🚦 API Highway with Express: Build Scalable Backends with Node.js

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🧾 Course Description

Express.js is the fast, minimalist web framework that powers much of today’s server-side JavaScript. In “API Highway with Express”, you’ll go beyond Node basics and learn how to build robust, scalable, and maintainable RESTful APIs using Express.

You’ll start with routing and middleware, and progress into advanced concepts like API structuring, environment handling, data validation, and integration with databases like MongoDB. The course is loaded with practical exercises and real-world projects that mimic production-ready backend setups.

Whether you’re looking to build your own API or work in a full-stack team, this course will set you on the right track — fast.

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✅ Key Benefits

• ⚡ Lightweight & Fast Learning Curve — Perfect next step after learning Node.js
• 🌐 Build RESTful APIs the Right Way — Handle routes, queries, and dynamic data
• 🧱 Modular App Structure — Learn scalable backend architecture
• 🧪 Integrate with Frontend & Databases — Complete the full-stack pipeline
• 🔐 Middleware Mastery — Authentication, error handling, and more
• 🧰 Hands-On Project Included — Apply what you learn to build a real-world service

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🧩 Curriculum Breakdown

🚀 Module 1: Express Basics

• What is Express and why use it?
• Installing and setting up Express
• Creating your first server with express()

🧭 Module 2: Routing Essentials

• GET, POST, PUT, DELETE routes
• Route parameters and query strings
• Serving static files

🧰 Module 3: Middleware & Request Handling

• Built-in vs custom middleware
• Request logging and body parsing (express.json())
• Handling errors gracefully

🗃️ Module 4: Modular Structure & Environment Variables

• Organizing routes, controllers, services
• Using .env files and config
• Setting up Express apps for scale

🔐 Module 5: Data Validation & Error Handling

• Validating input with Joi or express-validator
• Standardizing error responses
• Catching async errors

🔗 Module 6: Integrating MongoDB (Intro)

• Connecting to MongoDB using mongoose
• Creating models and performing CRUD operations

🔌 Module 7: API Project

• Project: Build a Book Catalog API
  • RESTful endpoints (CRUD)
  • Use of middleware, routing, error handling
  • MongoDB database for persistence
  • Test with Postman

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🎓 Outcome

By the end of API Highway with Express, you’ll:

• Build complete, production-style REST APIs with routing, logic, and error control
• Understand how middleware and API architecture work in scalable Node apps
• Be able to integrate with frontend apps (React, Angular, etc.)
• Be ready to move into MERN stack development, JWT auth, or GraphQL APIs