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Express.js is a widely adopted Node.js framework for building web applications. While its simplicity is appealing, many developers underutilize its advanced capabilities, leading to missed opportunities for optimization and scalability. This guide dives into essential yet often overlooked features of Express.js, offering actionable strategies to improve your application’s performance, maintainability, and security.
1. Optimize Middleware for Efficiency
Middleware is the backbone of request processing in Express.js. Instead of piling middleware globally, strategically apply it at route or router levels to reduce unnecessary execution and enhance performance.
Example: Scoped Middleware Application
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const userRouter = express.Router();
const logMiddleware = (req, res, next) => {
console.log(`[LOG] ${req.method} - ${req.url}`);
next();
};
// Apply logging middleware only for user routes
userRouter.use(logMiddleware);
userRouter.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('User Dashboard'));
app.use('/users', userRouter);
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));
Performance Impact: Scoped middleware avoids redundant processing for unrelated routes, lowering…