ExpressJS is one of the most used JavaScript frameworks for web applications and RESTful APIs. It's a lightweight framework, but it provides you the most useful parts such as routing, middleware integration, and template engines. Even if it's very easy to use and has the core built-in components, some parts, as an ORM, are missing. Because of that, loads of express-compatible modules and packages have been developed in the last few years. That means ExpressJS is a very extensible framework.

The playground is a safe and secure sandbox environment for you to explore your own ideas, follow along with Cloud Academy courses, or answer your own questions all without the need to install any software on your local machine. The extended duration of this playground provides you with ample time to play to your heart's content. The goal is to be able to experiment and learn with little start time or overhead. Feel free to experiment with creating an ExpressJS application and integrating routes, routers, middlewares, and a template engine. You will have access to the ExpressJS IDE where you can perform all the operations from.

Intended Audience

This lab is intended for:

• JavaScript developers who want to fully experiment with the ExpressJS framework
• Software engineers who want to have a clear understanding of how ExpressJS works

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this playground, you should have completed the following ExpressJS labs:

• Starting Your First ExpressJS Server
• Define and Handle Routes in ExpressJS Applications
• Integrating Middlewares in ExpressJS Applications
• Leverage Template Engines With ExpressJS and Mustache