freeCodeCamp's Back End Development and APIs certification teaches you to build server-side applications using Node.js and Express, the JavaScript backend framework. You learn to create REST APIs, handle HTTP requests and responses, work with databases, and deploy your work. All learning is hands-on: you build five projects in the browser. The course is completely free with no paywall. After finishing, you can build working backends and understand how frontend and backend communicate. The main limitation: this assumes you know JavaScript already. If JavaScript is new, start with freeCodeCamp's free JavaScript course first. Also note: this course teaches traditional backends; it doesn't cover modern frameworks like Next.js.
Node.js is used by 42.7% of professional developers according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024 (source: survey.stackoverflow.co/2024).
About This Course
Learn Node.js and Express by building real-world API projects. Covers npm, package.json, basic node, Express routing, and MongoDB. Free verified certificate.
Course Details
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need JavaScript experience?
Yes. This course assumes you know JavaScript basics (functions, callbacks, async/await). Start with freeCodeCamp's JavaScript course if you're new.
What databases does it teach?
The course introduces MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database. You also learn how databases fit into REST API design.
Can I build a complete app with what I learn?
You can build a working backend and APIs. For a complete application, you'd add a frontend (React, Vue, or vanilla HTML/CSS/JS) on top.
Is Node.js/Express still relevant?
Yes. Node.js is one of the most popular backend environments. Express is the standard framework, though newer alternatives like Fastify are gaining traction.
What should I build after this?
A complete full-stack project combining this backend with a React frontend (freeCodeCamp's free React course), or deploy to a platform like Heroku or Railway.
More nodejs Courses
The Odin Project's Node.js path covers Express.js, databases with PostgreSQL, authentication, APIs, and deployment. Build real-world backend applications through hands-on projects.