Exploring Rest API using Express and Node.js | Web Development 101 – EP. 9

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May 25, 2024

Rest API via Express and Node.js | Web development 101 – EP. 9

Rest API stands for Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules that allow different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet. Rest APIs are commonly used in web development to enable interaction between front-end and back-end systems.

Express is a popular web application framework for Node.js. It provides a robust set of features to build web applications and APIs. Node.js is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to build scalable network applications.

Creating a Rest API with Express and Node.js

To create a Rest API using Express and Node.js, you first need to install Node.js on your computer. Once Node.js is installed, you can use the npm (Node Package Manager) to install Express and other necessary packages.

$ npm init $ npm install express

After installing Express, you can create a new JavaScript file (e.g., index.js) and start building your Rest API. In this file, you can define endpoints, handle HTTP requests, and interact with a database or other external services.

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


        app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {

            res.json({message: 'Get all users'});

        });
        app.post('/api/users', (req, res) => {

            res.json({message: 'Create a new user'});

        });

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

In the code snippet above, we create two endpoints (/api/users) for handling GET and POST requests. When a user accesses the /api/users route using a GET request, the server responds with a JSON object containing a message. Similarly, when a user submits a POST request to the same route, the server responds with a different message.

Testing the Rest API

After setting up your Rest API with Express and Node.js, you can test it using tools like Postman or curl. These tools allow you to send HTTP requests to your API endpoints and view the responses. This helps to ensure that your Rest API is working as expected and handling requests correctly.

By following the steps outlined above, you can create a Rest API using Express and Node.js. This technology stack is widely used in web development for building scalable and efficient APIs. If you are new to Rest APIs, practicing with Express and Node.js is a great way to enhance your skills and expand your knowledge in web development.