expressjs/express

What is it?

Key features

• 01Robust routing for HTTP methods and URL paths
• 02HTTP helpers for redirects, caching and similar tasks
• 03View system supporting more than 14 template engines
• 04Content negotiation built in
• 05Executable generator for scaffolding applications

Use cases

• Building REST or public HTTP APIs on Node.js
• Serving single page applications and websites with a small server
• Creating custom backends without a prescribed ORM or template engine

Quick start

1. 1

   Install Node.js 18 or higher

2. 2

   Install Express into your project

   npm install express
3. 3

   Create a file with a Hello World route and start it with node

Things to know

• !Requires Node.js 18 or higher.

Topics

FAQ

What is express?

Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for Node.js for building web apps and HTTP APIs. Express is a minimalist web framework for Node.js. It provides a small set of tools for routing requests, handling HTTP helpers such as redirects and caching, and rendering views, while leaving choices like ORM and template engine to the developer.

Is express free to use? What license does it have?

express is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is express still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to express was on Oct 17, 2026.

What can I use express for?

Building REST or public HTTP APIs on Node.js Serving single page applications and websites with a small server Creating custom backends without a prescribed ORM or template engine

How do I install express?

Install Node.js 18 or higher Install Express into your project: npm install express Create a file with a Hello World route and start it with node

Where can I get express?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/expressjs/express