Sure, let’s begin!
Express.js or simply Express is a web application framework for Node.js, released as free and open-source software under the MIT License. It’s designed for building web applications and APIs. It is the standard server framework for Node.js.
Express does not obscure the feature set of Node.js, but simplifies it and improves its efficiency. It provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications. With a myriad of HTTP utility methods and middleware at your disposal, creating a robust API is quick and easy.
Let’s dive into the **solution** and discuss Express in more detail.
Installing Express
To install Express, we will use Node Package Manager (npm). Run the following command in your terminal to install Express in your application:
npm install express
Setting Up the Server
Now, let’s set up a simple server in an app called “app.js”.
const express = require('express')
const app = express()
const port = 3000
app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello World!'))
app.listen(port, () => console.log(`Example app listening at http://localhost:${port}`))
In this basic example, we’ve created a simple web server that responds with “Hello World!” for requests to the home page.
Express makes it very easy to create and run a web server with Node.js. Notice how we send a response of “Hello World!” to the browser.
Routing in Express
Routing is how an application’s endpoints respond to client requests. Express handles routes very efficiently.
app.get('/', function (req, res) {
res.send('Home Page Route')
})
app.get('/about', function (req, res) {
res.send('About Page Route')
})
app.get('/portfolio', function (req, res) {
res.send('Portfolio Page Route')
})
app.get('/contact', function (req, res) {
res.send('Contact Page Route')
})
The app responds with the string for the specific route, as shown above.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Express has become a widely-used framework due to its simplicity and performance. It also includes features for routing, static file serving, middleware, template engines, and more. It’s a versatile tool for building APIs and has a large extension list available for diverse needs. Happy coding!
