Backend Engineering with Node.js & Express — Zero to Hero

2h 50m total

Build production HTTP APIs with Node.js (Node 22 LTS) and Express 5. Covers the Node runtime and event loop, modules and npm, the HTTP protocol and REST design, Express routing and middleware, input validation and centralized error handling, persistence with a real database (PostgreSQL via Prisma), authentication and authorization (sessions vs JWT, password hashing, RBAC), async patterns/streams/caching/rate-limiting, and testing APIs — finishing by building and deploying a full REST API. Assumes JavaScript/TypeScript fundamentals (see the JS/TS course); this one teaches the server on top.

Backend NodejsBackend WebCareer SWE Foundations

Includes:

Cheat sheet
Progress tracking
Audio narration
Mentor context

Outline

Enroll to unlock

1.
The Node.js Runtime, Modules, and Your First Server
24 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. What Node.js is: V8, libuv, and the event loop8 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Modules and npm8 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Your first HTTP server8 min
2.
HTTP and REST API Design
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Anatomy of a request and response6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Methods, status codes, and idempotency6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Designing a REST API6 min
3.
Express: Routing, Middleware, and Structure
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. The Express app, routes, params, and query6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. The middleware pipeline6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Structuring a real project6 min
4.
Validation, Error Handling, and Logging
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Input validation with Zod6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Centralized error handling6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Structured logging and environment config6 min
5.
Data Persistence with PostgreSQL
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Postgres, the Prisma schema, and migrations6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. A CRUD repository with Prisma Client6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Transactions and injection safety6 min
6.
Authentication and Authorization
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Password hashing done right6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Sessions, JWTs, and protecting routes6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Authorization: RBAC and refresh tokens6 min
7.
Async Patterns, Caching, and Rate Limiting
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Async control flow and streams6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Caching with Redis6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Rate limiting and pagination6 min
8.
Testing and Quality
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Unit testing with Vitest6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Integration testing with Supertest6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Mocking, coverage, and linting6 min
9.
Build and Deploy a Full REST API
20 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Assemble the architecture6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Harden and containerize6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Deploy, reflect, and where to go next8 min

Includes:

Cheat sheet
Progress tracking
Audio narration
Mentor context

Outline

Enroll to unlock

1.
The Node.js Runtime, Modules, and Your First Server
24 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. What Node.js is: V8, libuv, and the event loop8 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Modules and npm8 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Your first HTTP server8 min
2.
HTTP and REST API Design
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Anatomy of a request and response6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Methods, status codes, and idempotency6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Designing a REST API6 min
3.
Express: Routing, Middleware, and Structure
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. The Express app, routes, params, and query6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. The middleware pipeline6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Structuring a real project6 min
4.
Validation, Error Handling, and Logging
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Input validation with Zod6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Centralized error handling6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Structured logging and environment config6 min
5.
Data Persistence with PostgreSQL
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Postgres, the Prisma schema, and migrations6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. A CRUD repository with Prisma Client6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Transactions and injection safety6 min
6.
Authentication and Authorization
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Password hashing done right6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Sessions, JWTs, and protecting routes6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Authorization: RBAC and refresh tokens6 min
7.
Async Patterns, Caching, and Rate Limiting
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Async control flow and streams6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Caching with Redis6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Rate limiting and pagination6 min
8.
Testing and Quality
18 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Unit testing with Vitest6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Integration testing with Supertest6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Mocking, coverage, and linting6 min
9.
Build and Deploy a Full REST API
20 min3 lessons
1. Locked — enroll to unlock. Assemble the architecture6 min
2. Locked — enroll to unlock. Harden and containerize6 min
3. Locked — enroll to unlock. Deploy, reflect, and where to go next8 min

Outline

The Node.js Runtime, Modules, and Your First Server

HTTP and REST API Design

Express: Routing, Middleware, and Structure

Validation, Error Handling, and Logging

Data Persistence with PostgreSQL

Authentication and Authorization

Async Patterns, Caching, and Rate Limiting

Testing and Quality

Build and Deploy a Full REST API

Outline

The Node.js Runtime, Modules, and Your First Server

HTTP and REST API Design

Express: Routing, Middleware, and Structure

Validation, Error Handling, and Logging

Data Persistence with PostgreSQL

Authentication and Authorization

Async Patterns, Caching, and Rate Limiting

Testing and Quality

Build and Deploy a Full REST API