Understanding REST APIs and Backend Servers with Express/Node
Node JS:
Node JS is a JavaScript run time environment that run on server-side of your web application. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for building scalable network applications.
- NPM: Package manager for NodeJS.
- Node Stream: Facilitates data handling in NodeJS.
- Single Threaded: NodeJS operates on a single-threaded event loop model.
Express JS:
Express JS is a web application framework for NodeJS that provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications. It simplifies the process of creating APIs and handling HTTP requests by providing a simple, yet powerful, set of tools and utilities.
- Routing: Directs incoming requests to appropriate handlers in ExpressJS.
- Middleware: Functions executed between the request and the final handler for processing in ExpressJS.
- Static files: Serve files such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript without processing in ExpressJS.
- Request and Response object: Objects containing data and methods to handle incoming requests and send responses in ExpressJS.
RESTful API:
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. RESTful APIs are APIs that attach to the REST architecture principles. They use standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on resources.
Backend Server:
A backend server is the part of a web application that handles data processing, database operations, and business logic. It typically consists of a server, a database, and various middleware components.
MERN Stack Development Roadmap for 2024
Curious about building modern web apps? Ever heard of the MERN stack? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to master it. Don’t worry if you’re new—I’ll make it simple. By the end, you’ll understand MERN, its tools, and where to learn more. Plus, I’ll share cool project ideas for your portfolio. Ready to fall in? Let’s get started!
Let’s see a brief overview of what each part of the MERN Stack looks like:
- Frontend (Client-side): ReactJS is used to build the user interface (UI) of the application. It enables users to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces with reusable components.
- Backend (Server-side): NodeJS with ExpressJS is employed to build the server-side logic of the application. It handles tasks such as routing, middleware management, and interfacing with the database.
- Database: MongoDB serves as the application’s database layer, providing a flexible and scalable solution for storing and retrieving data.