Org Chart Web App with Node.js and Express

Build a Simple Org Chart Web App with Node.js and OrgChartJS

If you've ever needed to build an interactive organizational chart for the web, using Node.js with the OrgChartJS library is a powerful combination. In this quick tutorial, we'll create a simple org chart app that lets you view, add, edit, and delete team members — with data stored in a JSON file on the server.

Step 1: Set Up the Project

Create a new folder and add the following structure:

my-orgchart-app/
├── public/
│   ├── index.html
│   ├── json.json
│   └── script.js
└── server.js

Then initialize the project:

npm init -y
npm install express

Step 2: Create the Frontend

In public/index.html, we load the OrgChartJS library and our script:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8" />
  <title>Org Chart</title>
  <script src="https://cdn.balkan.app/orgchart.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <div id="tree"></div>
  <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In public/script.js, we initialize the chart and hook into the add, update, and remove events:

let chart = new OrgChart(document.getElementById("tree"), {
    nodeBinding: {
        field_0: "name",
        field_1: "title"
    },
    nodeMenu: {
        add: { text: "Add New" },
        edit: { text: "Edit" },
        remove: { text: "Remove" }
    }
});

chart.onUpdateNode(function(args) {
    fetch('/api/update', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
        body: JSON.stringify(args)
    });
});

chart.onRemoveNode(function(args) {
    fetch('/api/remove', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
        body: JSON.stringify({ args })
    });
});

chart.onAddNode(function(args) {
    fetch('/api/add', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
        body: JSON.stringify(args.data)
    });
});

fetch('json.json')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => chart.load(data));

The public/json.json file contains initial org chart data:

[
  { "id": 1, "name": "Amber McKenzie" },
  { "id": 2, "pid": 1, "name": "Ava Field" },
  { "id": 3, "pid": 1, "name": "Peter Stevens" }
]

Step 3: Create the Server

In server.js, set up the Express server and simple APIs for manipulating the JSON data:

const express = require('express');
const path = require('path');
const fs = require('fs');

const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;
const DATA_PATH = path.join(__dirname, 'public', 'json.json');

app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')));
app.use(express.json());

function readData() {
    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(DATA_PATH, 'utf8'));
}

function writeData(data) {
    fs.writeFileSync(DATA_PATH, JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
}

app.post('/api/update', (req, res) => {
    const updatedNode = req.body.newData;
    let data = readData();
    data = data.map(node => node.id === updatedNode.id ? { ...node, ...updatedNode } : node);
    writeData(data);
    res.json({ status: 'updated', node: updatedNode });
});

app.post('/api/remove', (req, res) => {
    const nodeId = req.body.args.id;
    const { newPidsForIds = {} } = req.body.args.newPidsAndStpidsForIds || {};
    let data = readData();

    data = data.map(node => (
        newPidsForIds.hasOwnProperty(node.id) ? { ...node, pid: newPidsForIds[node.id] } : node
    ));
    data = data.filter(node => node.id !== nodeId && node.pid !== nodeId);

    writeData(data);
    res.json({ status: 'removed', id: nodeId });
});

app.post('/api/add', (req, res) => {
    const newNode = req.body;
    let data = readData();
    data.push(newNode);
    writeData(data);
    res.json({ status: 'added', node: newNode });
});

app.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});

Step 4: Run the App

Start the server:

node server.js

Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser, and you'll see your org chart. You can now add, remove, and edit people — with changes saved back to the json.json file on disk.

This setup is great for prototyping org charts or integrating a visual hierarchy editor into internal tools. You can extend this further by adding a database, user authentication, or drag-and-drop features.

