Object becomes undefined in node.js simple server

Question

Alright, so when I run this server:

var net = require('net');

var server = net.createServer(function (data) {
    console.log("Hello " + data.name);
});

server.listen(1337, '127.0.0.1');

and then browse this page on chrome (from a file, not a domain):

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <script type="text/javascript" src="jquery.js"></script>
        <script type="text/javascript">
            var data = new function(){
                this.name = "John";
            };

            $.post('http://127.0.0.1:1337/', data);
        </script>
    </head>
    <body>

    </body>
</html>

I get the following output on my server:

Hello undefinied

My question is, why does my data object's name become undefined when I send it to the server?

Edit: So I changed my server to this:

var http = require('http');

var server = http.createServer(function (data) {
    console.log("Hello " + data.name);
});

server.listen(1337, '127.0.0.1');

and changed my client's script to this:

var data = {
                name: "John"
            };
            $.post('http://127.0.0.1:1337/', data);

But I'm still getting the same error.

Are you even following the given examples? Quentin gave example: [Scroll to bottom and you will see a sample HTTP server](http://nodejs.org/) — Mustafa, Feb 03 '13 at 20:38
What makes you think the server connection callback will automatically give you the object you created and sent on the client? — the system, Feb 03 '13 at 20:39
@Mustafa What I want is to send a object to the server, and have the server print out a value of the object (in this case the name). I don't want to make text say hello world. — CyanPrime, Feb 03 '13 at 20:42
Are you aware of HTTP protocol? If you do, Just read the [HTTP docs of NodeJS](http://nodejs.org/api/http.html) — Mustafa, Feb 03 '13 at 20:44
If you're looking for magic, you won't find it. You need to study the API and write the appropriate code. — the system, Feb 03 '13 at 20:47

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

3

net.connection creates a plain TCP socket, not an HTTP server.

You want http.createServer instead, and the function it accepts as its argument doesn't get a simple object containing just the submitted data. You need to read the manual for the http module and see how to process a request object.

There is an example on the node.js homepage (just scroll down).

See also the API docs for request events and node.js Extracting POST data.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

Community

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answered Feb 03 '13 at 20:28

Quentin

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`data` *is* a simple object. The anonymous function is being invoked as a constructor with `new`. – the system Feb 03 '13 at 20:35
@thesystem — Which makes it an instance of the anonymous constructor function, not a simple object. – Quentin Feb 03 '13 at 20:36
Alright, I made the changes (as reflected in my edit), but I'm getting the same error. – CyanPrime Feb 03 '13 at 20:37
@thesystem — Although, having tested it, it looks like jQuery can cope with that, so I've deleted the first portion of the answer as it was a red herring. (It is decidedly atypical code though) – Quentin Feb 03 '13 at 20:38
@CyanPrime — All you've done is change to using `http` instead of `net`. That's the first step. Read the rest of the answer. – Quentin Feb 03 '13 at 20:39

Object becomes undefined in node.js simple server

1 Answers1