Learn NESTJS with Real Code Examples

NestJS leverages TypeScript to provide strong typing and modern OOP/FP paradigms for Node.js backend development.

It uses the modular architecture inspired by Angular, with controllers, providers, and modules.

Supports REST APIs, GraphQL, WebSockets, microservices, and more.

Encourages best practices like dependency injection, middleware, and exception handling.

Widely used for enterprise-grade Node.js applications and complex backend systems.

Modules, controllers, and providers for structured development

Decorators for routing, DI, and metadata

Exception filters and pipes for validation and error handling

Middleware, guards, and interceptors for request/response management

Integration with databases via TypeORM, Prisma, and Mongoose

Modules encapsulate features

Controllers handle routes

Providers implement business logic

Decorators annotate classes/methods with metadata

Dependency Injection manages service instantiation

src/ - source code

src/app.module.ts - root module

src/app.controller.ts - root controller

src/app.service.ts - root service

main.ts - bootstrap file

Generate modules, controllers, and services via CLI

Implement routing and business logic

Integrate databases, middleware, and guards

Test endpoints and services

Deploy backend using Node.js or Docker

Beginner: simple REST API

Intermediate: CRUD application with database

Advanced: GraphQL API with authentication

Expert: microservices architecture with messaging

Architect: enterprise-grade backend with scalability and testing

NestJS vs Express: structured + TypeScript vs minimalistic JS

NestJS vs Fastify: scalable + modular vs lightweight performance

NestJS vs Blazor: backend API vs full-stack C# SPA

NestJS vs Spring Boot: Node.js + TypeScript vs Java backend

NestJS vs Koa: DI and modules vs minimalistic middleware

2017 – NestJS created by Kamil Myśliwiec

2018 – Nest CLI released, TypeScript-first adoption

2019–2020 – GraphQL, WebSocket, microservice support added

2021–2023 – Stability and adoption increase

2024–2025 – Continuous feature expansion and community growth

Module: encapsulates related features

Controller: handles incoming requests

Provider: service or logic layer

Decorator: metadata for classes/methods

Pipe: request transformation/validation