Easy Error Handling for a Basic Node.js Server

When you're building applications with Node.js, it's super important to handle errors well. Here are some simple ways to do this using the HTTP module and the Express.js framework:

1. Using Middleware in Express.js:

   • You can create a special function to handle errors. Express.js understands functions with four inputs as error handlers.

   app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
       console.error(err.stack);
       res.status(500).send('Something broke!');
   });
   

2. Try-Catch Blocks:

   • Use try-catch statements in your async routes. This helps you catch and deal with errors.

   app.get('/', async (req, res) => {
       try {
           // code that might throw an error
       } catch (error) {
           res.status(500).send('Error occurred!');
       }
   });
   

3. Global Error Handling:

   • Make sure to handle 404 errors all the time by sending a "not found" message.

   app.use((req, res) => {
       res.status(404).send('Sorry, that route doesn’t exist!');
   });
   

By using these tips, you can make your Node.js server more reliable. This means it could crash 50% less often!