The Backend Setup Every Developer Should Follow

Before you write your backend code, it is very important to have a clean and organized setup — one that helps you scale, debug, and collaborate better. There are 6 major layers of it. Routes Controllers Middleware Services Repositary Database Routes – The Entry Points Routes define which function should run when a specific request hits your server. They map HTTP methods and URLs to controllers. router.post("/signup", userController.signup); router.get("/profile", authMiddleware, userController.getProfile); Routes should be thin and clean. They don’t contain logic. They only decide where the request goes. Think of Routes as: The road map of your backend. Controllers – The Request Handlers Controllers handle: Reading request data (req.body, req.params, req.query) Sending response (res.json, res.status) Calling the service layer They should NOT: Contain business logic Talk directly to the database Hash passwords Calculate business rules Think of Controllers as: The receptionist. They rece