Node.js Hello World

The Node.js Hello World template is a minimal Node.js boilerplate for Vercel that returns a "Hello World" response to any HTTP request.

What is the Node.js Hello World template?

The Node.js Hello World template is a minimal Node.js application for Vercel that returns a "Hello World" response to every HTTP request. It lives in the vercel/examples GitHub repository, which Vercel describes as a curated collection of examples and solutions, and is tagged with the topics examples, nextjs, and vercel. The template has no framework dependencies, making it the smallest possible Node.js project that demonstrates how to deploy serverless code on Vercel.

Key Features

• One-click deploy — The README includes a Deploy with Vercel button that creates a new Vercel project from the repository URL without any local setup.
• Clone and deploy workflow — You can clone the repository, install the Vercel CLI globally with npm i -g vercel, and run vercel dev to launch the app locally.
• Minimal codebase — The entire example is built around a simple Node.js server that returns the text "Hello World", so there is little to read or modify.
• Official example — Hosted in the vercel/examples repository, which Vercel maintains as a pattern library for building your own applications.
• Serverless-ready — The Node.js code is structured to run on Vercel's platform, the same runtime used for serverless functions and API routes.

Who is it for?

• Developers new to Vercel: Deploy a live Hello World endpoint in one click to learn the deployment flow.
• Node.js developers: Use the template as a scaffold to experiment with custom responses or to confirm that a local Node.js app deploys to Vercel correctly.
• Educators and workshop leaders: Base a short lesson on serverless deployment around this minimal, dependency-free example.

What can you do with the Node.js Hello World template?

• Get a public URL instantly: Use the one-click deploy button and Vercel provisions a live URL that responds with "Hello World".
• Customize the response: Edit the Node.js source to return different text, JSON, or headers, then redeploy.
• Test local development: Run vercel dev after cloning the repository to preview the app on your local machine before deploying.

How does the template work?

The README documents two ways to use the repository. The first is a one-click deploy button that passes the repository URL to Vercel and immediately creates a project. The second is cloning the repository, installing the Vercel CLI, and running vercel dev in the project root. In both cases, Vercel's Node.js runtime executes the code and serves the "Hello World" response.

FAQ

Is the Node.js Hello World template free?

The source code is publicly available in the vercel/examples GitHub repository, so you can use it at no cost. Deploying it may incur Vercel's standard hosting fees, depending on your account plan and usage.

Does this template use Express.js?

The content of the README does not mention Express or any other framework. It describes the project as a simple Node.js example, so you should assume it is plain Node.js unless the source code states otherwise.

What does the template return?

Every HTTP request receives a response containing the text "Hello World". There is no routing, database, or external API involved.

Can I deploy this without the Vercel CLI?

Yes, the one-click deploy button handles everything through the Vercel dashboard. The CLI is only one of the two options described for using the template.