Creating a Basic HTTP Server (Without Framework)

http Module

• The http module in Node.js allows us to create HTTP servers and handle HTTP requests and responses.

• It’s a core module, so no extra installation is needed — you can import it using:

  const http = require('http');
  

Steps to Build a Basic HTTP Server

1. Import the http module

   const http = require('http');
   

2. Define the port number

   • The server will listen on this port for incoming requests.

   const PORT = 3000;
   

3. Create the server instance

   • Use http.createServer() to create a new server.
   • Optionally, pass a callback function to handle requests.

   const server = http.createServer();
   

4. Start the server using listen()

   • The listen() method starts the server and begins accepting connections.
   • Provide the port number and a callback function to run once the server is live.

   server.listen(PORT, () => {
     console.log(`Server is running at <http://localhost>:${PORT}`);
   });
   

What is localhost and the URL?

• localhost refers to your own computer — it’s a hostname that means "this machine".
• The URL http://localhost:3000 points to:
  • http:// → The protocol being used (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
  • localhost → The server running on your own system
  • 3000 → The port number your server is listening on

Example:

If your server is running on port 3000, you can access it by visiting:

<http://localhost:3000>

in your browser or using a tool like Postman.