I Built My First Web Application using Node.js, Express.js, and EJS

As a beginner in web development, I recently embarked on a journey to build my first web application using Node.js, Express.js, and EJS. It was a challenging but rewarding experience that taught me a lot about server-side coding and templating. In this article, I will share my journey and the key learnings I gained along the way.

Getting Started with Node.js and Express.js

Before diving into building my web application, I first had to install Node.js and Express.js on my local machine. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows you to run server-side code, while Express.js is a popular web framework for Node.js that makes building web applications easier and faster.

With Node.js and Express.js set up, I started by creating a basic server using Express.js. I defined routes for different pages and set up middleware to handle requests and responses. It was exciting to see the server up and running, ready to serve my web application.

Adding EJS for Dynamic Templating

Next, I integrated EJS (Embedded JavaScript) into my project to create dynamic HTML templates. EJS is a simple templating language that allows you to embed JavaScript code directly into your HTML markup. This makes it easy to generate dynamic content based on data from the server.

With EJS, I was able to create reusable templates for different parts of my web application, such as headers, footers, and content sections. I also used EJS to pass data from the server to the client, allowing me to display dynamic content like user profiles, blog posts, and product listings.

Building a Complete Web Application

After setting up the basic structure of my web application, I focused on expanding its functionality. I added features like user authentication, form handling, and database integration using MongoDB and Mongoose. I also optimized my code for performance and scalability, ensuring that my web application could handle a large number of users and data.

Finally, I deployed my web application to a cloud server using services like Heroku or AWS. It was a satisfying moment to see my web application live on the internet, ready to be accessed by users from around the world.

Conclusion

Building my first web application using Node.js, Express.js, and EJS was a challenging yet rewarding experience. I learned a lot about server-side coding, templating, and web development best practices. I also gained confidence in my ability to build and deploy web applications from scratch.

If you’re interested in learning web development, I highly recommend trying out Node.js, Express.js, and EJS for your first project. They are powerful tools that can help you build dynamic and interactive web applications with ease. Good luck on your web development journey!