Build a small CRUD API with Express.
✍️ 2 exercises in this lessonA REST API exposes resources through URLs and HTTP methods:
GET /api/books: listGET /api/books/:id: read onePOST /api/books: createPUT /api/books/:id: updateDELETE /api/books/:id: deleteThis example keeps data in memory. In a real app, replace the array with a database (MySQL, PostgreSQL or MongoDB) through a library such as Prisma or Sequelize.
Mastering Node.js REST API Project helps you write clean and reliable Node.js code. Follow standard conventions, test edge cases, and keep logic simple. Try running the code example below and complete the exercises to build confidence.
import express from "express";
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
let books = [{ id: 1, title: "Clean Code", author: "Robert C. Martin" }];
let nextId = 2;
app.get("/api/books", (req, res) => res.json(books));
app.get("/api/books/:id", (req, res) => {
const book = books.find(b => b.id === Number(req.params.id));
book ? res.json(book) : res.status(404).json({ error: "Not found" });
});
app.post("/api/books", (req, res) => {
const { title, author } = req.body;
if (!title) return res.status(422).json({ error: "Title is required" });
const book = { id: nextId++, title, author };
books.push(book);
res.status(201).json(book);
});
app.delete("/api/books/:id", (req, res) => {
books = books.filter(b => b.id !== Number(req.params.id));
res.status(204).end();
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log("Books API on :3000"));Books API on :3000
GET /api/books → [{"id":1,"title":"Clean Code",...}]
POST /api/books → 201 {"id":2,...}
Check what you learned in “Node.js REST API Project”.
Respond with "Created" status and JSON.
res.(201).json(book);
Which HTTP method is used to delete a resource?
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