---
name: express-api
description: Express.js REST API template principles. TypeScript, Prisma, JWT.
---
# Express.js API Template
## Tech Stack
| Component | Technology |
|-----------|------------|
| Runtime | Node.js 20+ |
| Framework | Express.js |
| Language | TypeScript |
| Database | PostgreSQL + Prisma |
| Validation | Zod |
| Auth | JWT + bcrypt |
---
## Directory Structure
```
project-name/
├── prisma/
│ └── schema.prisma
├── src/
│ ├── app.ts # Express setup
│ ├── config/ # Environment
│ ├── routes/ # Route handlers
│ ├── controllers/ # Business logic
│ ├── services/ # Data access
│ ├── middleware/
│ │ ├── auth.ts # JWT verify
│ │ ├── error.ts # Error handler
│ │ └── validate.ts # Zod validation
│ ├── schemas/ # Zod schemas
│ └── utils/
└── package.json
```
---
## Middleware Stack
| Order | Middleware |
|-------|------------|
| 1 | helmet (security) |
| 2 | cors |
| 3 | morgan (logging) |
| 4 | body parsing |
| 5 | routes |
| 6 | error handler |
---
## API Response Format
| Type | Structure |
|------|-----------|
| Success | `{ success: true, data: {...} }` |
| Error | `{ error: "message", details: [...] }` |
---
## Setup Steps
1. Create project directory
2. `npm init -y`
3. Install deps: `npm install express prisma zod bcrypt jsonwebtoken`
4. Configure Prisma
5. `npm run db:push`
6. `npm run dev`
---
## Best Practices
- Layer architecture (routes → controllers → services)
- Validate all inputs with Zod
- Centralized error handling
- Environment-based config
- Use Prisma for type-safe DB access
