Node.js & Express.js Series | Chapter 8 | Introduction to API & RESTful API

Welcome to Chapter 8 of our Node.js & Express.js Series! In this chapter, we will be diving into the world of API and RESTful API using Node.js and Express.js.

What is an API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of protocols, tools, and definitions that allows different software applications to communicate and interact with each other. In other words, an API defines the methods and data structures that developers can use to interact with a particular software component.

Introduction to RESTful API

RESTful API is an architectural style for creating networked applications, based on the use of HTTP as the requesting protocol. The RESTful API is designed around resources, which are any kind of object, data, or service that can be accessed by the client.

Building a RESTful API with Express.js

Express.js is a popular web application framework for Node.js that provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications. It also makes it easy to create RESTful APIs using HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

Creating Routes for API Endpoints

In Express.js, you can create routes for different API endpoints using the app.get(), app.post(), app.put(), and app.delete() methods. These routes can then be used to handle incoming HTTP requests and perform actions such as retrieving data, adding new data, updating existing data, and deleting data.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have learned the basics of API and RESTful API, as well as how to build a RESTful API using Express.js. In the next chapter, we will dive deeper into the world of API development and explore advanced topics such as authentication, error handling, and testing.