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Node.js & Express

JavaScript on the server

Run JavaScript on the server. Build fast APIs and backends with Node.js and the Express framework — the foundation of most JS backends.

📘 15 lessons🚀 3 projects🗺️ 2 roadmaps🐞 5 error fixes

Node.js & Express Setup

Install Node.js and stand up your first Express server.

terminal

# Download the LTS build from https://nodejs.org

What it does

Node.js runs JavaScript outside the browser and ships with npm to install packages.

Why you need it

Express and every npm package run on Node — nothing works without it.

Alternatives: Use nvm/fnm to manage multiple Node versions per project.

terminal

mkdir my-api && cd my-api
npm init -y

What it does

`npm init -y` creates a package.json that tracks your dependencies and scripts.

Why you need it

It's the manifest npm uses to install and run everything in your project.

terminal

npm install express

What it does

Express is a minimal web framework for routing and handling HTTP requests.

Why you need it

It saves you from writing raw `http` server boilerplate for every route.

Alternatives: Fastify, Hono, Koa, or the built-in `node:http` module.

terminal

node index.js

What it does

Start your server file. Add a `dev` script with nodemon for auto-restart on changes.

Why you need it

You need the server running to handle requests while you build.