Building a Server with Node.js and Express - Full Stack Web Development Basics
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Building a Server with Node.js and Express

Building a Server with Node.js and Express

The chapter introduces Node.js as a JavaScript runtime that allows for server-side programming and discusses Express.js, a framework that simplifies server creation. It covers the setup of a development environment, the creation of a basic server, route management, handling requests, and using middleware. Key concepts such as serving static files and processing form data are also explored, providing foundational knowledge for developing web applications.

30 sections

Sections

Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.

  1. 4
    Building A Server With Node.js And Express

    This section explores how to build a server using Node.js and Express,...

  2. 4.1
    Introduction

    This section introduces the foundational concepts of building a server using...

  3. 4.2
    What Is Node.js?

    Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that enables server-side...

  4. 4.2.1
    Why Use Node.js?

    Node.js allows JavaScript to be used for server-side development, enabling...

  5. 4.2.2
    How Does Node.js Work?

    Node.js operates on an event-driven model allowing non-blocking execution of...

  6. 4.3
    What Is Express.js?

    Express.js is a web framework built on top of Node.js that simplifies server...

  7. 4.3.1
    Why Use Express.js?

    Express.js simplifies server-side development with Node.js by providing...

  8. 4.4
    Setting Up Your Development Environment

    This section covers the essential steps to set up your development...

  9. 4.4.1
    Step 1 – Install Node.js

    This section covers the installation of Node.js as the first step in setting...

  10. 4.4.2
    Step 2 – Create Your Project Folder

    In this section, you'll learn how to create a project folder for your...

  11. 4.4.3
    Step 3 – Install Express.js

    This section provides a step-by-step guide to installing Express.js, a web...

  12. 4.5
    Writing Your First Server

    In this section, you'll learn to create a basic server using Node.js and Express.js.

  13. 4.5.1
    Step 4 – Create Server.js

    This section guides you through creating a basic Node.js server using the...

  14. 4.5.2
    Explanation Of The Code

    This section explains the code for creating a simple server using Node.js...

  15. 4.5.3
    Step 5 – Run The Server

    This section explains how to run a server using Node.js and Express,...

  16. 4.6
    Understanding Routes And Request Handling

    This section outlines how to define routes and handle requests in a Node.js...

  17. 4.6.1
    What Is A Route?

    A route is an endpoint defined on a server that responds to specific client requests.

  18. 4.6.2
    Adding More Routes

    This section explores how to extend a simple server built with Node.js and...

  19. 4.6.3
    Handling Request Parameters

    This section covers how to handle request parameters and query strings in...

  20. 4.6.4
    Handling Query Strings

    This section covers how to extract and process data sent via query strings...

  21. 4.6.5
    Sending Html As A Response

    This section explains how servers can send HTML content as responses to...

  22. 4.6.6
    Using Middleware

    This section introduces middleware in Express.js, explaining its role in...

  23. 4.6.7
    Handling Static Files

    This section explains how to serve static files like images and stylesheets...

  24. 4.6.8
    Handling Post Requests

    This section teaches how to handle POST requests in a Node.js and Express...

  25. 4.7
    Understanding The Request And Response Objects

    This section introduces the request and response objects in Express.js, key...

  26. 4.7.1
    Common Req Properties

    This section outlines the common properties of the request object in...

  27. 4.7.2
    Common Res Methods

    This section discusses common response methods in Express.js for handling...

  28. 4.8
    Organizing Code For Larger Applications

    This section emphasizes best practices for structuring server code in larger...

  29. 4.8.1
    Best Practices

    This section introduces best practices for organizing server-side applications.

  30. 4.9

    This section provides an overview of the key concepts covered in Chapter 4,...

What we have learnt

  • Node.js enables the running of JavaScript on the server.
  • Express.js streamlines the development of server applications.
  • Routes can be defined to handle different requests appropriately.
  • Middleware can be utilized to manage request processing.
  • Form submissions can be handled easily with Express.

Key Concepts

-- Node.js
A JavaScript runtime that allows JavaScript to be executed server-side.
-- Express.js
A web framework built on top of Node.js that simplifies the process of building server applications.
-- Middleware
Functions that execute during the request/response cycle to modify requests or responses.
-- Routes
Endpoints defined on the server to respond to specific HTTP requests at particular URL paths.
-- Request and Response Objects
Objects that represent the HTTP request and response in Express, containing methods and properties to manage data exchange.

Additional Learning Materials

Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.