Node.js Connect Mysql with Node app

Node.js is a powerful platform for building server-side applications, and MySQL is a widely used relational database. Connecting these two can enable developers to build robust, data-driven applications.

In this article, we’ll explore how to connect a Node.js application with a MySQL database, covering the necessary setup, configuration, and basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js: Download and install from nodejs.org.
• MySQL: Download and install from mysql.com.
• MySQL Workbench (optional): A GUI tool for MySQL, helpful for database management

Approach

To Connect MySQL with the Node App we will be using the mysql npm package. After installing, configure the database credentials and establish the connection. Connect the database, handle errors perform queries to interact with the MySQL database using the Node App.

Steps to Connect MySQL with Node App

Step 1: Open your terminal and create a new directory for your project.

mkdir node-mysql-app
cd node-mysql-app

Step 2: Initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

Step 3: Install MySQL Package

Install the mysql package, which is a Node.js driver for MySQL:

npm install mysql

Step 4: The updated dependencies in package.json file will look like

"dependencies": {
    "mysql": "^2.18.1"
}

Step 5: Database Connection

Create a Javascript file named server.js in the root of the project folder. Code for creating connection is as given below:

// Filename - server.js

// importing mysql module
const mysql = require('mysql');

// configurations for creating mysql connection
const connection = mysql.createConnection({
    host: 'localhost',     // host for connection
    port: 3306,            // default port for mysql is 3306
    database: 'test',      // database from which we want to connect our node application
    user: 'root',          // username of the mysql connection
    password: 'root'       // password of the mysql connection
});

// executing connection
connection.connect(function(err) {
    if (err) {
        console.log("error occurred while connecting");
    } else {
        console.log("connection created with mysql successfully");
    }
});

Run the file server.js with following command as:

node server.js

Conclusion

Connecting Node.js with MySQL is straightforward and powerful, enabling developers to build data-driven applications with ease. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up a basic Node.js application that interacts with a MySQL database, performing essential CRUD operations. This foundation can be expanded to suit more complex application requirements, including advanced querying, data validation, and secure authentication.