Introduction to Node.js and Express

Objectives

• Interact with a package manager
• Create Express routes that utilize parameters and form middleware
• Contrast and implement different HTTP verbs through Express routes
• Implement and explain the components of a basic Express app

Review: Client-Server

• What's the front-end?
• What's the back-end?
• Why do we need a back-end?

Node

Node is a platform that uses JavaScript for creating network applications. It allows JavaScript to be run on a server. So far, we've been using it to practice JavaScript concepts, but now we'll be using it for more interesting purposes.

We'll see that there are functions and patterns unique to Node (for example, the require function in Node, which is not available in the browser). Let's go over some unique aspects of Node before we get started with Express.