Learn ROCKET with Real Code Examples

Rocket leverages Rust's type system to provide compile-time safety for routes, request guards, and data handling.

It offers a simple and expressive API for building web applications with minimal boilerplate.

Supports asynchronous request handling with Rust's async ecosystem.

Includes features like templating, database integration, JSON handling, and state management.

Highly modular, allowing integration with various databases, middleware, and authentication libraries.

Routing macros for concise endpoint definitions

State management across requests

Database integration via Diesel, SQLx, or other ORMs

Custom request guards for authentication/validation

Middleware via Fairings and Guards

Route - defines endpoint URL and handler function

Request Guard - validates or parses incoming requests

Responder - converts Rust types into HTTP responses

Fairing - hook for requests/responses lifecycle

State - shared data accessible in request handlers

src/main.rs - main entry point

src/routes/ - route handler modules

src/models/ - data and ORM models

templates/ - HTML or Tera/Handlebars templates

Cargo.toml - project and dependency configuration

Define routes using Rocket macros

Create request guards for input validation

Implement handlers for business logic

Connect to database using Diesel/SQLx

Test application locally and deploy

Beginner: simple GET/POST API endpoints

Intermediate: CRUD API with database integration

Advanced: REST API with authentication and async handlers

Expert: high-performance microservices using Rocket async

Enterprise: secure fintech backend with compile-time guarantees

Rocket vs Actix: Rocket simpler syntax, Actix faster with more async control

Rocket vs Axum: Rocket type-safe macros, Axum fully async and modular

Rocket vs Django: Rust safety and performance vs Python ecosystem

Rocket vs Express.js: Rocket compiled and type-safe, Express lightweight JS

Rocket vs Spring Boot: Rocket lightweight and Rust-native, Spring Boot enterprise Java

2016 - Initial release by Sergio Benitez

2017 - Rocket 0.3 with stable routing and macros

2018 - Rocket 0.4 introducing async support (nightly Rust)

2020 - Rocket 0.5 with stable async API and modern Rust support

2025 - Rocket 0.6+ with full async support and ecosystem growth

Route - endpoint URL mapped to handler function

Request Guard - validates incoming requests

Responder - converts data to HTTP response

Fairing - lifecycle hook for requests/responses

State - shared application data accessible in handlers