The line import express from 'express'; is used to import the Express.js framework into your JavaScript or TypeScript file. Express.js is a popular web application framework for Node.js. Once you import Express.js in your file, you can use it to create web applications, define routes, handle HTTP requests, and build server-side functionality. Here are some common uses of this import statement:
- Creating an Express Application: You use Express to create an instance of an Express application. This is typically done
- Defining Routes: Express allows you to define routes for handling different HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) to specific URLs.
- Middleware: Express supports middleware, which are functions that execute before route handlers. You can use middleware for tasks like authentication, request logging, parsing request bodies, and error handling. Middleware functions are added to the
- Serving Static Files: Express can serve static files, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images, using the
express.staticmiddleware.javascriptCopy - Setting Up API Endpoints: You can use Express to build RESTful APIs or serve data through various endpoints
- Starting the Server: Once you’ve configured your Express application, you start the server and listen for incoming requests.
In summary, import express from 'express'; is the starting point for building web applications and APIs using the Express.js framework in a Node.js environment. It provides the core functionality and tools