In this article, I’ll be showing you how to build a web chat application using React, Express, socket.io, and Node.js.
The motive behind this application:
Join. Chat. Leave. No Records.
Let’s start with the definition of a chat application.
Chat App is a software that enables the messages to be sent and received between different clients ( or users ).
Before diving into the chat application, we must understand the basic concepts and frameworks behind the same which are React, socket.io, express.js, and Node.js.
What is React?
React is an open-source JavaScript library for building user interfaces or UI components. It is maintained by Facebook and a community of individual developers and companies. React can be used as a base in the development of single-page or mobile applications.
What is socket.io?
Socket.IO is a JavaScript library for realtime web applications. It enables realtime, bi-directional communication between web clients and servers. It has two parts: a client-side library that runs in the browser, and a server-side library for Node.js.
What is Express or Express.js?
Express.js, or simply Express, is a web application framework for Node.js, released as free and open-source software under the MIT License. It is designed for building web applications and APIs. It has been called the de facto standard server framework for Node.js.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform, JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside a web browser.
The chat application is divided into two parts:
- Client: This will be responsible for the front end of the application.
- Server: This will be responsible for the back end portion of the application.
Now, that we have a basic idea about the different frameworks and libraries used in this application, let’s start with the development phase.
Quick Note: I have used visual studio for this application, but you can use any editor of your choice
#chat #socketio #expressjs #nodejs #react
