Book Image

Node.js Web Development - Third Edition

By : David Herron
Book Image

Node.js Web Development - Third Edition

By: David Herron

Overview of this book

Node.js is a server-side JavaScript platform using an event driven, non-blocking I/O model allowing users to build fast and scalable data-intensive applications running in real time. Node.js Web Development shows JavaScript is not just for browser-side applications. It can be used for server-side web application development, real-time applications, microservices, and much more. This book gives you an excellent starting point, bringing you straight to the heart of developing web applications with Node.js. You will progress from a rudimentary knowledge of JavaScript and server-side development to being able to create and maintain your own Node.js application. With this book you'll learn how to use the HTTP Server and Client objects, data storage with both SQL and MongoDB databases, real-time applications with Socket.IO, mobile-first theming with Bootstrap, microservice deployment with Docker, authenticating against third-party services using OAuth, and much more.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Node.js Web Development Third Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Web application frameworks


The HTTPServer object is very close to the HTTP protocol. While this is powerful in the same way that driving a stick shift car gives you low-level control over a car, typical web application programming is better done at a higher level. It's better to abstract away the HTTP details and concentrate on your application.

The Node.js developer community has developed quite a few modules to help with different aspects of abstracting away HTTP protocol details. You can take a look at a couple of curated lists at http://nodeframework.com/ and https://github.com/vndmtrx/awesome-nodejs.

One reason to use a web framework is that they often provide all the usual best practices that have come from web application development of over 20 years. They have been listed as follows:

  • Providing a page for bad URLs (the 404 page)

  • Screening URLs and forms for any injected scripting attacks

  • Supporting the use of cookies to maintain sessions

  • Logging requests for both usage tracking and debugging...