How do I separate concerns in Node.js?
Routes handle routing, controllers handle logic, models handle data. Do not put everything in one file. Separation keeps each piece focused and testable, and makes the codebase easier to maintain as it grows.
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More FAQs in Node.js Project Structure Best Practices for Clean Code
Group files by feature not file type, separate routes, controllers, and models, use a config folder for configuration, centralize shared middleware, put helpers in utils, and keep the entry point thin by putting real logic in controllers and services.
Because it keeps related code together. A 'user' feature has its routes, controllers, and models in one place, so you find everything about it quickly. Grouping by file type scatters related code across many folders.
In a config folder, loaded from environment variables. Database URLs, JWT secrets, and API keys live here, not scattered across code. This makes environments easy to switch and keeps secrets out of code.
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