In the world of web development, few projects are as foundational—and deceptively powerful—as the classic To-Do application. At first glance, it may seem like a simple list manager. But under the hood, it’s a gateway to mastering CRUD operations, RESTful routing, server-client architecture, and database integration. For backend developers and educators alike, building a To-Do app with Node.js offers a clean, practical way to teach and reinforce essential concepts.
This tutorial walks you through creating a full-stack To-Do application using Node.js, Express, MongoDB, and a templating engine like EJS. You’ll learn how to structure a backend server, define data models, handle user input, and render dynamic views—all while keeping the codebase modular and maintainable. Whether you’re a beginner looking to solidify your understanding of server-side development or an educator crafting content for learners, this project provides a perfect balance of simplicity and depth.
Node.js is particularly well-suited for this kind of application. Its event-driven, non-blocking architecture makes it lightweight and efficient, while Express simplifies routing and middleware management. MongoDB, paired with Mongoose, offers a flexible schema-less database that integrates seamlessly with Node.js, allowing you to store and retrieve tasks with minimal overhead. Together, these technologies form a powerful stack that’s widely used in production environments, making your learning directly applicable to real-world scenarios.
The application will support basic CRUD functionality: users can create new tasks, view existing ones, mark them as complete, and delete them. Each of these operations will be handled through Express routes and backed by MongoDB queries. You’ll also learn how to use middleware like body-parser to handle form submissions, and how to use EJS to dynamically render task lists based on database content.
Beyond the technical implementation, this project encourages best practices in code organization and modular design. You’ll separate concerns by using models for data, routes for logic, and views for presentation. This not only makes the code easier to read and maintain but also prepares you for scaling the application or integrating it into larger systems.
Once the core functionality is in place, the app becomes a canvas for experimentation. You can add user authentication, task prioritization, due dates, or even a REST API for frontend frameworks like React or Vue. Deployment is also straightforward—platforms like Render, Vercel, or DigitalOcean offer quick ways to get your app online and share it with others.
Ultimately, building a To-Do app with Node.js is more than just checking off tasks—it’s about checking off key learning milestones. You’ll gain confidence in backend development, understand how servers and databases interact, and create a tangible product that you can extend, deploy, and teach. Whether you’re coding for yourself or crafting content for others, this project is a smart, scalable starting point.
Project Structure
todo-app/
├── views/ # EJS templates
├── public/ # Static assets (CSS, JS)
├── models/ # Mongoose schemas
├── routes/ # Express route handlers
├── index.js # Entry point
└── package.json
Setup & Dependencies
const express = require(‘express’);
const mongoose = require(‘mongoose’);
const bodyParser = require(‘body-parser’);
const app = express();
mongoose.connect(‘mongodb://localhost:27017/todoDB’);
app.set(‘view engine’, ‘ejs’);
app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
app.use(express.static(‘public’));
const itemSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ name: String });
const Item = mongoose.model(‘Item’, itemSchema);
app.get(‘/’, async (req, res) => {
const items = await Item.find();
res.render(‘list’, { todoItems: items });
});
app.post(‘/’, async (req, res) => {
const newItem = new Item({ name: req.body.newItem });
await newItem.save();
res.redirect(‘/’);
});
app.post(‘/delete’, async (req, res) => {
await Item.findByIdAndRemove(req.body.checkbox);
res.redirect(‘/’);
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log(‘Server running on port 3000’));
Frontend Template (views/list.ejs)
<form action="/" method="POST">
<input type="text" name="newItem" autocomplete="off" />
<button type="submit">Add</button>
</form>
<ul>
<% todoItems.forEach(item => { %>
<li>
<form action="/delete" method="POST">
<input type="checkbox" name="checkbox" value="<%= item._id %>" onChange="this.form.submit()" />
<%= item.name %>
</form>
</li>
<% }) %>
</ul>