Express

Minimalist, unopinionated web framework for Node.js that provides a thin layer of fundamental features without obscuring the underlying HTTP APIs. Developers define routes with methods that map to HTTP verbs, compose logic through middleware, and extend behavior via a large ecosystem of third-party modules. Ideal for building REST APIs, web applications, and backend services with full control over routing, responses, and request handling.

Express has been the de facto standard for Node.js server-side development since 2010, with broad adoption across startups and enterprises. It stands apart from opinionated frameworks like NestJS or Rails by keeping the core small and letting you choose middleware for parsing, auth, CORS, and more. Frameworks such as Fastify and Koa target similar use cases with different trade-offs, while many toolchains and deployment platforms offer first-class Express support.

Key capabilities:

• Route handlers for all HTTP methods with path parameters, regex matching, and chainable app.route()
• Modular middleware system with official modules for body parsing, compression, cookies, CORS, and static file serving
• express.Router for mountable, modular route groups within larger applications
• Response helpers for JSON, files, redirects, and templates without opinionated view engines
• LTS releases for v4 and v5 with predictable maintenance timelines

Use cases span REST and GraphQL API backends, BFF layers for single-page apps, mobile backends, and microservices. Developers pair Express with ORMs, template engines, and frontend frameworks as needed. Integration with npm, TypeScript, and common deployment targets keeps it a default choice for new Node.js server projects.