How to Build a Secure Node js REST API: X Easy Steps
The application programming interface (APIs) hysteria is worldwide. The important aspect to increase scalability and reusability in software is by interacting with internal and external parts.
Public APIs have online assistance that is very popular nowadays. The other developers get awesome features such as social media logins, credit card debts and track performance.
The best technique that perfectly works with Node.js is the Representational State Transfer (REST) which is also considered the standard practice. Due to these levels, building a Node js REST API shows true smartness.
This article will show you complete guidance of Node js and REST APIs. It will also show step by step guide on how to create a secure REST API in Node .js
What is REST API?
REST API is also known as Representational State Transfer (REST) is a design style for developing Web Services. This technology is also used in other tools, as it consumes less internet with less bandwidth efficiency. REST API is also designed by programming languages such as JavaScript and Python.
REST API is most commonly used for Web APIs by HTTP protocol. Additionally, the developers don’t seek any other libraries or software to design REST API. As the data is not used for methods and resources, REST API can handle multiple types such as Calls, Return Different Data Formats, and can even change structure with proper operation.
REST API consists of end numbers of freedom and elasticity and hence that helps to meet the need of a wide range of customers.
What is Node js?
One and only based on the V8 JavaScript Chrome Engine, Node.js is an Open-Source Server-Side Runtime Environment. Node js works in developing high scalable Server-Side JavaScript applications which are event-driven, asynchronous and consist of cross-platform runtime.
Node js is used to build many applications such as Command-Line Applications, Web-Applications, Real-time Chat Applications and REST API Servers. All the HTTP requests are handled by its event-driven runtime which also sleeps whenever not required. It helps developers to create vigorous web content for enhancing JavaScript and write server-side scripts before delivering it to the user’s web browser.
What is the importance of Node .js for REST API?
Node .js is an open-source runtime context that is sponsored by Joyent which is a cloud computing development provider. It also served several other technologies such as Ruby on Rails and hosted platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
Node .js is being used by LinkedIn to create new projects for backend mobile applications. However, it was further selected by many technological applications such as Uber, eBay and Netflix. Node .js took place in 2017 and is still in demand.
The most popular code editor- IDEs has assistance and plugins for both JavaScript and Node .js, hence; it’s up to your requirements to customize it. While many Node.js developers opt for particular tools such as VS Code, Brackets and WebStorm.
If the developers implement middleware over Node .js then it makes their lives more comfortable. Nevertheless, creating a secure REST API in Node .js has tended to be the most reliable source for most developers.
How does REST blend with Node .js?
A web application that is built with help of REST API is appreciated due to its knowledgeable presentation and support. It also helps the customers to take certain actions such as replacing present resources or designing different resources. A variety of restrictions is essential to create a secure REST API in Node .js. To create and use APIs, the set of limitations of REST is set up by Node .js.
How to create a Secure REST API in Node.js?
It takes mere four steps to create a secure REST API in Node .js which is given below:
Step: 1- Make the necessary directories.
Step: 2- Build your first application using the express API
Step: 3- User module creation
Step: 4- Auth module creation
Let’s start with a detailed explanation of each step.
Step: 1- Make the necessary directories.
The first step includes creating directories that help to create a secure REST API in Node .js. It also consists of code for Node .js REST API.
Start with the command line terminal on your system and move to the record where you can create new projects and directories that consist of Node.js REST API code. Below is the command used for it.
To frame a new project, scroll to the directory you created and exercise npm install.
The npm command you used creates a file. called package.json, when you will open this directory in a text editor or an IDE you’ll see the file called package.json.
Although, this data is quite insignificant and doesn’t contain much information. if you start creating a secure REST API in Node .js; it will grow in size. You can now create a new directory known as src within the design source.
The main purpose here is to create a referral code that will be used for a secure REST API in Node .js in this directory. You can create a new file called index.js within it after creating this directory for Node .js REST API.
