var express = require("express")
  , app = express()
  , http = require("http").createServer(app)

I constantly see these being put on the dependencies. From my point of understanding, http hosts front-end html? and express holds server-sided nodejs logic? and connect was the base layer of express so is that also a server-sided module?

If that's not the case why not people just do

express().listen(8080)

instead of

require("http").createServer(express()).listen(8080)

var express = require("express")
  , app = express()
  , http = require("http").createServer(app)

I constantly see these being put on the dependencies. From my point of understanding, http hosts front-end html? and express holds server-sided nodejs logic? and connect was the base layer of express so is that also a server-sided module?

If that's not the case why not people just do

express().listen(8080)

instead of

require("http").createServer(express()).listen(8080)

• javascript
• node.js
• http
• express

3 Answers 3

Express is another layer on top of http. It takes care of basic repeated tasks that are required for an web application. connect is a middleware, which too takes care of basic repeated tasks that are required for an web application.

The whole idea, behind using any framework is to stay DRY, Don't Repeat Yourself. Tasks like, parsing the body of the request, parsing cookies are very much required for every web-application. Express provides them by default.

In the Express 4.x, most of it has been refactored in to several granular modules, like body-parser, morgan etc. One can use them directly without using express. Please refer Express - GitHub for complete set of modules.

Express is another layer on top of http means Express internally uses http. In other words, it is a wrapper over http. If you look at the source code of Express, you will find that it internally uses http. Please refer the highlighted statements at https://github.com/strongloop/express/blob/master/lib/application.js#L540-543

Lets take an example to understand the difference between http module and express module.

for an instance consider http module is a car i.e an average comercial car.

where on the other hand, consider express as a super car.

See, http module provides various tools (functions) to do things for networking like making a server ,cilent etc.

where as express is build upon the top of http module with some more usable and better functionalities like easy ways to handle routes ,easy ways to make firmware, servers, client etc.

just like a difference between normal car and super car (may be luxury car) .They both are cars at the end of the day but features are more in luxury car with ease of use just like in express.js

Source

There is no difference, you can see the code of express.listen() in the github repo This code calls the function createServer from the HTTP module. In other words, this is more like a shortcut.