Status code conventions in Express - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Status Code Conventions in Express

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple Express server that responds to client requests. You want to send the correct HTTP status codes to tell the client if the request was successful or if there was an error.

🎯 Goal: Create an Express server with routes that use proper status code conventions to indicate success and error states.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an Express app variable called app

Add a route /success that sends status code 200 with a success message

Add a route /notfound that sends status code 404 with a not found message

Add a route /error that sends status code 500 with an error message

Use res.status(code).send(message) to set status codes and send responses

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Web servers use status codes to tell browsers or clients if a request worked or if there was a problem. This helps users and developers understand what happened.

💼 Career

Knowing how to send correct HTTP status codes is essential for backend developers working with APIs and web servers to communicate clearly with clients.

1

Set up Express app

Create a variable called express by requiring the 'express' module. Then create a variable called app by calling express().

Express

const express = require('express');
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use require('express') to import Express and then call it to create the app.

2

Add success route with status 200

Add a GET route /success on app that sends a response with status code 200 and the message 'Request succeeded' using res.status(200).send('Request succeeded').

Express

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

// Add GET route '/success' here
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.get('/success', (req, res) => { ... }) and inside send status 200 with the message.

3

Add not found route with status 404

Add a GET route /notfound on app that sends a response with status code 404 and the message 'Resource not found' using res.status(404).send('Resource not found').

Express

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/success', (req, res) => {
    res.status(200).send('Request succeeded');
});

// Add GET route '/notfound' here
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.get('/notfound', (req, res) => { ... }) and send status 404 with the message.

4

Add error route with status 500

Add a GET route /error on app that sends a response with status code 500 and the message 'Internal server error' using res.status(500).send('Internal server error').

Express

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/success', (req, res) => {
    res.status(200).send('Request succeeded');
});

app.get('/notfound', (req, res) => {
    res.status(404).send('Resource not found');
});

// Add GET route '/error' here
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.get('/error', (req, res) => { ... }) and send status 500 with the message.