Backend Skill – API & Database Development

Instructions

1. •

   Project setup

   • •Initialize backend project (Node.js / Express / Fastify / Django / Flask)
   • •Configure environment variables
   • •Follow clean folder structure (routes, controllers, services, models)
2. •

   Route generation

   • •Define RESTful routes (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
   • •Use proper URL naming conventions
   • •Apply versioning (e.g. /api/v1/)
   • •Separate routes by resource
3. •

   Request & response handling

   • •Validate incoming requests
   • •Handle query params, route params, and body data
   • •Return consistent JSON responses
   • •Use proper HTTP status codes
   • •Implement centralized error handling
4. •

   Database connection

   • •Connect to database (MongoDB / PostgreSQL / MySQL)
   • •Define schemas or models
   • •Perform CRUD operations
   • •Handle connection errors gracefully
   • •Use migrations or schema versioning
5. •

   Security & middleware

   • •Use authentication middleware (JWT / sessions)
   • •Protect routes with authorization
   • •Sanitize inputs to prevent injection attacks
   • •Enable CORS and rate limiting
6. •

   Testing & debugging

   • •Test endpoints using Postman or automated tests
   • •Log requests and errors
   • •Handle edge cases and failures

Best Practices

• •Keep routes thin, move logic to services
• •Use async/await with proper error handling
• •Return meaningful error messages
• •Follow REST standards
• •Write reusable and modular code
• •Never expose secrets in code

Example Structure

src/
 ├─ routes/
 │   └─ user.routes.js
 ├─ controllers/
 │   └─ user.controller.js
 ├─ services/
 │   └─ user.service.js
 ├─ models/
 │   └─ user.model.js
 ├─ middleware/
 │   └─ auth.middleware.js
 └─ app.js