In Node.js it's possible to make a HTTP server, using the native http module, as we saw in the Node.js crash course video. However, this is rarely used in practice. Instead, we'll use Express.js, a backend framework for Node.js that can do what the http module does and much more (in a simpler, faster and more readable way).
Practically speaking, what can we do with a web server like http or Express? All the magic that is needed so we can successfully get what we want from an application:
- Get and store data that comes from the frontend
- Make API calls to other services
- Secure data that comes from both the frontend and the database
- Any other type of calculation or business logic
The following course gives a great introduction to the package:
{% hyf-youtube src="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72fhGm1tfE" %}
If you just can't get enough, here are some extra links that mentors/students have found useful concerning this topic: