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Back-End App Development with Node.js and Express

Premium
IntermediateCourse

Master back-end development with Node.js & Express! Learn how to build REST APIs, handle async operations, use NPM, and implement authentication, using hands-on labs & a final project.

4.8 (742 Reviews)

Language

  • English

Topic

  • Javascript

Enrollment Count

  • 2.01K

Skills You Will Learn

  • Back-end Development, Authentication, Node.js, Express, RESTful APIs, Node Package Manager (NPM)

Offered By

  • IBMSkillsNetwork

Estimated Effort

  • 13 Hours

Platform

  • SkillsNetwork

Last Update

  • November 23, 2025
About this Course
According to recent Stack Overflow surveys, Node.js is used by about 50% of professional developers, making it the most popular server-side technology, while Express ranks as the fourth most popular web framework overall and the top server-side framework. 

This course will equip you with the essential skills to build modern, scalable back-end applications using these industry-standard technologies.

Hands-On Learning Experience

Through numerous practical labs and exercises, you'll gain real-world experience:
  • Working with Node.js modules and the event-driven architecture
  • Handling asynchronous operations using modern JavaScript techniques
  • Developing and testing REST APIs
  • Implementing Express middleware for enhanced functionality
The course culminates in a final project where you'll build a complete book review application, giving you tangible evidence of your new skills for your professional portfolio.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:
  • JavaScript developers looking to expand into back-end development
  • Full-stack developers wanting to strengthen their server-side skills
  • IT professionals seeking career advancement in web development
  • New graduates aiming to establish themselves in the tech industry
  • Developers working on cloud-based projects who need server-side expertise
 
By completing this course, you'll earn a certificate demonstrating your ability to develop server-side applications with Node.js and Express, work with asynchronous operations, implement routing and middleware, manage dependencies with npm, and build RESTful APIs - all highly valuable skills in today's job market.

After completing this course, you will be able to: 
  • Create robust server-side applications using the Node.js JavaScript runtime environment
  • Extend your Node.js applications with powerful third-party packages and frameworks, including Express
  • Master NPM (Node Package Manager) to effectively manage dependencies and modules
  • Develop asynchronous callback functions and promises to handle complex operations
  • Build RESTful APIs and implement all CRUD operations
  • Apply routing, middleware, and templating techniques to create efficient web applications
  • Implement authentication and session management for secure systems

Course Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Server-Side JavaScript
  • Course Introduction: Welcome to Developing Back-End Apps with Node.js & Express•3 minutes
  • Welcome
  • Course Overview
  • What is Back End Development?
  • Reading: Back-end and Front-end Development Overview
  • Getting Started with Node.js
  • Introduction to Node.js
  • Expert Viewpoints: Introductory Thoughts on Server-Side JavaScript and Node.js
  • Import and Require
  • Introduction to Server-Side JavaScript
  • Creating a Web Server with Node.js
  • Working with Node.js Modules
  • Advanced Node.js Modules
  • Overview of Node Package Manager
  • Hands-on Lab - First Server with Server-Side Java Script
  • Module Summary
  • Glossary: Introduction to Server-Side JavaScript
  • Cheatsheet: Introduction to Server-Side JavaScript
  • Practice Quiz
  • Graded Quiz
  • Discussion: Introduce yourself and why you are interested in back-end development with Node.js & Express
Module 2: Asynchronous I/O with callback programming
  • Asynchronous I/O with Callback Programming
  • Creating Callback Functions
  • Expert Viewpoints: Using Anonymous Callback Functions in Node.js
  • Issues with Callbacks
  • Promises
  • Hands-on Lab: Promises and Call Back
  • Working with JSON
  • Expert Viewpoints: Using JSON & JavaScript
  • Promises, async/await, and axios requests in Node.js and Express
  • Lab: Promises, Async/Await, and Axios Requests in Node.js and Express
  • Hands-on Lab - Async Callback Programing
  • Module Summary
  • Glossary - Asynchronous I/O with Callback Programming
  • Cheatsheet - Asynchronous I/O with Callback Programming
  • Practice Quiz
  • Graded Quiz

Module 3: Express Web Application Framework
  • Extending Node.js
  • Expert Viewpoints: Working with Third-Party Node.js Extensions
  • Introduction to Web Frameworks
  • Express Web Application Framework
  • Your First Express Web Application
  • Expert Viewpoints: Working with Back-end JavaScript Frameworks and Express
  • Introduction to Middleware & Routers
  • Routing, Middleware, and Templating
  • Authentication and Authorization in Node.js
  • Welcome to Authentication and Authorization in Node.js
  • Authentication in Node JS
  • HTTP Methods and Rest APIs
  • Hands-on Lab: CRUD Operations with Node.js and Express
  • Express Best Practices
  • Hands-On Lab: Express Server
  • Module Summary
  • Glossary - Express Web Application Framework
  • Cheatsheet - Express Web Application Framework
  • Practice Quiz
  • Graded Quiz

Module 4: Final Project
  • Practice Project
    • Hands-on Lab: Friends List Application Using Express Server with JWT
  • Final Project
    • Project Overview: Scenario and Review Criteria
    • Project Breakdown
    • Hands on Lab: Book Review Application
    • Peer Review Assignment
    • Module Summary
  • Course Wrap Up
    • Thanks from the Course Team
    • Congrats & Next Steps

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 and Git is required to succeed in this course.

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.

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Lavanya Sunderarajan

SME AI, DS and Cloud technologies

I am an educational consultant for Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cloud application development. I am passionate about making learning and upskilling meaningful and impactful for the learners. I have completed the PG program in AI and ML from Great Learning, affiliated with Mc Combs business school, University of Texas, Dallas. I am a certified educator and I conduct technical training for corporates and individual adult learners. I am a software engineer, backed by many years of experience in software development in product-based and project-based companies with involvement in the SDLC. This experience is integrated into my blended teaching methodologies. I embarked on a journey to re-skill staff who did not have the luxury of the hiatus to catch up with technology besides what they got to work on or sometimes left behind technology as they explored other areas. It has been the most gratifying experience to be able to teach technology and hone myself in it too. I have an in-depth understanding of software development using Agile methodologies and DevOps. My extensive international work experience has made me comfortable working with and in different cultures.

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Sachin Jambur

Instructor

Insightful, results-driven IT professional with notable success in software development initiatives spanning a broad range of corporate IT applications while participating in planning, architecture, and implementation of solutions in support of client business objectives. Learning Innovations Engineer focused on building scalable and easily maintainable software applications across multiple tech stacks

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