A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Express.js

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Getting Started with Express.js: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to our step-by-step guide for getting started with Express.js!

Express.js is a popular and lightweight web application framework for Node.js. It’s great for building APIs, web applications, and even full-fledged websites. If you’re new to Express.js or just looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide will help you get started.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Before you can start using Express.js, you’ll need to have Node.js installed on your computer. You can download and install it from the official Node.js website.

Step 2: Create a New Project

Once Node.js is installed, open your terminal or command prompt and create a new folder for your Express.js project. Navigate into the folder and run the following command to create a new package.json file:


      npm init -y
    

Step 3: Install Express.js

With the package.json file created, you can now install Express.js as a dependency for your project. Run the following command in your terminal:


      npm install express
    

Step 4: Create a Server

Now that Express.js is installed, you can create a simple server to test it out. Create a new file called app.js in your project folder and add the following code:


      const express = require('express');
      const app = express();
      
      app.get('/', (req, res) => {
        res.send('Hello, Express.js!');
      });
      
      app.listen(3000, () => {
        console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
      });
    

Step 5: Run the Server

Finally, you can run your Express.js server by executing the following command in your terminal:


      node app.js
    

Visit http://localhost:3000 in your web browser, and you should see the message “Hello, Express.js!” displayed on the page.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up a basic Express.js server. From here, you can continue to explore the many features and capabilities of Express.js. This is just the beginning of your journey with this powerful framework.

We hope this guide has been helpful for getting you started with Express.js. Happy coding!