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Express.js Tutorial
Official Documentation
This tutorial is based on the official Express.js documentation. For the most up-to-date information, visit: https://expressjs.com/
Express.js is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications. It's the de facto standard for Node.js web development.
What You'll Learn
This tutorial series covers Express.js from basics to advanced topics:
Beginner
- Getting Started - Installation, first server, basic concepts
- Routing - Route methods, parameters, query strings
- Middleware - Built-in, third-party, and custom middleware
Intermediate
- Request & Response - Handling data, headers, and responses
- Template Engines - Dynamic HTML with EJS, Pug, Handlebars
- Static Files - Serving CSS, JavaScript, and images
Advanced
- Error Handling - Custom error handlers and best practices
- Authentication - Sessions, JWT, and Passport.js
- Database Integration - MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and ORMs
- Deployment - Production best practices and hosting
Prerequisites
Before starting this tutorial, you should have:
- Basic knowledge of JavaScript
- Node.js installed on your machine
- Familiarity with npm (Node Package Manager)
- Understanding of HTTP concepts
Why Express.js?
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Minimal | Unopinionated, gives you freedom to structure your app |
| Fast | Thin layer on top of Node.js, minimal overhead |
| Flexible | Huge ecosystem of middleware and plugins |
| Popular | Large community, extensive documentation |
| Battle-tested | Powers millions of applications worldwide |
Quick Start
bash
# Create a new project
mkdir my-express-app
cd my-express-app
npm init -y
# Install Express
npm install expressjavascript
// index.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}`);
});bash
# Run the server
node index.jsExpress.js Ecosystem
Express works seamlessly with:
- Database: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite
- ORMs: Mongoose, Sequelize, Prisma, TypeORM
- Authentication: Passport.js, JWT, OAuth
- Validation: Joi, express-validator, Zod
- Template Engines: EJS, Pug, Handlebars
- API Documentation: Swagger, OpenAPI
Video Tutorials
Recommended Video Resources
Learn Express.js through these excellent video tutorials from the community.
Free Courses
| Course | Creator | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Express.js Full Course | freeCodeCamp | 8-hour comprehensive course |
| Express.js Crash Course | Traversy Media | 1.5-hour crash course |
| Express Tutorial | Programming with Mosh | 1-hour REST API tutorial |
| Express in 100 Seconds | Fireship | Quick 100-second explanation |
Official Resources
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Express.js Guide | Official Express.js guide |
| Express.js API | Official API documentation |
Topic-Specific Videos
| Topic | Video | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Middleware | Express Middleware | ~15 min |
| Authentication | JWT Auth in Express | ~30 min |
| REST API | Build REST API | ~45 min |
| MongoDB + Express | MERN Stack | ~2 hours |
Ready to dive in? Start with Getting Started to build your first Express application!