NestJS is a progressive, efficient, and scalable Node.js framework for building server-side applications. Inspired by Angular, it uses TypeScript by default, providing developers with a robust structure and tools for creating maintainable and scalable applications. Let’s explore the basics of NestJS and why it’s a game-changer for backend development.
NestJS is an open-source framework for building efficient, reliable, scalable server-side applications. It leverages the features of TypeScript while fully supporting JavaScript. The framework is built on Express.js (or optionally Fastify) and incorporates modern JavaScript concepts, design patterns, and a modular architecture.
Related read: NestJS Framework for Building Scalable Applications
To get started with NestJS, you need Node.js installed on your machine.
1. Install the NestJS CLI globally:
npm install -g @nestjs/cli
2. Create a new project:
nest new project-name
3. Start the development server:
npm run start:dev
Modules are the basic building blocks of a NestJS application. Each module encapsulates a specific feature or functionality.
Example of a module:
import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { AppController } from './app.controller';
import { AppService } from './app.service';
@Module({
imports: [],
controllers: [AppController],
providers: [AppService],
})
export class AppModule {}Controllers handle incoming HTTP requests and return responses to the client. They define routes and delegate business logic to services.
Example of a controller:
import { Controller, Get } from '@nestjs/common';
@Controller('app')
export class AppController {
@Get()
getHello(): string {
return 'Hello, NestJS!';
}
}Services contain the application’s business logic and can be injected into controllers or other services.
Example of a service:
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
@Injectable()
export class AppService {
getHello(): string {
return 'Hello, NestJS!';
}
}NestJS uses dependency injection to manage service instances. Services can be injected into controllers using constructors.
Example:
@Controller()
export class AppController {
constructor(private readonly appService: AppService) {}
@Get()
getHello(): string {
return this.appService.getHello();
}
}Let’s create a simple API endpoint to manage tasks:
nest generate controller tasks nest generate service tasks nest generate module tasks
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
@Injectable()
export class TasksService {
private tasks: string[] = [];
getAllTasks(): string[] {
return this.tasks;
}
addTask(task: string): void {
this.tasks.push(task);
}
}import { Controller, Get, Post, Body } from '@nestjs/common';
import { TasksService } from './tasks.service';
@Controller('tasks')
export class TasksController {
constructor(private readonly tasksService: TasksService) {}
@Get()
getAllTasks(): string[] {
return this.tasksService.getAllTasks();
}
@Post()
addTask(@Body('task') task: string): void {
this.tasksService.addTask(task);
}
}Use tools like Postman or Curl to send GET and POST requests to http://localhost:3000/tasks.
Related read: The Comprehensive Guide to API Testing with Postman & Newman Report Generation
NestJS simplifies the development of server-side applications with its modular architecture, TypeScript support, and powerful tools. By understanding its core concepts like modules, controllers, and services, you can quickly build efficient and scalable applications. Whether you’re new to backend development or an experienced developer, NestJS offers a structured and modern approach to building robust APIs.
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