Routing with Node’s http Module

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore routing using Node's built-in http module. Routing is a key part of web applications, allowing you to define how your application responds to client requests at various endpoints.

Node's http Module

The http module in Node.js allows you to create HTTP servers and make HTTP requests. It provides an interface for sending and receiving data over HTTP. Here's a brief overview of its key features:

• Creating a server using http.createServer()
• Handling requests and responses
• Defining routes based on request URLs

Routing Basics

Routing involves mapping a request URL to a specific function that will handle the request. This allows different responses for different endpoints. The basic structure for routing with the http module involves checking the request.url property.

Creating a Simple Server

Below is a simple example to demonstrate how to create a server and implement routing using Node’s http module.

const http = require('http');

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
    if (req.url === '/') {
        res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
        res.end('Welcome to the Home Page!');
    } else if (req.url === '/about') {
        res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
        res.end('This is the About Page!');
    } else {
        res.writeHead(404, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
        res.end('404 Not Found');
    }
});

const PORT = 3000;
server.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${PORT}/`);
});
            

In this example, we are checking the req.url property to determine which response to send back based on the requested URL.

Best Practices

When working with Node's http module and routing, consider the following best practices:

• Keep your route handlers modular and organized.
• Use middleware for common tasks like logging and authentication.
• Always send a response to avoid hanging requests.

FAQ