Creating a basic HTTP server in Node.js - Interactive Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to import the HTTP module.

Node.js

const http = require('[1]');

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aurl

Bfs

Chttp

Dpath

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'fs' or 'path' instead of 'http' to import the HTTP module.

The HTTP module is imported using require('http') to create a server.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to create an HTTP server.

Node.js

const server = http.[1]((req, res) => {
  res.end('Hello World');
});

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AcreateServer

Brequest

Clisten

Dget

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'listen' instead of 'createServer' to create the server.

The createServer method creates a new HTTP server that handles requests.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to start the server on port 3000.

Node.js

server.[1](3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Alisten

Bstart

Copen

Drun

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'start' or 'run' instead of 'listen' to start the server.

The listen method starts the server and listens on the specified port.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to send a plain text response with status 200.

Node.js

res.statusCode = [1];
res.setHeader('Content-Type', [2]);
res.end('Hello');

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A200

B'text/plain'

C'application/json'

D404

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using status code 404 or content type 'application/json' for plain text response.

Status code 200 means OK, and 'text/plain' sets the response type to plain text.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a server that responds with JSON and listens on port 8080.

Node.js

const server = http.[1]((req, res) => {
  res.statusCode = [2];
  res.setHeader('Content-Type', [3]);
  res.end(JSON.stringify({ message: 'Hi' }));
});
server.listen(8080);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AcreateServer

B200

C'application/json'

D'text/html'

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using wrong method name, status code, or content type for JSON response.

The server is created with createServer, status code 200 means OK, and content type 'application/json' tells the browser to expect JSON data.

Practice

1. What does the http.createServer() function do in Node.js?

easy

A. It compiles JavaScript code into machine code.

B. It creates a database connection for storing data.

C. It creates a server that listens for HTTP requests and sends responses.

D. It formats JSON data for sending over the network.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of http.createServer()

   This function sets up a server that waits for HTTP requests from clients like browsers.

2. Step 2: Identify what the server does

   The server uses a function to handle incoming requests and send back responses, enabling communication over the web.

3. Final Answer:

   It creates a server that listens for HTTP requests and sends responses. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   HTTP server creation = It creates a server that listens for HTTP requests and sends responses. [OK]

Hint: Remember: createServer sets up the web server [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing server creation with database connection
• Thinking it compiles code
• Mixing up data formatting with server setup

2. Which of the following is the correct way to start a Node.js HTTP server on port 3000?

easy

A. http.listen(3000);

B. server.listen(3000);

C. server.start(3000);

D. server.run(3000);

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the method to start the server

   The correct method to make the server listen on a port is listen().

2. Step 2: Match the method with the server object

   Calling server.listen(3000); starts the server on port 3000.

3. Final Answer:

   server.listen(3000); -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Start server with listen() = server.listen(3000); [OK]

Hint: Use listen() to start the server on a port [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like start() or run()
• Calling listen() on http instead of server
• Confusing server methods with other modules

3. What will the following Node.js code output when accessed via a browser?

const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World');
});
server.listen(4000);

medium

A. Hello World

B. Error: server.listen is not a function

C. 404 Not Found

D. Hello

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the server response setup

   The server sets the HTTP status to 200 (OK) and content type to plain text, then sends 'Hello World' as the response body.

2. Step 2: Understand what the browser receives

   When accessed, the browser will display the exact string 'Hello World' from the server response.

3. Final Answer:

   Hello World -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Response text = Hello World [OK]

Hint: Check res.end() content for output text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting an error due to incorrect method
• Confusing status codes with output text
• Assuming partial output without reading res.end()

4. Identify the error in this Node.js HTTP server code:

const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/html'});
  res.write('Welcome');
  res.end();
});
server.listen(8080)
console.log('Server running on port 8080');

medium

A. Incorrect Content-Type header value

B. Using res.write() without res.end() causes error

C. Missing semicolon after server.listen(8080)

D. No error; code runs correctly and serves 'Welcome'

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax and method usage

   The code correctly calls res.write() followed by res.end(), which is valid to send response data.

2. Step 2: Verify headers and server start

   The Content-Type is valid as 'text/html', and server.listen(8080) starts the server properly. Missing semicolons are optional in JavaScript.

3. Final Answer:

   No error; code runs correctly and serves 'Welcome' -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Valid server code = No error; code runs correctly and serves 'Welcome' [OK]

Hint: res.write() + res.end() is valid to send response [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking missing semicolons cause errors
• Believing res.write() must be avoided
• Assuming wrong Content-Type causes failure

5. You want to create a Node.js HTTP server that responds with JSON data {"status":"ok"} and sets the correct header. Which code snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'});
res.end(JSON.stringify({status: 'ok'}));
});

B. const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
res.end('{"status":"ok"}');
});

C. const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
res.writeHead(404, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'});
res.end(JSON.stringify({status: 'ok'}));
});

D. const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
res.writeHead(200);
res.end({status: 'ok'});
});

Solution

1. Step 1: Set correct Content-Type header for JSON

   The header must be 'application/json' to tell the client the response is JSON data.

2. Step 2: Send JSON string as response body

   Use JSON.stringify() to convert the object to a JSON string before sending with res.end().

3. Final Answer:

   Code snippet with application/json header and JSON.stringify() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   JSON header + stringified data = const server = http.createServer((req, res) => { res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}); res.end(JSON.stringify({status: 'ok'})); }); [OK]

Hint: Use application/json header and JSON.stringify() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sending object directly without stringifying
• Using wrong Content-Type header
• Sending JSON string with text/plain header
• Using 404 status instead of 200