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10 graduated exercises that teach students how to use Postman with Express route endpoints
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Lab Learning Path:
Each Lab Includes:
✅ Complete Express.js code - ready to copy/paste into VS Code
✅ HTML pages with working forms - visual interface for testing
✅ Step-by-step Postman instructions - how to test each endpoint
✅ Multiple test scenarios - success and error cases
✅ Clear explanations - what you're learning and why
✅ Expected responses - know what to look for
Special Features:
Each exercise is completely self-contained and can run independently on different ports.
Students can follow along sequentially or jump to specific concepts they need to practice.
MADS 4012 - Postman & Express Route Endpoints
10 Graduated Lab Exercises
Getting Started: Download and Install Postman
Before beginning these exercises, you need to install Postman:
Exercise 1: Basic GET Request (No Parameters)
Concept: Understanding the simplest possible GET endpoint
Step 1: Create the Express Application
Create a folder lab01-basic-get and create server.js:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;
// Basic GET endpoint
app.get('/welcome', (req, res) => {
res.json({
message: 'Welcome to MADS 4012!',
course: 'Full Stack Development',
timestamp: new Date()
});
});
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Lab 1 server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
Step 2: Run the Server
cd lab01-basic-get
npm init -y
npm install express
node server.js
Step 3: Test with Postman
Expected Response
{
"message": "Welcome to MADS 4012!",
"course": "Full Stack Development",
"timestamp": "2024-10-02T14:30:00.000Z"
}
What You Learned
Save Your Request
Exercise 2: GET with Query Parameters
Concept: Passing data through URL query strings (form data in GET requests)
Note the use of express static middleware to serve up static content.
This is also how you get images to serve up
Step 1: Create the Application
Create folder lab02-query-params and create server.js:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3001;
app.use(express.static('public'));
// GET endpoint with query parameters
app.get('/greet', (req, res) => {
const firstName = req.query.firstName || 'Guest';
const lastName = req.query.lastName || '';
const age = req.query.age;
res.json({
greeting: `Hello, ${firstName} ${lastName}!`,
message: age ? `You are ${age} years old.` : 'Age not provided',
receivedParams: req.query
});
});
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Lab 2 server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
Step 2: Create the HTML Form
Create folder public and create public/index.html:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Lab 2 - Query Parameters</title>
<style>
body { font-family: Arial; max-width: 500px; margin: 50px auto; padding: 20px; }
input, button { display: block; width: 100%; margin: 10px 0; padding: 10px; }
button { background: #007bff; color: white; border: none; cursor: pointer; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Greeting Form (GET Method)</h1>
<form action="/greet" method="GET">
<input type="text" name="firstName" placeholder="First Name" required>
<input type="text" name="lastName" placeholder="Last Name">
<input type="number" name="age" placeholder="Age">
<button type="submit">Submit with GET</button>
</form>
<p><strong>Notice:</strong> After submitting, look at the URL in your browser!</p>
</body>
</html>
Step 3: Test with Postman
Test 1: No Parameters
Test 2: With Parameters
Test 3: Using Params Tab (Cleaner way!)
What You Learned
Browser Test
Exercise 3: GET with Route Parameters
Concept: URL parameters as part of the path (not query string)
Step 1: Create the Application
Create folder lab03-route-params and create server.js:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3002;
app.use(express.static('public'));
// Sample data
const students = {
101: { id: 101, name: 'Alice Johnson', major: 'Computer Science', gpa: 3.8 },
102: { id: 102, name: 'Bob Smith', major: 'Information Systems', gpa: 3.5 },
103: { id: 103, name: 'Carol White', major: 'Data Science', gpa: 3.9 }
};
// Route parameter endpoint
app.get('/students/:studentId', (req, res) => {
const studentId = req.params.studentId;
const student = students[studentId];
if (student) {
res.json({
success: true,
data: student
});
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