

const rest = new REST({ version: '10' }).setToken(process.env.TOKEN);

// Guild commands (instant, for testing)
rest.put(
    Routes.applicationGuildCommands(CLIENT_ID, GUILD_ID),
    { body: commands }
);

// OR Global commands (takes 1-2 hours to propagate)
rest.put(
    Routes.applicationCommands(CLIENT_ID),
    { body: commands }
);

Replace CLIENT_ID and GUILD_ID in the code with your bot's client ID and your server's ID. Then run node deploy-commands.js once. After that, start your bot.

Hosting the Bot

Once your bot is ready, follow the How to Host a Javascript Discord Bot guide to upload and run it in the NolimitHost panel.