Node.js logging libraries are essential tools that enhance the debugging process by offering insights into application behavior before an error occurs, surpassing the limitations of the built-in console API. The text discusses the top five Node.js logging libraries: Winston, Pino, Bunyan, Loglevel, and Npmlog, each with unique features catering to different needs. Winston stands out for its popularity and flexibility, supporting JSON formatting and multiple transports, while Pino is noted for its speed and browser compatibility. Bunyan emphasizes JSON logs and multiple runtime environment support, while Loglevel is appreciated for its simplicity and browser embedding capability. Npmlog, used by the npm project, offers colorized terminal output and custom levels but lacks JSON support, potentially complicating filtering and sorting. These libraries help streamline the debugging process in Node.js applications, especially when integrated with monitoring tools like Highlight, by providing structured, machine-readable logs that can be easily filtered, sorted, and directed to various storage solutions.