Express.js is a fast, minimal, and flexible web application framework built on top of Node.js. It provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications, including APIs and dynamic websites.
Express simplifies server-side development by offering tools for routing, middleware, request handling, and response management.
What Is Express.js?
Express.js is a lightweight framework that helps developers:
- Build RESTful APIs
- Handle HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
- Create dynamic web applications
- Manage middleware efficiently
- Serve static files (HTML, CSS, images)
It does not force a strict structure, giving developers flexibility to design applications according to their needs.
🔹 Key Features of Express.js
- Minimal & Lightweight – No unnecessary built-in features.
- Middleware Support – Functions that execute during request-response cycle.
- Routing System – Easy URL and HTTP method handling.
- Template Engine Support – Works with engines like EJS, Pug, Handlebars.
- High Performance – Fast execution with Node.js.
Getting Started with ExpressJS
Follow these steps to create your first Express application:
Install Node.js
Download and install Node.js from the official website.
Check installation:
node -v npm -v
Create a New Project
mkdir my-express-app cd my-express-app npm init -y
Install Express
npm install express
Create index.js
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.send('Hello, Express!');
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is running on http://localhost:3000');
});Run the Application
node index.js
Open your browser and visit:
http://localhost:3000
You will see:
Hello, Express!