Why Use Express.js Instead of the HTTP Module for Your Server?

When you start learning back-end development with Node.js, you will first meet the basic HTTP module. It’s good for beginners, but many developers prefer Express.js. Let’s see why that is!

1. Easy to Understand and Clean

Express.js makes your code easier to read. With the HTTP module, making a simple server takes a lot of lines. For example:

const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
    res.statusCode = 200;
    res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
    res.end('Hello World\n');
});
server.listen(3000);

But with Express.js, you can do it in fewer lines:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
    res.send('Hello World');
});
app.listen(3000);

2. Middleware Support

Express.js has a feature called middleware. This helps you handle request and response data more easily. You don't have to write the same lines of code over and over. For example, you can use built-in middleware to make it easier to read data coming in:

app.use(express.json()); // This allows your app to read JSON data

3. Routing Made Simple

Express.js has a strong routing system. This means you can set up different paths for different tasks without any trouble. Doing this can be more complicated with the HTTP module.

For example, you can create a route like this:

app.get('/users', (req, res) => {
    res.send('User List');
});

Conclusion

In short, while the HTTP module is helpful for learning, Express.js makes building servers much simpler and cleaner. It also has great features like middleware and routing to help you work faster. Using Express.js makes back-end development not only more effective but also fun!