	Org Chart Web App with Node.js and Express						lightdark
Org Chart Web App with Node.js and Express Build a Simple Org Chart Web App with Node.js and OrgChartJS If you've ever needed to build an interactive organizational chart for the web, using Node.js with the OrgChartJS library is a powerful combination. In this quick tutorial, we'll create a simple org chart app that lets you view, add, edit, and delete team members — with data stored in a JSON file on the server. Step 1: Set Up the Project Create a new folder and add the following structure: `my-orgchart-app/ ├── public/ │ ├── index.html │ ├── json.json │ └── script.js └── server.js` Then initialize the project: `npm init -y npm install express` Step 2: Create the Frontend In `public/index.html`, we load the OrgChartJS library and our script: `<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8" /> <title>Org Chart</title> <script src="https://cdn.balkan.app/orgchart.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="tree"></div> <script src="script.js"></script> </body> </html>` In `public/script.js`, we initialize the chart and hook into the add, update, and remove events: let chart = new OrgChart(document.getElementById("tree"), { nodeBinding: { field_0: "name", field_1: "title" }, nodeMenu: { add: { text: "Add New" }, edit: { text: "Edit" }, remove: { text: "Remove" } } }); chart.onUpdateNode(function(args) { fetch('/api/update', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify(args) }); }); chart.onRemoveNode(function(args) { fetch('/api/remove', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify({ args }) }); }); chart.onAddNode(function(args) { fetch('/api/add', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify(args.data) }); }); fetch('json.json') .then(response => response.json()) .then(data => chart.load(data)); The `public/json.json` file contains initial org chart data: `[ { "id": 1, "name": "Amber McKenzie" }, { "id": 2, "pid": 1, "name": "Ava Field" }, { "id": 3, "pid": 1, "name": "Peter Stevens" } ]` Step 3: Create the Server In `server.js`, set up the Express server and simple APIs for manipulating the JSON data: const express = require('express'); const path = require('path'); const fs = require('fs'); const app = express(); const PORT = 3000; const DATA_PATH = path.join(__dirname, 'public', 'json.json'); app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public'))); app.use(express.json()); function readData() { return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(DATA_PATH, 'utf8')); } function writeData(data) { fs.writeFileSync(DATA_PATH, JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)); } app.post('/api/update', (req, res) => { const updatedNode = req.body.newData; let data = readData(); data = data.map(node => node.id === updatedNode.id ? { ...node, ...updatedNode } : node); writeData(data); res.json({ status: 'updated', node: updatedNode }); }); app.post('/api/remove', (req, res) => { const nodeId = req.body.args.id; const { newPidsForIds = {} } = req.body.args.newPidsAndStpidsForIds \|\| {}; let data = readData(); data = data.map(node => ( newPidsForIds.hasOwnProperty(node.id) ? { ...node, pid: newPidsForIds[node.id] } : node )); data = data.filter(node => node.id !== nodeId && node.pid !== nodeId); writeData(data); res.json({ status: 'removed', id: nodeId }); }); app.post('/api/add', (req, res) => { const newNode = req.body; let data = readData(); data.push(newNode); writeData(data); res.json({ status: 'added', node: newNode }); }); app.listen(PORT, () => { console.log(`Server running at http://localhost:${PORT}`); }); Step 4: Run the App Start the server: `node server.js` Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser, and you'll see your org chart. You can now add, remove, and edit people — with changes saved back to the `json.json` file on disk. This setup is great for prototyping org charts or integrating a visual hierarchy editor into internal tools. You can extend this further by adding a database, user authentication, or drag-and-drop features. Author: BALKAN App Add public comment... Introducing PowerPoint Preview in OrgChart JS Change The Order in the OrgChart by Drag and Drop (Simple Example) Highlight to the root on search in OrgChart JS OrgChart JS Now Supports Export to PowerPoint OrgChart JS Now Supports Export to PowerPoint Dynamically changing an orgchart field Project Timeline Chart OrgChart Conditional Node Size Add CSS on Export in OrgChart JS OrgChart JS Angular Templates Loading on Demand with Family Tree JS 2 Dynamic Colors Organizational Chart Charlie Chaplin Family Tree Introducing Family Tree JS 2: The Next Generation is Here! 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Org Chart Web App with Node.js and Express

Org Chart Web App with Node.js and Express

Step 1: Set Up the Project

Step 2: Create the Frontend

Step 3: Create the Server

Step 4: Run the App

Introducing PowerPoint Preview in OrgChart JS

Change The Order in the OrgChart by Drag and Drop (Simple Example)

Highlight to the root on search in OrgChart JS

OrgChart JS Now Supports Export to PowerPoint

OrgChart JS Now Supports Export to PowerPoint

Dynamically changing an orgchart field

Project Timeline Chart

OrgChart Conditional Node Size

Add CSS on Export in OrgChart JS

OrgChart JS Angular Templates

Loading on Demand with Family Tree JS 2

Dynamic Colors Organizational Chart

Charlie Chaplin Family Tree

Introducing Family Tree JS 2: The Next Generation is Here!

React OrgChart

Create and run an OrgChart Single Page Application with Node.js – beginner's guide.

Export and Import Org Chart to Excel

Adding Custom HTML Elements into OrgChart JS container

Еasily Create a Template in an OrgChart

Node Swapping in an Organizational Chart

Vladimir Putin Family Tree

Add Field Data in Expand button with OrgChart JS

Bill Gates Family Tree

Create a Tooltip for a ForeignObject Element Hover in OrgChart JS

Custom Aligning Nodes in a JavaScript Organizational Chart

Center and Zoom on Search Click in OrgChart JS

Create Multiline Group Titles in OrgChart JS

Adding Arrows in OrgChart JS Links

Show a Custom Edit Form for a node in OrgChart JS

Jeff Bezos Family Tree

How to Add Material Icons in OrgChart JS

Leonardo DiCaprio Family Tree

Visualizing Dual Reporting Structures with OrgChart JS

Exporting OrgChart JS to A4 PDF: A Step-by-Step Guide

Genghis Khan Family Tree: The Lineage of the Great Khan

OrgChart JS now support Export to Visio

New Export Option: childLevels in OrgChart JS

Elon Musk Family Tree

AI for OrgChart JS: Revolutionizing Organization Charts

Family Tree JS 2 (Preview)

d3 org chart

Our Family Tree App is Now on Android!

Why BALKAN OrgChart JS is the Best Organizational Chart Library

How to Create a JavaScript Flow Chart

How to Add an Organizational Chart to a Mobile Application

How to Create a JavaScript Organizational Chart

OrgChart JS Now Supports PDF Export Per Team

Introducing Family Tree App

Donald Trump Family Tree

Discover Your Roots: Build Your Family Tree with BALKAN App

JavaScript Organization Chart

Instantly create interactive, intuitive flowcharts in seconds

JavaScript Hierarchy Chart

Mermaid js alternative

Create Flowcharts in Seconds with Flow Chart JS: Your New Favorite JavaScript Library

Customizing Filter UI - Code of The Week

Zoom Slider - Code of The Week

Bookmarks - Code of The Week

Customizing Search Results - Code of The Week

Introducing Undo Redo - Code Of The Week

Price adjustment announcement

The price will increase for new customers

Buttons for adding family members to a family tree - Code of The Week

Levels - Code of The Week

Change node color from a button in the Edit Form - Code of The Week

Filter and Highlight Nodes - Code of The Week

Up Expanding - Code Of The Week

Programmatically move the chart - Code of The Week

Siblings in Family Tree JS - Code of The Week

Purple template - Code of The Week

Assistant With Children - Code of The Week

Conditional Layout - Code of The Week

Conditional Color - Code of the Week

Sriniz Family Tree Template - Code of The Week