# REST API Without the Mess (No DB, No Stress) ### Context : Welcome to the chill zone of backend development. In this blog, we’ll build a fully functional REST API — **without touching a single database**. That’s right, no MongoDB, no MySQL, not even a lonely JSON file. We’ll use **in-memory dummy data** to understand how APIs really work — focusing on routes, methods, status codes, and the overall flow. It’s the perfect starting point before diving into real-world backend madness. So grab your Postman and let’s ship some fake data like pros. --- ### Pre-requisite : In the previous blog I have discussed about all the jargons of REST API. Please check out that . After that We will continue with this project . here is the [setup](https://github.com/IamBATMaN420/api-bolier-plate) guide for the project . Using ( node express and nodemon ) --- ## Code * ### **Making basic server :** Let’s Jump to code directly . Grab your coffee and let’s start ```javascript import express from "express" const app = express(); app.get("/api", (req, res) => { res.send("helllo it's working!") }); app.listen(3000, () => { console.log(`server is running on port 3000`) }) ``` * This kick start the server ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749228767006/d18c1773-4c56-4992-9f43-426c1c3d2527.png align="center") --- * ### **Making dummy data** : Let’s hard code the dummy data to reduce the complexity and understand ```javascript const products = [ { name: "Laptop", price: 49999.99, quantity: 1, active: true }, { name: "Wireless Mouse", price: 799.00, quantity: 2, active: true }, { name: "Mechanical Keyboard", price: 2999.50, quantity: 1, active: false }, { name: "27-inch Monitor", price: 13499.00, quantity: 1, active: true }, { name: "USB-C Hub", price: 1499.00, quantity: 3, active: true }, { name: "Noise Cancelling Headphones", price: 8999.99, quantity: 1, active: false }, { name: "Webcam", price: 2199.00, quantity: 2, active: true }, { name: "Gaming Chair", price: 12499.00, quantity: 1, active: true } ]; // dummy data ``` --- * ### **Reading all the product** : Reading the data from Product i.e. the dummy data . With `get` method ```javascript app.get("/api/products", (req, res) => { res.json(products); }) // reading all product ``` ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749230388294/8b3df81e-6447-40d1-aeca-6cbd53b1d753.png align="center") So, we are passing the JSON data with named “ product “ directly … We are sending the response → JSON type . --- * ### Creating the product : As We know for creating products we have `post` http method . ```javascript app.post("/api/products", (req, res) => { console.log(req.body) res.send("Okay") }) // crateing product ``` here in the code , We are logging the `req.body` that have the JSON data we are sending through [postman](https://www.postman.com/) … Yes can't check the output in the browser. We have to send the req from postman and then from we will get the res ( with status code ). ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749231072205/67062590-bacc-4bbb-96be-c4804d581b9f.png align="center") ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749231089241/b2037c48-fda4-4989-a4db-70baf56c4b73.png align="center") * So here we are using postman to send the `JSON` data and we are seeing that in postman that’s fine but in VS code it’s giving `undefined` . * The reason is we can't parse JSON data without any global middle-ware. So , We are using `app.use(express.json())` . It will parse the data and now we can see it. --- ### Update and Delete a product by ID → ```javascript app.put("/api/products/:id", (req, res) => { const product = products.find(product => product.id == req.params.id) if (!product) { res.status(404).json({ "message": "WTH go away" }) } const { name, price, quantity, active } = req.body; if (!name) { res.json({ "msssage": "Nah hain bhai", }) } // used previously if (name) { product.name = name } if (price) { product.price = price } if (quantity) { product.quantity = quantity } if ("active" in req.body) { product.active = active } res.status(201).json({ "messgae": "Update is workingg" }) }) app.delete("/api/products/:id", (req, res) => { const productIndex = products.find(productIndex => productIndex.id == req.params.id) if (productIndex == -1) { res.status(404).json({ "messgae": "hey unexpected backchodi!" }) } products.splice(productIndex, 1) res.status(201).json({ "message": "Delete is working!!!" }) }) ``` In this code, We are using `splice` and `find` … function . And In every routes we are using dynamic parameter `:id`. Moreover, what the thing that is after `base_url/xyz` → here `xyz` is parameter. ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749231405510/fc6470d1-5217-4c18-b4d7-0ce6462bbd49.png align="center") ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1749231445928/ab951399-d2af-4f0c-a731-a8d81939e74b.png align="center") ### here is the full raw code. ```javascript import express from "express" import crypto from "crypto"; const app = express(); app.use(express.json()) const products = [ { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62993", name: "Laptop", price: 49999.99, quantity: 1, active: true }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62994", name: "Wireless Mouse", price: 799.00, quantity: 2, active: true }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62997", name: "Mechanical Keyboard", price: 2999.50, quantity: 1, active: false }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62999", name: "27-inch Monitor", price: 13499.00, quantity: 1, active: true }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62990", name: "USB-C Hub", price: 1499.00, quantity: 3, active: true }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce62995", name: "Noise Cancelling Headphones", price: 8999.99, quantity: 1, active: false }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce629988", name: "Webcam", price: 2199.00, quantity: 2, active: true }, { id: "0bf735e2-fb4a-445a-9dcd-7b672ce629977", name: "Gaming Chair", price: 12499.00, quantity: 1, active: true } ]; // dummy data app.get("/api", (req, res) => { res.send("helllo it's working!1") }); app.get("/api/products", (req, res) => { res.json(products); }) // reading all product app.post("/api/products", (req, res) => { const { name, price, quantity, active } = req.body; if (!name) { res.status(422).json( { "message": "nahi honga bhai" } ) } const id = crypto.randomUUID() products.push({ id, name, price, quantity, active }) res.status(201).json({ "masage": "product is added", id }) }) // crateing product app.get("/api/products/:id", (req, res) => { const product = products.find(product => product.id == req.params.id) if (!product) { res.status(404).json({ "message": "WTH go away" }) } res.status(201).json(product) }) // get a product by :id app.put("/api/products/:id", (req, res) => { const product = products.find(product => product.id == req.params.id) if (!product) { res.status(404).json({ "message": "WTH go away" }) } const { name, price, quantity, active } = req.body; if (!name) { res.json({ "msssage": "Nah hain bhai", }) } if (name) { product.name = name } if (price) { product.price = price } if (quantity) { product.quantity = quantity } if ("active" in req.body) { product.active = active } res.status(201).json({ "messgae": "Update is workingg" }) }) // update data app.delete("/api/products/:id", (req, res) => { const productIndex = products.find(productIndex => productIndex.id == req.params.id) if (productIndex == -1) { res.status(404).json({ "messgae": "hey unexpected backchodi!" }) } products.splice(productIndex, 1) res.status(201).json({ "message": "Delete is working!!!" }) }) // delteing data app.listen(3010, () => { console.log(`server is running on port 3010`) }) ``` --- ### Conclusion : We’ve nailed all the CRUD operations using REST API — no database, no stress! Now, let’s clean up our code and organize it better with a proper folder structure. Check out the GitHub repo for hands-on practice: 🔗 [GitHub Repo](https://github.com/IamBATMaN420/api-no-db) Next up: cleaner code, modular files, and pro-level structure. Let’s build better! ---