To create a secure web server in Node.js without third-party libraries, the built-in https module must be used. This module provides the functionality for creating an HTTPS server, which is essentially an HTTP server operating over a TLS/SSL encrypted connection. The https.createServer() method is the standard way to instantiate such a server, requiring SSL certificate and key files. This directly fulfills the requirement for a "secure web server" using the native Node.js API.

B. const server =require(‘secure-server’);

secure-server is not a core Node.js module. Requiring it would necessitate installing a third-party library, which is explicitly forbidden by the question.

C. const tls = require(‘tls’);

The tls module provides the underlying security protocol (TLS/SSL) but is not the high-level API for creating a secure web (HTTP) server.

D. const http =require(‘http’);

The http module is used to create an unencrypted, insecure web server. This directly contradicts the requirement for a "secure" server.

1. Node.js v18.18.0 Documentation

HTTPS Module: "The https module provides an implementation of the TLS/SSL protocol for Node.js. The API of https is very similar to that of http." The documentation further provides a direct example: const https = require('node:https'); ... https.createServer(options

(req

res) => { ... });

Source: Official Node.js Documentation

https module API. Section: https.createServer(options[

requestListener]).

2. Node.js v18.18.0 Documentation

HTTP Module: "To use the HTTP server and client

one must require('node:http')." This module is explicitly for the unencrypted HTTP protocol.

Source: Official Node.js Documentation

http module API.

3. Node.js v18.18.0 Documentation

TLS (Transport Layer Security) Module: "The node:tls module provides an implementation of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocols... It provides a stream-based API for secure communication." This shows it is a lower-level protocol implementation

not the specific API for an HTTPS server.

Source: Official Node.js Documentation

tls module API.