Learn LOOPBACK with Real Code Examples

LoopBack allows rapid API creation with minimal boilerplate using models and connectors.

Supports REST API generation from models and exposes CRUD endpoints automatically.

Provides connectors for SQL, NoSQL databases, SOAP, and REST services.

Includes strong authentication and authorization features.

Integrates with Node.js ecosystem and cloud platforms seamlessly.

Model-driven architecture

Repository and service layer abstraction

Built-in REST routing and CRUD endpoints

Middleware and interceptors for request/response handling

Authentication, authorization, and role-based access control

Model - represents data structure and CRUD operations

Repository - handles database interactions

Controller - handles REST endpoints

DataSource - defines connection to external services or databases

Middleware - intercepts and processes requests

src/models/ - application data models

src/repositories/ - database interaction logic

src/controllers/ - REST API endpoints

src/datasources/ - connections to DB or external services

src/middleware/ - request/response processing logic

Create models for your entities

Generate repositories for database operations

Create controllers to expose REST APIs

Configure data sources for databases or external services

Add authentication and middleware as needed

Beginner: simple CRUD REST API

Intermediate: API with authentication and role-based access

Advanced: multi-database microservice

Expert: integration with third-party services and event-driven architecture

Enterprise: large-scale API backend with microservices and connectors

LoopBack vs Express: LoopBack is model-driven with built-in APIs; Express is minimalistic

LoopBack vs NestJS: LoopBack focused on connectors and APIs; NestJS is more architectural with decorators

LoopBack vs Django: LoopBack is Node.js and JS-based; Django is Python-based full-stack

LoopBack vs Spring Boot: LoopBack is JavaScript/TypeScript; Spring Boot is Java-based enterprise framework

LoopBack vs Fastify: Fastify is lightweight and ultra-fast; LoopBack offers richer API tools and connectors

2013 - Initial release by StrongLoop

2015 - LoopBack 2.x with improved connectors

2016 - LoopBack 3.x with REST API generation

2018 - LoopBack 4.x with TypeScript and model-driven architecture

2025 - LoopBack 4 latest with extended connectors and cloud integration

Model - data structure with validations

Repository - database access layer

Controller - REST API endpoint handler

DataSource - connection to database or external service

Middleware - intercepts request/response flow