Part 2. Building a Node web application

Node.js underpins any MEAN application, so that’s where we’ll start. Throughout part 2 we’ll build a data-driven web application using Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. We’ll learn the individual technologies as we go, steadily building up the application to a point where we have a fully functioning Node web application.

In chapter 3 we’ll get going by creating and setting up a MEAN project, getting acquainted with Express, before getting a much deeper understanding of Express by building out a static version of the application in chapter 4. Taking what we’ve learned about the application so far, in chapter 5 we’ll work with MongoDB and Mongoose to design and build the data model we’ll need.

Good application architecture should include a data API rather than tightly coupling the database interactions with the application logic. In chapter 6 we’ll create a REST API using Express, MongoDB, and Mongoose, before tying this back into the application by consuming the REST API from our static application. As we get to the end of part 2 we’ll have a data-driven website using Node.js, MongoDB, and Express, and also a fully functioning REST API.