A Simple HTTP Server

Listen on a port

Save as server.js and run node server.js.

import http from "http";

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8" });
  res.end("Hello from Node HTTP\n");
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log("http://localhost:3000");
});

Branch on the path

Read req.url and req.method for basic routing.

if (req.method === "GET" && req.url === "/health") {
  res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
  res.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }));
  return;
}

Stop the server

Press Ctrl+C in the terminal. For programmatic shutdown, call server.close().

Why frameworks exist

Raw http teaches the basics. Express (next) adds routing, middleware, and helpers you will use in real apps.