Express res.clearCookie() Method

Posted in Express Tutorial

Updated on Feb 18, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 44 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

Cookies play a crucial role in web development, enabling the storage of user-specific information on the client side. In Express.js, the res.clearCookie() method provides a way to efficiently manage cookies.

This guide explores the syntax, use cases, and best practices for utilizing res.clearCookie() in your Express.js applications.

💡 Syntax

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

syntax.js

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res.clearCookie(name, [options])

name: The name of the cookie to be cleared.
options: An optional object containing additional parameters like the cookie's domain, path, etc.

❓ How res.clearCookie() Works

The res.clearCookie() method is particularly useful when you need to remove a cookie previously set in the client's browser.

example.js

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app.get('/logout', (req, res) => {
  // Clear the 'userToken' cookie upon logout
  res.clearCookie('userToken');
  res.send('Logged out successfully');
});

In this example, the /logout route uses res.clearCookie() to delete the 'userToken' cookie when a user logs out.

📚 Use Cases

User Logout:

Use res.clearCookie() in scenarios where you want to clear multiple cookies, providing a clean logout experience for users.

example.js

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app.get('/logout', (req, res) => {
  // Clear multiple cookies upon logout
  res.clearCookie('userToken');
  res.clearCookie('userData');
  res.send('Logged out successfully');
});

Session Expiry:

Leverage res.clearCookie() to handle session expirations by removing the session cookie.

example.js

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app.get('/expire-session', (req, res) => {
  // Clear the session cookie upon session expiration
  res.clearCookie('sessionID');
  res.send('Session expired');
});

🏆 Best Practices

Specify Cookie Options:

When using res.clearCookie(), consider specifying the same options used when setting the cookie to ensure proper removal.

example.js

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app.get('/logout', (req, res) => {
  // Clear the 'userToken' cookie with specified options
  res.clearCookie('userToken', { path: '/', domain: '.example.com' });
  res.send('Logged out successfully');
});

Use Secure and HttpOnly Flags:

For sensitive cookies, set the secure and httpOnly flags when clearing cookies to enhance security.

example.js

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app.get('/logout', (req, res) => {
  // Clear the 'userToken' cookie with secure and httpOnly flags
  res.clearCookie('userToken', { secure: true, httpOnly: true });
  res.send('Logged out successfully');
});

🎉 Conclusion

The res.clearCookie() method in Express.js is a powerful tool for managing cookies. Whether you're handling user logouts or expiring sessions, understanding how to use res.clearCookie() ensures a seamless and secure cookie management experience.

Now equipped with knowledge about the res.clearCookie() method, you can enhance your Express.js applications by efficiently managing cookies.