Express.js is a powerful Node.js web application framework that allows developers to build robust and scalable web applications. Material-UI, on the other hand, is a widely used React component library that implements Google’s Material Design guidelines. In this guide, we’ll explore how to combine the best of both worlds by integrating Material-UI components into an Express.js application.
Setting Up the Environment
Before we dive into building with Material-UI and Express.js, let’s make sure our development environment is properly set up. Ensure that Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) are installed on your machine. Create a new project directory and initialize a new Express.js project using the command npm init followed by npm install express. With the environment ready, we can move on to integrating Material-UI.
Installing Material-UI
To start using Material-UI in your Express.js project, you need to install the required packages. Open your project’s root directory and execute the command npm install @material-ui/core @emotion/react @emotion/styled to install the necessary dependencies. These packages will provide you with a vast array of customizable and reusable UI components.
Creating a Basic Material-UI Layout
Now that the dependencies are installed, let’s create a basic Material-UI layout in our project. Open your project’s entry file (usually app.js or index.js) and import the required modules with the following code:
Next, define a function to create a basic Material-UI layout using the makeStyles hook:
Now, you can use the createLayout function as middleware in your Express.js application to render the Material-UI layout. For example:
Customizing Material-UI Components
One of the great features of Material-UI is its ability to customize components to match your application’s branding. Material-UI provides various ways to override default styles, including using makeStyles, withStyles, or providing a custom theme. Let’s explore how to customize the app bar’s color in our previous example.
First, modify the createLayout function to accept a theme object as a parameter:
Next, update the app.get route handler to pass the theme object to the createLayout function:
With these changes, you can customize the app bar’s color by modifying the theme object in your Express.js application.
Integrating Material-UI Components
Material-UI provides a wide range of components, including buttons, inputs, cards, and more. To integrate these components into your project, simply import them and use them within your layout function. For example, to add a button to your layout, modify the createLayout function as follows:
With this modification, a Material-UI button will be displayed in the app bar.
Conclusion
In this beginner’s guide, we explored the integration of Material-UI with Express.js to create visually appealing web applications. We learned how to set up the development environment, install Material-UI packages, create a basic layout, customize components, and integrate them into an project. By leveraging the power of Express.js and the elegance of Material-UI, you can build stunning web applications with ease.
Now it’s your turn! Dive into the world of Material-UI and Express.js and start building your own beautiful and intuitive web applications today!
