The answer
After. Learn Node.js core first, including the built-in http module, so you understand what Express does for you. Then Express becomes much easier and more meaningful.
A Realistic Node.js Learning Roadmap for Absolute Beginners
Should I learn Express before or after Node.js core?
More FAQs in A Realistic Node.js Learning Roadmap for Absolute Beginners
JavaScript fundamentals. Functions, closures, promises, async/await, and ES modules. Node.js is JavaScript, so weak fundamentals make everything harder.
After you can build a basic Express API. Databases are how your API stores data, so learning them after basic API building is the natural sequence.
After you have a working app with auth and a database. Deployment is the final step of a real project, not a standalone topic to learn in isolation.
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