Step: 2- Build your first application using the express API
A latent message would be now designed by your project and by creating your “Good Morning” use with Node .js, you can create any REST API. Now, for the first piece, you will need to participate in some sticks.
Body-parser
The basics of incoming applications into JavaScript objects can be transferred with this dependency.
Cors
This dependency works to configure Express by combining headers and declaring whether your REST API allows requests that are created from other roots
Express
It is an express library
Helmet
Helmet served to secure Express API which is established from the different HTTP header
Morgan
It continues some logging skills to Express REST API
This will require two items for your project, first; the jackage.json file would include the original feature which will be known as dependencies along with all libraries.
NPM states what dependencies the project demands. In the project root, you would find a different file named package-lock.json.
The specific libraries you practice while developing are installed by NPM which is used the same throughout.
When NPM terminates on these dependencies, on your internet nexus; so you can create the index.js file and replace the code.
The most recent version of this programme starts by transmitting all of the dependencies you set up earlier, then creates and arranges a new Express application (const app = express()), and finally offers this application to listen on port 3001 (app. listen (3001,…)).
However, it states two important things; an array that works on a memory database and an endpoint that receives HTTP GET application when triggered to deliver add array items.
Step: 3- User module creation
Mongoose, an object data modeling (ODM) library for MongoDB, will be the next component we need to build a new project. It will be used to produce the user manual inside the user schema.
Due to that we need to use a command such as function req res to build a Mongoose scheme.
We can simply connect the scheme to the user module after this.
All the CRUD procedures that are required inside our Express endpoint can be utilized.
By finding the ways in users/routes.config.js; let’s begin with the “create user” operation.
The prime index.js file of the Express app contains a lure for this. The UsersController object, which is found in /users/controllers/users.controller.js, is crucial for the controller, where we appropriately create a new password.
Now that the server is running (npm init start), we can test our Mongoose model by sending a POST request to /users with any JSON data.
You can use a variety of tools for this. Curl is a common CLI option, and Insomnia and Postman are recommended GUI tools. From the console log of the browser’s integrated development tools, you can practise JavaScript.
Because only an administrator has the ability to change the permission level, you will also need to carry out some additional validation for modifications that should be restricted to the user in question or an administrator. That can be placed on hold for the time being; you can return to it once the Auth Module has been deployed.
By default, the HTTP Protocol sends the status code 204, indicating that the Post request was successful.
Step: 4- Auth module creation
The last stage in creating a secure Node js REST API is to produce a strong Token for the user before you can protect the Users’ module by finishing the authorization and validation middleware.
A layer of security can be added to your Node js REST API by adding an authentication module. You can produce a JWT in response to the user’s accurate email and identification (JSON Web Token).
JWT is a superior JSON web indicator that enables you to test having the user conduct numerous queries safely without frequently stamping. To keep the data secure, it typically includes a time restriction and a unique symbol is generally established.
However, you should avoid stimulating the token and instead use a different token for each login to cache it in a controlled way. You must configure an endpoint for POST requests to /auth source in order to achieve this. The user’s email address and password will be included in the request form.
To add a layer of authentication to the Node js REST API, validate the user in the middleware file /authorization/middlewares/verify.user.middleware.js.
An authentication module for your Node js REST API will be established as soon as you construct the route and call the appropriate middleware in /authorization/routes.config.js.
The development of a secure Node js REST API is thus finished when the generated JWT is added to the accessToken field.
You will be able to develop a secure REST API in Node.js easily if you complete the steps listed above in the proper order.
Conclusion
REST API is a unique kind of API that is prevalent amongst cloud applications. Through this article, you might have gained knowledge to create REST API with Express and Node.js. To be more specific, you started by using npm to frame the most recent application.
Next, you successfully opened Rest API endpoints for Express to handle advertisements. With the help of this service, you are likely to continue developing your Node.js, Express, Mongo, and Auth0-backed Rest API that is production-ready and can build a secure REST API by Node.js by hiring a Node.js developer.
