Currency Converter Web Application

A modern, responsive currency converter web application built with React and Node.js/Express.

Features

• 💱 Real-time currency conversion
• 🌍 Support for 160+ currencies
• 🎨 Beautiful, modern UI with gradient design
• 📱 Fully responsive design
• ⚡ Fast and efficient API calls
• 🔄 Swap currencies with one click
• 📊 Live exchange rates

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm or yarn

Installation

1. Install Server Dependencies

cd server
npm install

2. Install Client Dependencies

cd ../client
npm install

Running the Application

Start the Server

Open a terminal and run:

cd server
npm start

The server will start on http://localhost:5000

For development with auto-reload:

npm run dev

Start the Client

Open another terminal and run:

cd client
npm start

The client will start on http://localhost:3000 and automatically open in your browser.

API Endpoints

• GET /api/convert?from=USD&to=EUR&amount=100 - Convert currency
• GET /api/currencies - Get all available currencies
• GET /api/health - Health check endpoint

Project Structure

currency_app/
├── client/          # React frontend
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── pages/
│   │   │   ├── MainPage.js    # Main converter component
│   │   │   └── MainPage.css   # Component styles
│   │   ├── App.js
│   │   └── index.js
│   └── package.json
└── server/          # Express backend
    ├── src/
    │   └── index.js # Server and API routes
    └── package.json

Technologies Used

• Frontend: React 19, Axios, CSS3
• Backend: Node.js, Express, Axios
• API: ExchangeRate-API (free, no API key required)

Usage

1. Enter the amount you want to convert
2. Select the source currency (From)
3. Select the target currency (To)
4. The conversion happens automatically
5. Click the swap button (⇄) to swap currencies

Notes

• The application uses a free currency API that doesn't require an API key
• Exchange rates are updated in real-time
• The server must be running for the client to work properly

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Make sure both server and client are running
2. Check that the server is running on port 5000
3. Verify all dependencies are installed
4. Check the browser console for any errors