Building GraphQL APIs in Node.js enables clients to request exactly the data they need, reducing over-fetching and providing flexible, efficient data access. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of backend development experience, I’ve implemented GraphQL APIs for complex data requirements in enterprise applications. The most effective approach is using Apollo Server with well-defined schemas and resolvers for type-safe, performant API development. This provides powerful query capabilities and excellent developer experience with built-in documentation and introspection.

Building REST APIs in Node.js is fundamental for creating backend services that power modern web and mobile applications with standardized HTTP operations. With over 25 years of backend development experience and as the creator of CoreUI, I’ve built countless REST APIs for enterprise applications and open-source projects. The most effective approach is using Express.js with proper HTTP methods, status codes, and JSON responses following REST conventions. This provides a scalable, maintainable API architecture that integrates seamlessly with any frontend framework.

Express Router enables modular route organization by creating separate route handlers that can be mounted on different paths in your application. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of backend development experience, I use express.Router extensively for building scalable, maintainable API architectures. The most effective approach is creating separate router modules for different feature areas with their own middleware and route definitions. This provides clean separation of concerns and makes large applications easier to maintain and test.

Serving static files is fundamental for delivering CSS, JavaScript, images, and other assets in Express applications without writing custom route handlers. With over 25 years of backend development experience and as the creator of CoreUI, I’ve configured static file serving for countless web applications. The most efficient approach is using Express’s built-in express.static middleware to serve files from designated directories. This provides automatic MIME type detection, caching headers, and security features for optimal asset delivery.

Proper error handling is crucial for building robust Express applications that gracefully handle failures and provide meaningful responses to clients. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of backend development experience, I’ve implemented error handling systems across numerous production APIs. The most effective approach is using Express’s built-in error handling middleware combined with custom error classes for different error types. This ensures consistent error responses and proper logging while preventing application crashes.

Cookie parsing is essential for handling user sessions, authentication tokens, and user preferences in Express applications that rely on HTTP cookies. With over 25 years of backend development experience and as the creator of CoreUI, I’ve implemented cookie-based authentication in countless web applications. The most reliable approach is using the cookie-parser middleware to automatically parse cookie headers and make them accessible via req.cookies. This provides secure, efficient cookie handling with support for signed cookies and proper security measures.

Parsing request bodies is essential for handling POST, PUT, and PATCH requests in Express applications that receive form data or JSON. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of backend development experience, I’ve handled countless API implementations that require proper body parsing. The most modern approach is using Express’s built-in body parsing middleware instead of the separate body-parser package. This provides reliable parsing for JSON, URL-encoded data, and raw content with built-in security features.

Middleware functions are the backbone of Express applications, providing a way to process requests before they reach route handlers. With over 25 years of experience in backend development and as the creator of CoreUI, I’ve built countless APIs that rely on middleware for authentication, logging, and data processing. The most effective approach is using app.use() to register middleware functions that execute in order for each request. This pattern provides modularity, reusability, and clean separation of concerns in your Express application.

Creating routes in Express defines how your application responds to different HTTP requests and URL endpoints, forming the backbone of RESTful APIs and web applications. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve implemented countless Express routes for backend APIs and web services. From my 25 years of experience in web development and 11 years with Node.js, the most effective approach is to use Express application methods that correspond to HTTP verbs like get, post, put, and delete. This pattern provides clear, RESTful API design and intuitive request handling.

Creating an Express project provides a robust foundation for building web applications and APIs in Node.js with minimal configuration and maximum flexibility. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve set up countless Express projects for backend services and API development. From my 25 years of experience in web development and 11 years with Node.js, the most straightforward approach is to initialize a new npm project and install Express as a dependency. This method provides a clean starting point for scalable web applications.