Creating Robust RESTful APIs
Express.js is the most popular Node.js framework for building web applications and APIs. Let's explore how to build a production-ready RESTful API.
Setting Up Express
Start by installing Express and setting up a basic server:
npm install express
const express = require('express');
const app = express();Defining Routes
RESTful APIs follow standard HTTP methods:
- GET - Retrieve data
- POST - Create new data
- PUT - Update existing data
- DELETE - Remove data
Middleware
Middleware functions execute during the request-response cycle. Common middleware includes:
- Body parsing middleware
- Authentication middleware
- Error handling middleware
- Logging middleware
Error Handling
Implement proper error handling to provide meaningful responses to clients and prevent crashes.
Validation
Always validate incoming data using libraries like Joi or express-validator to ensure data integrity.
Best Practices
- Use proper HTTP status codes
- Implement rate limiting
- Add security headers
- Document your API
- Version your API
