In earlier examples, we wrote all routing code in a single file App.js. But in real world scenarios, we have to split the code into multiple files.We can create separate files and import them but express gives a router mechanism which is easy to use.Create a separate file called route.js (name can be anything)Create router using express −const express = require('express'); const router = express.Router();exporting router −module.exports = router;Adding routing functions −router.get('/add-username', (req, res, next)=>{    res.send(' Send '); });  router.post('/post-username', (req, res, next)=>{    console.log('data: ', req.body.username);    res.redirect('/'); });Similar to functions we used in App.js ... Read More

We used use() function to execute middleware’s . Example we used below will be executed for both http GET and POST method −const http = require('http'); const express = require('express'); const bodyParser = require('body-parser'); const app = express(); app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({extended: false})); app.use('/', (req, res, next)=>{    next(); }); app.use('/add-username', (req, res, next)=>{    res.send(' Send '); }); app.use('/post-username', (req, res, next)=>{    console.log('data: ', req.body.username);    res.redirect('/'); }); app.use('/', (req, res, next)=>{    res.send(' first midleware: Hello Tutorials Point '); }); const server = http.createServer(app); server.listen(3000);How to restrict middleware only for GET or only for POST http method ... Read More

To receive some data in http request , lets add a form on url path ‘/add-username’:app.use('/add-username', (req, res, next)=>{    res.send(' Send '); });For parsing the http request, we requires a third party library body-parser: It’s a production required dependencynpm install –save body-parserexpress js provides middleware use function to include a body parser before adding middleware.const http = require('http'); const express = require('express'); const bodyParser = require('body-parser'); const app = express(); app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({extended: false}));the use(0 function shown above uses next() function by default so http request gets passed to next middleware without any trouble.The above ... Read More

For handling different routes, use() function is used. use() function has multiple overloaded version, one of version also takes url path as a argument. Based on the url path, the requests will be filtered out for respective middleware.const http = require('http'); const express = require('express'); const app = express(); app.use('/', (req, res, next)=>{    console.log('first middleware');    res.send(' first midleware:    Hello Tutorials Point '); }); const server = http.createServer(app); server.listen(3000);in above example we used ‘/’ as url path, it’s a default.Now, as every route starts with ‘/’, the above middleware executes for every http request. It works for ‘/’ ... Read More

Each request in app goes through multiple middleware’s in express. If one of the middleware returns the response it ends there. If any middleware wants to pass the request to next middleware, it uses next() function call at the end of its function call.Http Request -> Middleware (req, resp, next)-> Middleware(req, res, next)-> Http Response ( res.send() ).const http = require('http'); const express = require('express'); const app = express(); app.use((req, res, next)=>{    console.log('first middleware'); }); const server = http.createServer(app); server.listen(3000);Middleware’s are added using use function as shown above. Use() function receives three arguments basically request, response and next() function.The ... Read More

Why requires express.js?Writing core node.js code to fetch request data and parsing it is complex enough. As we saw in previous posts, we wrote data and end event to get the simple request data.Express makes the process simpler. It helps developers to focus more on writing business logic instead of node’s internal complexity.Express.js does the heavy lifting of node’s internal workings. There are some other alternatives to express.js are also available e.g. Adonis.js, Sails.js etc.Installing express.jsWhy –save and not –save-dev for express?Express is a major runtime required library so it’s a dependency and not just dev dependency . That’s why ... Read More

In earlier example, we used debugger in vs code to check any logical error. In this article we will look into how to use debug console and restarting debugger automatically on changes.In debug console, we can also type an expression and evaluate its result beforehand. This is very useful in finding logical errors.In left menu’s we can also see variables and expressions in watch like −In variables section, developer can change the values of variable by double clicking on its values and edit. This will directly change in app runtime and will take effect of values.Example of such a one ... Read More

Error types are −Syntax errorRuntime errorLogical errorSyntax error −These are easy to find as most of the development tools like visual code studio shows red lines whenever there is a syntax error. The suggestion for resolution may be not be correct in tools but it gives an idea of what went wrong in a specific area of code.On running an app, console terminal will shows the errors. Console log can point to exact line where error occurred.More common syntax error are like missing closing bracket for a block , it will need to identify correct blocks .Runtime error −Example − ... Read More

Now, so far we saw how to create a node project with npm init command and also adding scripts to run application.Why third party libraries are requiredWe used core modules of node.js like http, fs etc which are available by default with node.js but working only with these core modules does not simplify our work. To add more useful functionality and simpler code we requires to install third party libraries like express, body-parser etc.We get the third party libraries from cloud stored npm repository. Installation is done using npm install command.NodemonWe are running our App.js file using npm start command. ... Read More

So far we are running our App.js using following command −Node App.jsWe can use npm scripts to run or debug our app.How to start a node projectCommand is − npm initAbove command will initiate a project, it will ask few questions about project name and starting file name etc.As we have App.js file already give App.js file as starting entry file name. npm init command will create a package.json file from where dependencies for project can be added/updated/removed.Package.json file looks like this, Its in json file format as per file extension suggests −{     "name": "dev",    "version": "1.0.0", ... Read More