5 One-Line Node.js Tricks Every Developer Should Know

Node.js is awesome because it lets us do so much with so little code. Sometimes, a single line is all you need to get the job done! In this post, I'll share five useful one-liners that can make your coding life easier. Each one comes with a simple example so you can see it in action. Let's dive in! 🚀

1. Run a Simple HTTP Server

Want to spin up a quick server without installing extra packages? Here's how:

require('http').createServer((_, res) => res.end('Hello World')).listen(3000);

Example:

Save this in a file like server.js and run it with:

node server.js

Now, open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000/, and you'll see "Hello World" displayed. 🎉

2. Get a Random Number Between Two Values

Need a random number? This one-liner does the trick:

const random = (min, max) => Math.random() * (max - min) + min;

Example:

console.log(random(10, 20)); // Outputs a random number between 10 and 20

Useful for generating random delays, test data, or game mechanics.

3. Remove Duplicates from an Array

Got an array with duplicates? Here's a quick way to filter them out:

const unique = (arr) => [...new Set(arr)];

Example:

console.log(unique([1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5])); // Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

No loops needed, just pure JavaScript magic! ✨

4. Check If an Object Is Empty

Want to check if an object has no keys? This will do it:

const isEmpty = (obj) => Object.keys(obj).length === 0;

Example:

console.log(isEmpty({})); // true
console.log(isEmpty({ name: 'Node.js' })); // false

Great for validating API responses or checking if a user submitted an empty form.

5. Read a File in One Line

Need to quickly read a file? Try this:

require('fs').readFileSync('file.txt', 'utf8');

Example:

Create a file.txt with some text, then run:

const data = require('fs').readFileSync('file.txt', 'utf8');
console.log(data); // Outputs the file content

Perfect for reading config files or small data files quickly.

Final Thoughts

These one-liners might be small, but they are powerful! Whether you're building a quick server, working with arrays, or handling files, these tricks can save you time and keep your code clean.