> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mergent.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Express

> Learn how to create your first task using Node.js and Express

<Snippet file="quickstart/1_define_task.mdx" />

```js server.js
const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");

const app = express();
app.use(bodyParser.json());

app.post("/api/tasks", async (req, res) => {
  try {
    await performTask(req);
    // task was successful, respond with 200
    res.status(200).send("");
  } catch (err) {
    // task failed, respond with 500 so Mergent will retry
    res.status(500).send({ error: err });
  }
});

async function performTask(req) {
  // This is where you'll perform your task.
  // For now, we'll just log it.
  console.log("Performing task: ", req.body);
}

app.listen(3000, () => console.log("🚀 on :3000"));
```

<Snippet file="callout_params_api_reference.mdx" />

<Snippet file="quickstart/2_get_handler_url.mdx" />

<Snippet file="quickstart/3_create_first_task.mdx" />

<Snippet file="quickstart/4_next_steps.mdx" />

<AccordionGroup>
  <Snippet file="quickstart/accordion_use_cron_dashboard.mdx" />

  <Snippet file="quickstart/accordion_create_task_sdk_js.mdx" />

  <Snippet file="quickstart/accordion_create_task_node_fetch.mdx" />
</AccordionGroup>

<Snippet file="learn_more.mdx" />