Learn how to create a server in nodejs in 4 simple steps. The complete code snippet is provided at the end.
Creating a server in Node.js involves using its built-in http module to handle incoming requests and send responses back to clients.
Here are the basic steps:
1. Import the HTTP Module
Import the http module using the require function:
const http = require('http');
2. Create a Server Object
Create a server object using the http.createServer() method.
This method takes a function as an argument that will be called every time a client makes a request to the server:
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
// handle request and send response
});
3. Handle the Request and Response
Inside the function passed to createServer(), you need to handle the incoming request and send back a response.
You can use the req object to access information about the request (such as the request method, URL, and headers) and the res object to send a response back to the client:
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
// handle request and send response
res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
res.end('Hello, world!');
});
4. Start the Server locally
Finally, start the server by calling the listen() method on the server object and specifying the port number you want to listen on:
We are starting the server on port number 3000
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
// handle request and send response
res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
res.end('Hello, world!');
});
server.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is listening on port 3000');
});
Complete Code Snippet to start the server in NodeJS
The below complete code snippet creates a server that listens on port 3000 and sends a “Hello, world!” message back to clients who make a request to it.
You can test it out by running the script in a terminal window and then visiting http://localhost:3000 in a web browser.
Save the below code and name the file as “index.js”
// Save file as index.js
const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
res.end('Hello, world!');
});
server.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is listening on port 3000');
});
To run the above code, open the windows console or terminal or git bash.
Run the command "node index.js" and then open the browser and type http://localhost:3000
That’s the simple and direct way to create a server in Node.JS
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