Build a Full Stack React CRUD App with Node.js, Express & MySQL: Step-by-Step Guide

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Overview: Modern CRUD Application with React and Node.js

Looking to build a practical, modern web application? In this guide, you’ll learn how to develop a full-stack JavaScript application with a React CRUD frontend, a Node.js Express backend and a MySQL database. Using tools like Sequelize ORM, Axios for HTTP requests and TailwindCSS for styling, you’ll implement a streamlined tutorials management system, ideal for learning RESTful API development and client-server integration.

Architecture and Technology Stack

Your application follows a straightforward client-server architecture:

• Backend: Node.js with Express handles RESTful API endpoints and communicates with MySQL through Sequelize ORM.
• Frontend: React provides the user interface, connects to backend endpoints using Axios, and leverages React Router for seamless navigation.

This architecture is robust and aligns with current standards for full stack JavaScript development, ensuring scalability and maintainability.

Backend Setup: Express & MySQL Integration

Start by initializing a Node.js project. Essential packages include express (server creation), sequelize (ORM for MySQL), mysql2 (database driver) and cors (cross-origin requests). To keep your code modern, enable ESModule support.

The next step is database setup. Deploy MySQL locally (Docker is recommended for quick setup) and define your schema using Sequelize. Here, a Tutorial model is created, specifying fields for id, title, description and publish status.

RESTful routes are then implemented in Express for standard CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, along with endpoints for searching and filtering. The server is launched on a designated port, enabling CORS and syncing models for immediate API readiness, a foundational approach in Node.js Express RESTful development.

Frontend Implementation: React, Axios & TailwindCSS

On the frontend, structure your project by separating services and modules for clarity and scalability. Scaffold your application using Vite (known for rapid React app initialization). Install required dependencies: react-router-dom for navigation, axios for HTTP client interoperability and tailwindcss for fast, responsive UI development.

Major UI Components:

• AddTutorial: Simple form for creating new tutorials.
• TutorialsList: Search, browse and manage tutorials with bulk delete and details preview.
• Tutorial: Detail view for editing, updating status or deleting a specific tutorial.

For backend integration, a dedicated data service module manages all Axios HTTP requests. This encapsulates logic for CRUD operations and search functionality, keeping component code clean and maintainable. The app’s navigation is streamlined, making use of React Router for single-page application patterns.

Furthermore, applying TailwindCSS makes the application visually consistent and responsive across devices, without the overhead of maintaining custom CSS. Setup is fast and utility classes ensure a clean, maintainable UI layer.

Efficient RESTful Communication with Axios

Axios is used to bridge the React frontend and Express backend, offering a promise-based HTTP interface for CRUD actions. Abstraction of these requests into reusable service functions enhances code clarity and enables easy future expansion, a best practice for full stack JavaScript applications.

Running the Application

To run the stack locally:

• Start the Express server (default: http://localhost:8080).
• Run the React app (default: http://localhost:5173). Verify frontend-backend connectivity and begin using your complete tutorials CRUD system.

Conclusion: Foundation for Scalable Full Stack Projects

This project delivers a practical, end-to-end example of integrating React, Node.js, Express and MySQL. The architecture enables rapid prototyping and offers a strong foundation for more advanced full stack JavaScript solutions. Features like RESTful API communication, ORM usage and modern UI practices prepare developers for today’s professional workflows.

Find out more about advanced implementation details and tips for production readiness in the full article:

https://www.corbado.com/blog/react-express-crud-app-mysql