Building a REST API with Node.js and Express.js: A Complete Tutorial for CRUD Operations

In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of building a REST API using Node.js and Express.js. We will cover the basics of creating a server with Node.js, setting up routes and handling CRUD operations using Express.js.

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of JavaScript
• Node.js installed on your machine
• Understanding of RESTful APIs

Step 1: Setting up a New Node.js Project

First, create a new directory for your project and navigate into it using the terminal. Then, run the following command to initialize a new Node.js project:

    
      $ npm init -y
    
  

Step 2: Installing Express.js

Next, install Express.js as a dependency for your project by running the following command in the terminal:

    
      $ npm install express
    
  

Step 3: Creating a Server with Node.js and Express.js

Create a new file called server.js and add the following code to set up a basic server using Node.js and Express.js:

    
      const express = require('express');
      const app = express();
      const port = 3000;

      app.listen(port, () => {
        console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${port}`);
      });
    
  

Step 4: Setting Up Routes for CRUD Operations

Now that we have a basic server set up, we can define routes for handling CRUD operations. Create a new file called routes.js and add the following code to define routes for creating, reading, updating, and deleting data:

    
      const express = require('express');
      const router = express.Router();

      // Create
      router.post('/api', (req, res) => {
        // Handle creating new data
      });

      // Read
      router.get('/api', (req, res) => {
        // Handle retrieving data
      });

      // Update
      router.put('/api/:id', (req, res) => {
        // Handle updating data
      });

      // Delete
      router.delete('/api/:id', (req, res) => {
        // Handle deleting data
      });

      module.exports = router;
    
  

Step 5: Connecting Routes to the Server

To connect the routes to the server, import the routes.js file in the server.js file and use the routes with the server like so:

    
      const express = require('express');
      const app = express();
      const port = 3000;

      // Import routes
      const routes = require('./routes');

      // Use routes with the server
      app.use('/', routes);

      app.listen(port, () => {
        console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${port}`);
      });
    
  

Step 6: Testing the API

To test the API, use tools like Postman to make requests to the server and verify that CRUD operations are working as expected.

Congratulations! You have successfully built a REST API with Node.js and Express.js for CRUD operations.