Building Restful API using Node.js and Express.js and Deploy in Vercel

If you are a developer who wants to build a powerful, scalable, and efficient Restful API, Node.js and Express.js can be a perfect combination. Node.js is known for its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, making it lightweight and efficient for building network applications. Express.js, on the other hand, is a framework built on top of Node.js that provides a simple and flexible way to build web applications and APIs.

Why use Node.js and Express.js?

Node.js, with its asynchronous and non-blocking nature, is quite effective in handling a large number of concurrent connections. This makes it an excellent choice for building APIs that need to handle a high volume of requests. Additionally, Node.js is built on top of JavaScript, which allows developers to use the same language for both the front-end and the back-end, reducing context switching and increasing productivity.

Express.js, on the other hand, provides a lightweight and minimalistic framework for building web applications and APIs. It makes handling HTTP requests and responses, routing, and creating middleware a breeze. With its simplicity and flexibility, Express.js has gained popularity among developers and has a rich ecosystem of plugins and modules, making it a great choice for building Restful APIs.

Building a Restful API using Node.js and Express.js

Let’s dive into building a simple Restful API using Node.js and Express.js.

Step 1: Setting up a new project

First, make sure you have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on your machine. Create a new directory for your project and open a terminal in that directory. Run the following command to initialize a new npm project:

npm init -y

This will create a package.json file that will manage your project’s dependencies.

Step 2: Installing dependencies

The next step is to install Express.js and other required dependencies. Run the following command in your terminal:

npm install express

Step 3: Creating an Express.js server

Create a new file called server.js in your project directory and add the following code:


const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is running on port 3000.');
});


This code sets up a basic Express.js server that listens on port 3000 and responds with “Hello World!” when you access the root URL.

Step 4: Testing the API

Run the following command in your terminal to start the server:

node server.js

You should see the message “Server is running on port 3000.” Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to test the API. You should see the “Hello World!” message.

Deploying the Restful API in Vercel

Vercel is a cloud platform for static and Jamstack deployment. It offers a seamless way to deploy your Restful API built with Node.js and Express.js.

Step 1: Sign up for a Vercel account

If you don’t already have a Vercel account, sign up for one at https://vercel.com/.

Step 2: Install the Vercel CLI

Vercel provides a command-line interface (CLI) tool that makes it easy to deploy projects. Install it globally on your machine by running the following command:

npm install -g vercel

Step 3: Configure the deployment

In your project directory, run the following command:

vercel

This will start the Vercel deployment process. It will guide you through the configuration steps, such as linking your Vercel account and selecting your project directory. Make sure to specify the correct entry point for your API (e.g., server.js).

Step 4: Deploy the API

Once the configuration is complete, run the following command to deploy your project:

vercel --prod

This will deploy your Restful API to Vercel. You will receive a unique URL for your deployed API.

Step 5: Test the deployed API

Open your browser and navigate to the URL provided by Vercel to test your deployed Restful API. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the “Hello World!” message.

Conclusion

Building a Restful API using Node.js and Express.js is a powerful and efficient way to handle high volumes of requests. With the simplicity and flexibility of Express.js, you can quickly build and deploy your API. Vercel provides an easy way to deploy your Restful API to the cloud, ensuring scalability and reliability. Start building your next Restful API using Node.js and Express.js, and deploy it in Vercel for a seamless development and deployment experience.