Web Development with JavaScript (Node.js): From Basics to Deployment

This book is a practical guide to web development with JavaScript using the Node.js platform. The author systematically leads the reader from installing tools to launching a finished application on a production server. You will learn how to create server applications, work with databases, design REST APIs, and deploy projects to the cloud.

Who this book is for:

• Beginning web developers familiar with the basics of JavaScript
• Frontend developers looking to master backend development with Node.js
• Students and Junior developers preparing for interviews
• Anyone who wants to move from theory to real projects

What you will learn:

• How to install and configure Node.js, npm, and the nvm version manager
• Fundamentals of asynchronous programming: callbacks, promises, async/await
• Creating a web server using the built-in http module and the Express framework
• Routing, middleware, request and response handling
• Working with databases: MongoDB (Mongoose) and PostgreSQL (Sequelize)
• Designing REST APIs with validation and error handling
• Authentication and authorization: JWT, sessions, OAuth 2.0
• Templating with EJS, Pug, and Handlebars
• Working with files, streams, and WebSocket
• Testing with Mocha, Chai, and Supertest
• Deployment on Heroku, Vercel, DigitalOcean, and Docker

Book features:

• Step-by-step examples with ready-to-use code
• Three real projects: a blog, a chat application, and an API for an online store
• Tips on performance optimization and security
• Analysis of common beginner mistakes
• Up-to-date versions of Node.js and libraries

The book is built on the principle of "from simple to complex." Each chapter contains theory, a practical assignment, and self-test questions. You will be able to immediately apply the knowledge gained in your own projects. After reading, you will feel confident as a backend developer with Node.js and will be able to create full-fledged web applications from scratch.