Back to Catalog

Developing Back-end Database Applications: Node.js & MongoDB

Premium
IntermediateCourse

Master Node.js & MongoDB for Back-end development! Build secure RESTful APIs, implement JWT authentication, perform CRUD operations, and deploy scalable apps. Grow your skills with hands-on labs & a final project!

Language

  • English

Topic

  • Javascript

Skills You Will Learn

  • Back-end Development, JavaScript Programming, Express, MongoDB, Node.js, RESTful APIs

Offered By

  • IBMSkillsNetwork

Estimated Effort

  • 19 Hours

Platform

  • SkillsNetwork

Last Update

  • June 26, 2025
About this Course
Developing Back-End Database Applications with Node.js & MongoDB is an intermediate level course that equips developers with comprehensive skills to build secure, scalable database-driven applications. Starting with foundational database concepts, you'll explore both relational and NoSQL paradigms before diving deep into MongoDB's document-based architecture.

The course provides hands-on experience in setting up MongoDB environments, establishing Node.js connections, and performing data operations including queries and aggregations. You'll master authentication systems by implementing JWT security, secure password storage, and session management while learning to mitigate common vulnerabilities like CSRF attacks.

Through practical exercises, you'll construct robust RESTful APIs using Express.js, implement CRUD operations, endpoint design, versioning, and pagination. The curriculum covers essential production-grade skills including error handling middleware, request validation, rate limiting, and debugging techniques.

As you progress, you'll learn deployment strategies and performance optimization for cloud environments, including load balancing techniques. The course culminates in a capstone project where you'll integrate all concepts by building a full-stack application with user authentication, database interactions, and front-end integration - creating a portfolio-ready demonstration of your back-end development expertise.

After completing this course, you will be able to: 
  • Design and implement a secure RESTful API using Node.js and Express that performs CRUD operations with MongoDB, demonstrating proper endpoint architecture and error handling.
  • Evaluate authentication strategies by implementing JWT security, secure password storage, and session management while mitigating common vulnerabilities. 
  • Perform database operations by constructing MongoDB queries, aggregation pipelines, and proper indexing strategies.
  • Develop production-ready applications by integrating request validation, rate limiting, and custom error handling middleware.
  • Compare deployment strategies and implement scaling solutions including load balancing for Node.js applications in cloud environments.
  • Apply course concepts by building and deploying a full-stack application with authentication, database integration, and frontend connectivity.

Course Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Working with Databases

Welcome
  • Course Introduction
  • Course Overview
  • Helpful Tips for Course Completion
Introduction to Databases
  • Introduction to Data and Databases
  • Relational Databases
  • Relational Data Concepts
  • Non-relational Databases
  • Overview of NoSQL
  • Characteristics of NoSQL Databases
  • Reading: Types of NoSQL Databases
  • Getting started with MongoDB
  • Activity: Design a Database for a Product Catalog
  • Hands-on Lab: Implement a Product Catalog Database on MongoDB
Module Wrap-up and Quiz
  • Practice Assignment: Introduction to Databases
  • Graded Quiz: Introduction to Databases

Module 2: Working with Node and Databases

Introduction to working with NoSQL Databases and Node
  • Reading: MongoDB: Installation and Setup
  • NoSQL Databases with Node
  • Hands-on Lab: Connect Node with MongoDB
  • Manipulating Data with MongoDB
  • Querying Data with MongoDB
  • Hands-on Lab: Exploring and Manipulating Data with MongoDB with Node
  • Introduction to Authentication and Authorization
  • Implementing User Registration and Login Functionality
  • Secure Password Storage and Authorization
  • Handling User Sessions and Cookies
  • Hands-on Lab: Implementing User Registration and Login
  • Practice Assignment: Introduction to working with NoSQL Databases and Node
Module Wrap-up and Quiz
  • Module 2 Summary: Working with Node and Databases
  • Graded Quiz: Working with Node and Databases
Module 3: Working with REST APIs and Advanced Node Concepts

