Building a robust REST API is a fundamental skill for modern web developers. This guide walks you through creating a production-ready API with Node.js, Express, and best practices for security & performance.
Project Setup
Start with a clean Express project, add TypeScript for type safety, and configure your development environment with hot-reloading and linting.
Authentication & Authorization
Implement JWT-based authentication with refresh tokens, role-based access control, and secure password hashing using bcrypt.
Error Handling & Validation
Use middleware for consistent error responses and Zod schemas for request validation. This ensures your API fails gracefully and provides helpful error messages.
