Express res.send() Method

Posted in Express Tutorial

Updated on Oct 28, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 226 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In the world of web development, sending responses to clients is a fundamental aspect of building dynamic applications.

Express.js, a powerful web application framework for Node.js, provides the res.send() method to streamline the process of sending various types of responses.

This guide explores the syntax, use cases, and best practices of the res.send() method in Express.js.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the res.send() method is straightforward:

syntax.js

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res.send([body])

body: The content you want to send in the response. It can be a string, Buffer, JSON object, HTML, or other valid response types.

❓ How res.send() Works

The res.send() method in Express.js is a versatile tool for sending responses to clients. It automatically sets the appropriate Content-Type header based on the provided content. If the content is a string, it assumes the Content-Type is 'text/html'.

example.js

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app.get('/hello', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello, Express!');
});

In this example, the route /hello responds with the string 'Hello, Express!', and the Content-Type is automatically set to 'text/html'.

📚 Use Cases

Sending Text Responses:

Use res.send() to easily send plain text responses.
example.js
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```
app.get('/text', (req, res) => {
  res.send('This is a plain text response.');
});
```
Sending JSON Responses:

Leverage res.send() for sending JSON responses, automatically setting the Content-Type to 'application/json'.
example.js
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```
app.get('/json', (req, res) => {
  const data = { message: 'Express is awesome!', status: 'success' };
  res.send(data);
});
```

🏆 Best Practices

Set Status Codes Explicitly:

Set status codes explicitly for better clarity and to ensure that clients interpret the response correctly.
example.js
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```
app.get('/error', (req, res) => {
  res.status(500).send('Internal Server Error');
});
```
Use res.json() for JSON Responses:

While res.send() can handle JSON responses, consider using res.json() for improved readability and to make your intentions clear.
example.js
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```
app.get('/json', (req, res) => {
  const data = { message: 'Express is awesome!', status: 'success' };
  res.json(data);
});
```

🎉 Conclusion

The res.send() method in Express.js simplifies the process of sending responses to clients. Whether you're sending plain text, HTML, or JSON, res.send() adapts to your content and handles the necessary details behind the scenes.

Now equipped with knowledge about the res.send() method, enhance your Express.js applications by crafting efficient and dynamic responses for your users!