Express - lesson 2 | HackIndia Skills

Express - lesson 2 | HackIndia Skills | HackIndia

Example

Clean route sketch

This is a simple project API shape. It uses route methods from HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PATCH, and DELETE.

Express route paths do not include query strings. /projects?tech=node is still matched by /projects.

import express from 'express';

const app = express();

app.get('/projects', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: 'List projects' });
});

app.post('/projects', (req, res) => {
  res.status(201).json({ message: 'Create project' });
});

app.get('/projects/:id', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: `Get project ${req.params.id}` });
});

app.patch('/projects/:id', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: `Update project ${req.params.id}` });
});

app.delete('/projects/:id', (req, res) => {
  res.status(204).send();
});

Tip

Use AI carefully

Ask ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to review your route plan before coding. Paste your app idea and ask for REST-style routes using nouns and HTTP methods.

Check the output. Remove action names in paths. Keep query strings separate from route paths. Do not accept old Express 4 wildcard examples like /* for Express 5.

Prompt:
I am building an Express 5 API for a college hackathon project tracker.
Suggest a simple route table using resource nouns, HTTP methods, and short descriptions.
Do not use action words like getProject in the URL.
Keep filters as query strings.

Example

Route table first

Before writing code, make a small route table in your README or notes. This keeps your API consistent when you add middleware, body handling, and errors later.

GET    /projects           List projects
POST   /projects           Create a project
GET    /projects/:id       Get one project
PATCH  /projects/:id       Update one project
DELETE /projects/:id       Delete one project
GET    /projects?tech=node Filter projects by tech

Design Routes That Make Sense

One route idea

Routes are contracts

Pick route names

Clean route sketch

Avoid action URLs

Use AI carefully

Route table first

Do this now

Quick check