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Simple HTTP server

In this tutorial, let's build a HTTP server that responds to all incoming HTTP requests with Hello World and a 200 OK HTTP status. We will be using the Deno Deploy playground to deploy and edit this script.

Step 1: Write the HTTP server script​

Before we start writing the actual script, let's go over some basics: Deno Deploy lets you listen for incoming HTTP requests using the same server side HTTP API as the Deno CLI. This API is rather low level though, so instead of using this API directly we'll use the high level HTTP API exposed by std/http.

This API revolves around the serve function.

import { serve } from "https://deno.land/std@0.140.0/http/server.ts";

serve((_req) => {/* .. */});

Note: the port number we listen on is not important, as Deno Deploy will automatically route requests from the outside world to whatever port we listen on.

The handler function is called with two arguments: a Request object, and a ConnInfo object. The Request object contains the request data, and the ConnInfo object contains information about the underlying connection, such as the origin IP address. You must return a Response object from the handler function.

Let's use this information to finish our hello world script:

import { serve } from "https://deno.land/std@0.140.0/http/server.ts";

serve((_req) => {
  return new Response("Hello World!", {
    headers: { "content-type": "text/plain" },
  });
});

Step 2: Deploy script to Deno Deploy​

  1. Create a new playground project by visiting https://dash.deno.com/new, and clicking the Play button under the Playground card.
  2. On the next screen, copy the code above into the editor on the left side of the screen.
  3. Press the Save & Deploy button on the right side of the top toolbar (or press Ctrl+S).

You can preview the result on the right side of the playground editor, in the preview pane.

You will see that if you change the script (for example Hello, World! -> Hello, Galaxy!) and then re-deploy, the preview will automatically update. The URL shown at the top of the preview pane can be used to visit the deployed page from anywhere.

Even in the playground editor, scripts are deployed worldwide across our entire global network. This guarantees fast and reliable performance, no matter the location of your users.