Node.js Express Basic Server Setup

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In this article, we will learn how to create a simple web server using Node.js and Express. Express is a popular web application framework for Node.js, designed for building web applications and APIs.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, make sure you have the following installed on your system:

  1. Node.js (version 10 or higher)
  2. npm (usually included with Node.js)

Step 1: Create a new project

Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in your terminal.

mkdir nodejs-express-server
cd nodejs-express-server

Initialize a new npm project by running:

npm init -y

This will create a package.json file in your project directory.

Step 2: Install Express

Install Express using npm:

npm install express

This will add Express as a dependency in your package.json file.

Step 3: Create the server

Create a new file named server.js in your project directory and add the following code:

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

app.get("/", (req, res) => {
    res.send("Hello World!");
});

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

Here's a breakdown of the code above:

  1. We import the Express module using require.
  2. We create an instance of the Express app by calling express().
  3. We define a port for our server to listen on.
  4. We create a route for the root path ("/") that sends a "Hello World!" response.
  5. We start the server using app.listen() and log a message to the console.

Step 4: Start the server

To start the server, run the following command in your terminal:

node server.js

You should see the following output:

Server running at http://localhost:3000

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to see your server in action. You should see the "Hello World!" message displayed on the page.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a simple web server using Node.js and Express. You can now build upon this foundation to create more complex web applications and APIs.

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FAQ

What is Node.js and Express?

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side. Express is a minimalist web framework for Node.js, which makes it easy to create and manage web applications and APIs.

How do I install Node.js and Express?

First, you need to install Node.js on your system. Visit the official Node.js website (https://nodejs.org/) and download the appropriate version for your OS. After installing Node.js, you can install Express using the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

npm install express --save

How do I create a basic web server using Node.js and Express?

Once you have Node.js and Express installed, follow these steps to create a basic web server:

  • Create a new folder for your project and navigate to it in your terminal or command prompt.
  • Run npm init to create a package.json file and follow the prompts.
  • Create a new file named app.js in your project folder.
  • Write the following code inside app.js: 
    const express = require("express");
const app = express();
const port = 3000;
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
    res.send("Hello World!");
});
app.listen(port, () => {
    console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${port}`);
});
  • Save the file and run node app.js in your terminal or command prompt.
  • Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000. You should see "Hello World!" displayed on the page.

How can I serve static files (e.g., images, stylesheets, etc.) using Express?

To serve static files, you need to use the express.static middleware. First, create a folder named public in your project directory and put your static files (e.g., images, CSS files, JavaScript files, etc.) inside it. Then, add the following line of code in your app.js file:

app.use(express.static("public"));

Now, your static files will be accessible through your server. For example, if you have an image named logo.png in the public folder, you can access it through the URL http://localhost:3000/logo.png.

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