Learning Node.js? Here’s How I Got My First API Running

When I first started learning Node.js, the thought of building a working API felt intimidating. But with a little focus and the right guidance, I had my first API up and running in just a few hours. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it — step by step — so you can do the same, even if you’re just getting started.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

I made sure Node.js and npm were installed on my system. You can download both from nodejs.org.

Then, I created a new project folder and initialized it with:

npm init -y

This created a package.json file to manage my project dependencies.

Step 2: Install Express

I used Express, a popular web framework for Node.js. I installed it with:

npm install express

Express helps you quickly set up routes and handle requests/responses in a clean way.

Step 3: Write the First API Endpoint

I created a file named index.js and added this simple code:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello from my first API!');
});

app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});

This sets up a basic API that responds with a message when accessed at the root URL.

Step 4: Test It Out

I ran the server with:

node index.js

Then I opened http://localhost:3000 in my browser and saw:

Hello from my first API!

Bonus Tip: Use Postman or Thunder Client

For better API testing, I used tools like Postman or the Thunder Client VS Code extension to send requests and inspect responses.

What’s Next?

• Add more routes (e.g., /about, /users)
• Accept POST requests and parse JSON
• Connect to a database like MongoDB or PostgreSQL
• Deploy your API to platforms like Vercel, Render, or Railway

Final Thoughts

Getting started with Node.js doesn’t have to be hard. Take it one step at a time. If I can get an API running in a day, so can you!

If you found this helpful, feel free to share it or comment with your questions. Happy coding!