What is Express?
Express has been the default Node.js web framework for over a decade. Minimal, battle-tested, and the base of countless frameworks on top of it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Lowest learning curve in the space.
- ✓ Massive ecosystem of middleware.
Cons
- ✗ Not opinionated — you bring your own structure.
- ✗ Slower than modern alternatives.
Alternatives to Express
FAQ
Is Express still relevant in 2026?+−
For simple APIs and legacy codebases, yes. For performance-critical work, look at Fastify or Hono.