Ever Wondering why API Created ? Perhaps this is the right topic for you to get started

img : wallpapercave-server

Oh hey , before to get started , you may that wanted to practice and learning , here a repo for you to practice

https://github.com/RFebrians/simple-node.express-backend

What Will You Know

Middleware and Accesbility

• Objective : Build an API and Get the Data
• Method : API and Accessbility
• Library : Node.Express

What is API ?

• API is Standfor Application Program Interface
• It used to allows two applications to connect with each other.
• An Example is a Facebook UI , is the front-end .

And the thing that save your history chat , log or something will be required a backend or Database .

The API will take care as the bridge between them.

API vs REST(ful) API ?

• REST is standfor Representational State Transfer.
• REST API is an API , but with strict configuration .
• It means , you only can access the data within their parameter .
• An API is just the method name .

Why REST API created ?

• The goals is that you can bring all the data as long as you has an internet .
• It means that you no need to worry about the platform anymore .
• One Data multiple platform .
• Like Facebook Can be accessed on Browser , Android , Iphone , Smart TV , Amazon Alexa , Smarthouse , Voice Assistant , Smartwatch, Even a Refrigator

Where is API used ?

an API will be used as bridge between front-end and back-end , But you can say that an API is a part of Server-side (A.K.A Backend)

A Things about API

API is special that can allowed you change the data overtime . Here the list what can API do .

• GET || Retrieve information about the REST API resource
• POST || Create a REST API resource
• PUT || Update a REST API resource
• DELETE || Delete a REST API resource or related component

Prequisite

Lib : Node JS and Express

$ npm initentry point: (index.js)$ npm install express --savego to localhost:3000

Let’s start make an API !

The Plan :

• We will be Build some API that contain the information about books and hotel.
• We will created the notice if succesful
• We will created the error boundary if failed to run .
• Final . WE are ready to deploy our API to the cloud !

Entry Section

• It will be the entry point that will be handled

index.js

const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");
const cors = require("cors");const app = express();
const PORT = process.env.PORT || "3000";const booksRoute = require("./api/books");
const hotelsRoute = require("./api/hotels");// Use middleware
app.use(cors());
app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: false }));
app.use(bodyParser.json());// Handle http requests
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
return res.send("Requesting API On Standby"); {/_ This will given the notice when everything success _/}
});// Add additional routes
app.use("/books", booksRoute);
app.use("/hotels", hotelsRoute);// Start the server
app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(Running on port ${PORT}));exports = module.exports = app;

Middleware Section

It’s where the object will be called

books.js

const express = require("express");
const router = express.Router();
const fs = require("fs");// to string . or stringify
const booksData = JSON.parse(
fs.readFileSync("./api/booksData.json").toString()
);
// const booksData = JSON.parserequire('./api/booksData.js')// define the home page route
router.get("/", function (req, res) {
res.json(booksData);
});router.get("/:bookId", (req, res) => {
console.log(Looking for data ${req.params.bookId});
const book = booksData.filter((item) => {
return item.card === req.params.bookId;
});
if (book != "") {
res.send(book);
} else {
res.status(404).send("Book not found");
}
});// params
router.get("/title/:query", (req, res) => {
// TODO urldecode query
const books = booksData.filter((item) => {
return item.title.toLowerCase().includes(req.params.query.toLowerCase());
}); if (books.length > 0) {
res.send(books);
} else {
res.status(400).send("No Results");
}
});// define the about route
router.get("/about", function (req, res) {
res.send("About Books");
});module.exports = router;

Data Section

It’s an Object , you can fill anything but you might need an interactive state like GET and DELETE

booksData.json

[ { "card": "9781593275846", "title": "test1", "subtitle": "", "nama": "name1", "hari": "Day", "lokasi": "Indonesia", "waktu": "18.00-20.00", "description": "", "infoLink": "website description", "url": "website" }, { "card": "9781593275846", "title": "test1", "subtitle": "", "nama": "name1", "hari": "Day", "lokasi": "Indonesia", "waktu": "18.00-20.00", "description": "", "infoLink": "website description", "url": "website" } ]

Why is it Work ?

• The important thing on API is about Data , Middleware (Request/Response)

Troubleshooter

Possible things :

• Port

var port = process.env.PORT || 3000;

• Parameter

router.get("/", function (req, res) {
res.json(booksData);
});

• Middleware

var express = require('express')
var app = express()app.get('/', function (req, res) {
res.send('Hello World from Backend !')
})app.listen(3000)

Conclusion

Making an API through Backend like Express can be so trivia , it can be easy or a nightmare

But not to worry , the community will be there for you . If not you can talk with leader or the team that you can depends on .

So Congratulations for making an API~!