Can't figure out correct way to use body-parser

Question

I am writing the backend of a simple app using node and express. This is how I have structured my code:

app.js

var express = require("express");
var bodyParser = require("body-parser");
var app = express();
app.use(bodyParser.json());
var router = require('./router')(app);

app.listen(80,function(){
    console.log("Started on PORT 80");
})
module.exports = app;

Under subdirectory /router I have index.js

module.exports = function (app) {
    app.use('/login', require('./routes/login'));
};

Under /router/routes I have login.js

var express = require('express');
var router = express.Router();
router.post('/', function(req, res){
    var user = req.body.user;
    console.log("Handler for /login called");
    console.log("The username is: "+ user);
});
module.exports = router;

I am testing using

curl -X POST -d '{"user":"alpha", "password":"beta"}' http:my-app-ip/login --header "Content-Type:application/json"

The console prints The username is: undefined instead of the value for key user.

What am i doing wrong?

Did you try moving all of the cURL options *before* the URL? I'm wondering if the header isn't being set ... — mscdex, May 19 '15 at 07:25

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 18 '15 at 00:04

1

You can use util.inspect() to get a string representation of the value, or use console.dir(req.body) which outputs util.inspect(req.body) to stdout.

answered May 18 '15 at 00:04

mscdex

104,356
15
192
153

console.dir worked. It now prints { user: 'alpha', password: 'beta} So the app is getting the correct text. But the body parser still doesnt work. I have modified the code to add the lines var user = req.body.user; console.log(user) but it prints undefined – mahdt May 19 '15 at 06:53
I have edited my original question to reflect the code changes and the current output. When I had the same code all in one file, it worked fine. But when I split it like this the body parser stopped working. – mahdt May 19 '15 at 07:01

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:21

0

You are doing nothing wrong. The [Object object] you see is due to the console.log.

Try this: console.log(req.body.user). My guess is that you'll see the correct output.

Have a look to this question though

edited May 23 '17 at 12:21

Community

1
1

answered May 17 '15 at 23:48

javierfdezg

2,087
1
22
31

1

didn't work. This is what i was trying before. It prints undefined when i do this – mahdt May 19 '15 at 06:56

Can't figure out correct way to use body-parser

2 Answers2