Nest.js Vs Express.js |Comparison

When building backend applications with Node.js, two of the most popular choices are ExpressJS and NestJS. Both are powerful, but they serve different needs. If you’re wondering which one to pick, this blog will walk you through the differences with a very simple CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) example.

ExpressJS: Minimal and Flexible

ExpressJS is a lightweight web framework for Node.js. It gives you full freedom to design your app the way you like, with very little setup. This makes it perfect for small projects and quick prototypes.

✅ Pros

• Minimal setup (just a few lines to get started)

• Very flexible, you control everything

• Huge ecosystem of middleware

❌ Cons

• No structure enforced → code can get messy in large apps

• No built-in dependency injection

• TypeScript support requires extra configuration

🔹 ExpressJS Example: Static CRUD

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

let properties = [
  { id: 1, name: 'Property One', type: 'Condo' },
  { id: 2, name: 'Property Two', type: 'House' }
];

// GET all
app.get('/property', (req, res) => res.json(properties));

// GET one
app.get('/property/:id', (req, res) => {
  const property = properties.find(p => p.id == req.params.id);
  property ? res.json(property) : res.status(404).json({ message: 'Not found' });
});

// POST create
app.post('/property', (req, res) => {
  const newProperty = { id: properties.length + 1, ...req.body };
  properties.push(newProperty);
  res.status(201).json(newProperty);
});

// PUT update
app.put('/property/:id', (req, res) => {
  const property = properties.find(p => p.id == req.params.id);
  if (!property) return res.status(404).json({ message: 'Not found' });
  Object.assign(property, req.body);
  res.json(property);
});

// DELETE
app.delete('/property/:id', (req, res) => {
  properties = properties.filter(p => p.id != req.params.id);
  res.json({ message: 'Deleted' });
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Express running on port 3000'));

NestJS: Structured and Scalable

NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework built with TypeScript. It is heavily inspired by Angular and provides a structured, modular architecture out of the box. It’s great for enterprise-level apps and long-term maintainability.

✅ Pros

• Built-in dependency injection

• Modular architecture for scalability

• Native TypeScript support

• Powerful decorators (@Get(), @Post(), etc.)

❌ Cons

• Higher learning curve compared to Express

• More boilerplate in small apps

🔹 NestJS Example: Static CRUD

const { NestFactory } = require('@nestjs/core');
const { Controller, Get, Post, Put, Delete, Body, Param, Module } = require('@nestjs/common');

let properties = [
  { id: 1, name: 'Property One', type: 'Condo' },
  { id: 2, name: 'Property Two', type: 'House' }
];

@Controller('property')
class AppController {
  @Get()
  getAll() {
    return properties;
  }

  @Get(':id')
  getOne(@Param('id') id) {
    return properties.find(p => p.id == id) || { message: 'Not found' };
  }

  @Post()
  create(@Body() body) {
    const newProperty = { id: properties.length + 1, ...body };
    properties.push(newProperty);
    return newProperty;
  }

  @Put(':id')
  update(@Param('id') id, @Body() body) {
    const property = properties.find(p => p.id == id);
    if (!property) return { message: 'Not found' };
    Object.assign(property, body);
    return property;
  }

  @Delete(':id')
  remove(@Param('id') id) {
    properties = properties.filter(p => p.id != id);
    return { message: 'Deleted' };
  }
}

@Module({ controllers: [AppController] })
class AppModule {}

async function bootstrap() {
  const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
  await app.listen(3000);
  console.log('NestJS running on port 3000');
}
bootstrap();

ExpressJS vs NestJS in a Nutshell

🚀 Conclusion

• If you want speed and simplicity, go with ExpressJS.

• If you want structure, scalability, and long-term maintainability, choose NestJS.

Both frameworks are excellent. Your choice depends on your project size and complexity.

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