Learn FASTIFY with Real Code Examples

Fastify provides a fast and efficient server framework for Node.js, designed for high throughput.

Supports schema-based validation and serialization to improve performance and reliability.

Uses a plugin architecture to modularize code and extend functionality.

Offers built-in logging with Pino for performance monitoring.

Widely used for RESTful APIs, microservices, and high-performance backend applications.

Route handling with schema validation

Middleware-like hooks for requests/responses

Fast JSON serialization

Error handling and reply.send abstraction

Plugin encapsulation for modular apps

Fastify instance – core app object

Routes – handle HTTP methods with schemas

Hooks – functions executed during request lifecycle

Plugins – modular encapsulated features

Reply – response object with fast serialization

server.js - main server file

routes/ - route modules

plugins/ - reusable Fastify plugins

schemas/ - JSON schemas for validation

controllers/ - route handlers

Create Fastify app with `fastify()`

Define routes with method, URL, handler, and optional schema

Add plugins for authentication, database, or logging

Register hooks for lifecycle management

Start server with `fastify.listen(port)`

Beginner: simple GET/POST endpoints

Intermediate: RESTful API with multiple routes

Advanced: integrate authentication and database

Expert: build microservices with plugin encapsulation

Auditor: optimize server performance and schema validation

Fastify vs Express: Fastify is faster and schema-driven, Express is more mature and flexible

Fastify vs Koa: Fastify focuses on performance and plugins, Koa on simplicity

Fastify vs NestJS: NestJS is framework-oriented, Fastify is minimal yet high-performance

Fastify vs Hapi: Hapi is feature-rich, Fastify is lightweight and fast

Fastify vs Django/Flask: Node.js ecosystem vs Python ecosystem

2017 – Fastify initial release

2018 – Plugin encapsulation introduced

2019 – JSON schema validation enhancements

2020–2022 – TypeScript support added

2023–2025 – Performance optimizations and HTTP2 support

Fastify instance - core app object

Route - HTTP endpoint with schema and handler

Hook - middleware-like function in request lifecycle

Plugin - encapsulated functionality module

Reply - object to send responses