Express router.METHOD() Method

Posted in Express Tutorial

Updated on Oct 28, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 77 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In Express.js, the router.METHOD() method is a fundamental feature that allows you to handle different HTTP methods on specific routes using the Express Router.

This guide explores the syntax, usage, and practical examples of router.METHOD(), offering insights into how it can be leveraged to create modular and organized route handling in your Express applications.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the router.METHOD() method is as follows:

syntax.js

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router.METHOD(path, callback)

METHOD: Represents an HTTP method such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.
path: A string representing the route or path for which the specified HTTP method is being handled.
callback: The route handler function that processes requests for the specified method and route.

❓ How router.METHOD() Works

Express Router's router.METHOD() allows you to define route handlers for specific HTTP methods on a given path. This facilitates a cleaner and more organized approach to handling different types of requests.

example.js

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const express = require('express');
const router = express.Router();

router.get('/example', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Handled a GET request at /example');
});

router.post('/example', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Handled a POST request at /example');
});

module.exports = router;

In this example, the router handles both GET and POST requests for the '/example' route.

📚 Use Cases

Separation of Concerns:

Organize your route handling by separating different HTTP methods into distinct sections of your application, improving code readability and maintainability.

example.js

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// routes/users.js
const express = require('express');
const router = express.Router();

router.get('/', (req, res) => {
  // Logic for retrieving user data
  res.send('List of users');
});

router.post('/', (req, res) => {
  // Logic for creating a new user
  res.send('User created successfully');
});

module.exports = router;

Method-Specific Middleware:

Apply middleware functions specific to certain HTTP methods to enhance route handling flexibility.
example.js
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```
router.post('/login', validateLoginInput, (req, res) => {
  // Logic for handling login
  res.send('Login successful');
});
```
In this example, validateLoginInput is a middleware function applied only to POST requests to /login.

🏆 Best Practices

Code Organization:

Organize your routes by method and path, keeping related functionality together for better maintainability.

example.js

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// routes/users.js
const express = require('express');
const router = express.Router();

router.get('/', (req, res) => {
  // Logic for retrieving user data
  res.send('List of users');
});

router.post('/', (req, res) => {
  // Logic for creating a new user
  res.send('User created successfully');
});

module.exports = router;

Method-Specific Middleware:

Leverage method-specific middleware to handle tasks like validation or authentication tailored to the specific HTTP method.
example.js
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```
router.post('/create', validateInput, authenticateUser, (req, res) => {
  // Logic for creating a resource
  res.send('Resource created successfully');
});
```

🎉 Conclusion

The router.METHOD() method in Express.js provides a powerful mechanism for handling different HTTP methods within your application's routes. By adopting this approach, you can achieve a modular and organized code structure, making your Express applications more scalable and maintainable.

Now, armed with knowledge about router.METHOD(), take advantage of Express Router to streamline your route handling and build robust web applications!