Restful APIs
  • Introduction to RESTful APIs
  • Building a RESTful API with Express
  • Hands-on Lab: Implement RESTful API for GET and POST operation
  • Versioning and Pagination in RESTful APIs
  • Implementing CRUD Operations in RESTful APIs
  • Authentication and Authorization in Node
  • Securing RESTful APIs with JWT
  • Hands-on Lab: Implementing JWT Authentication in a Customer Portal API
  • Hands-on Lab: Create a RESTful API that allows users to perform CRUD operations
  • Practice Assignment: RESTful APIs
Module Wrap-up and Quiz
  • Module 3 Summary: Working with REST API’s and advanced Node concepts
  • Graded Quiz: Working with REST API’s and advanced Node concepts

Module 4: Error Handling and Middleware

Error Handling and Middleware
  • Introduction to Error Handling in Node
  • Custom Error Handling Middleware
  • Asynchronous Error Handling in Node
  • Hands-on Lab: Implementing Error Handling in Node
  • Request Validation and Sanitization
  • Rate Limiting and Throttling Requests
  • Logging and Debugging Node Applications
  • Hands-on Lab: Logging and Debugging Applications using Node and Express
  • Hands-on Lab: Implementing custom error handling middleware in an Express app
Module Wrap-up and Quiz
  • Practice Quiz: Error Handling and Middleware
  • Module 4 Summary: Advanced development concepts with Node
  • Graded Quiz: Error Handling and Middleware

Module 5: Scaling and Deploying Applications in Node

Scaling and Deploying Applications in Node
  • File Uploads and Handling in Node
  • Deploying Node Applications
  • Hands-on Lab: Deploying a Dockerized Node App for Customer Portals
  • Best Practices for Backend Development
  • Reading: Performance Optimization Techniques
  • Scaling Node Applications
  • Load Balancing and High Availability
  • Hands-on Lab: Deploying a Node app to a cloud platform
  • Hands-on Lab: Create a File Upload and Handling App in Node and Express
Module Wrap-up and Quiz
  • Practice Quiz: Scaling and Deploying Applications in Node
  • Module 5 Summary: Scaling and Deploying Node Applications
  • Graded Quiz: Scaling and Deploying Node Applications
Module 6: Final Project

Final Project
  • Final Project Overview
  • Hands-on Lab: Final Project
  • [Optional] Lab: Practice Project
  • Peer-Graded Final Project
  • Peer-Graded Final Project: Review Your Peers
Course Wrap-Up
  • Congratulations and Next Steps
  • Thanks from the Course Team

General Information

This platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari.

Recommended Skills Prior to Taking this Course

The following skills are required to be successful with this course: 
  • Working knowledge of JavaScript
  • Working knowledge of Node and Express


Instructors

IBM Skills Network

IBM Skills Network Team

At IBM Skills Network, we know how crucial it is for businesses, professionals, and students to build hands-on, job-ready skills quickly to stay competitive. Our courses are designed by experts who work at the forefront of technological innovation. With years of experience in fields like AI, software development, cybersecurity, data science, business management, and more, our instructors bring real-world insights and practical, hands-on learning to every module. Whether you're upskilling yourself or your team, we will equip you with the practical experience and future focused technical and business knowledge you need to succeed in today’s ever-evolving world.

Read more

Ramanujam Srinivasan

Chief Architect

With over 24 years of experience, I have effectively led technology and architecture teams, driving digital transformation and business growth for Fortune 500 companies. My expertise includes managing strategic consulting engagements and implementing large-scale solutions that have achieved annual contract values between $10M and $300M, particularly in turnaround scenarios. As an engineering leader, I guide cross-functional teams in deploying distributed solutions across various domains, including Cloud, AI/ML, eCommerce, Microservices, DevSecOps, legacy modernization, performance optimization, Generative AI, and Machine Learning. I prioritize building exceptional technology teams by mentoring and inspiring top technical talent, fostering a culture of rapid innovation and collaboration. I serve as a trusted advisor, nurturing long-term relationships with C-Level executives and stakeholders to drive the implementation of strategic technology initiatives. My approach combines a big-picture perspective with attention to detail, providing hands-on guidance for creating highly scalable and efficient solutions. I assist in developing minimum viable products (MVPs), evaluating products, enabling developers, and advocating for open-source technologies. As an innovation catalyst, I lead the ideation and Go-to-Market strategies for intellectual property solutions that leverage cloud services, data analytics, and AI/ML to provide strategic advantages to enterprise customers. Additionally, I have authored successful technology courses on Coursera covering topics such as Microsoft security, front-end and back-end development, DevOps, and Generative AI, positively impacting over 70,000 learners.

Read more