Basic Routing Fundamentals

Learn to define and handle routes in Express.js using different HTTP methods.

We'll cover the following...

Understanding route handlers in Express.js
- Using multiple route handlers
Defining routes using different HTTP methods
Handling GET requests
Handling POST requests
Handling PUT requests
Handling DELETE requests
- Putting it all together
Exercise: Build an Express API

Routing determines how a web application handles incoming requests based on the requested URL and HTTP method. Think of it like a traffic system, directing users to the right destination. For example, when someone visits http://example.com/welcome, the application must decide whether to display a web page or return data.

In Express.js, a route defines how an application processes incoming requests. A route consists of three key parts:

Path (URL): This is the requested resource.
HTTP method: This specifies the type of request (GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE) and the intended action (retrieving, creating, updating, or deleting data).
Route handler: This function processes the request and sends a response.

Here is an example of a route that handles GET requests at the /welcome path and responds with 'Welcome to Express.js!'.