What role does the 'require' statement serve in Node.js?

The 'require' statement in Node.js is primarily used to include modules and dependencies into a script. When you use 'require,' you are telling Node.js to load a specified module, making its functionality available for use in your application. This is essential for modular programming, as it allows developers to break their code into separate files, promoting code reusability and maintainability.

For instance, if you want to use the built-in 'fs' module for file system operations, you would write const fs = require('fs');. This line pulls in the 'fs' module, enabling you to access its methods and properties. By facilitating the inclusion of modules, 'require' helps structure applications more efficiently, allowing developers to leverage third-party libraries and built-in functionality seamlessly.

This focus on modularity and functionality distinguishes the 'require' statement from other concepts like variable declaration or server initialization, which serve different purposes entirely in a Node.js environment.