Wondering how I can make a GET request to a JSON API using Node.js. I preferably want to use Express however it is not necessary, and for the output to be on a Jade page. I'm still completely new to Node.js and backend languages as a whole.
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3 Answers
var request = require('request');
request('<API Call>', function (error, response, body) {
if (!error && response.statusCode == 200) {
var info = JSON.parse(body)
}
})
This will make an HTTP request to the API and upon success parse the response into JSON.
As far as getting the response onto a Jade page do you wish to do an API call (to your own server) and then use AngularJS/ jQuery/ another framework to fill in the information?
If you wish to add this to your own route consider embedding it like such:
var express = require('express');
var cors = require('cors');
var request = require('request');
var app = express();
app.use(express.bodyParser());
app.use(cors());
app.get('<Your Route>', function(req, res){
request('<API Call>', function (error, response, body) {
if (!error && response.statusCode == 200) {
var info = JSON.parse(body)
// do more stuff
res.send(info);
}
})
});
app.listen(3000);
console.log("The server is now running on port 3000.");
answered Aug 7, 2014 at 13:05
Sleep Deprived Bulbasaur
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4 Comments
saileshpypatel
Does this code go in 'app.js' or does it go in one of the js files in the 'views' folder? Also I do intend to use another framework to fill the information on a page - do you know how to do this?
Sleep Deprived Bulbasaur
@frumpygrumpy I would consider putting it in app.js, but it depends how you are structuring your program. In most of my projects I leave my Jade files to be in the 'views' folder. It depends which framework you are wishing to use, but you will need to do some form of a JSON/HTTP GET to receive this information for your front end.
saileshpypatel
I'm using Express at the moment so my Jade files are in the 'views' folder. I want to use the API to allow users to use a search option so would it be wise to put this request in app.js or in 'index.js' in routes?
Sleep Deprived Bulbasaur
You should put this in routes.
I like to use the request package:
npm install --save request
And the code:
var request = require('request');
request({url: 'http://yourapi.com/', json: true}, function(err, res, json) {
if (err) {
throw err;
}
console.log(json);
});
2 Comments
dpineda
nice catch in the parser json true
Adrian Anttila
Shouldn't that be var request = require('request'); instead of calling request like a function to initialize it?
Also, the same people who brought you the request package, have come out with a promise based version backed by bluebird called, not surprisingly, request-promise:
Some folks also prefer super agent, which allows you to chain commands:
Here's an example from their docs:
request
.post('http://localhost:3000/api/pet')
.send({ name: 'Manny', species: 'cat' })
.set('X-API-Key', 'foobar')
.set('Accept', 'application/json')
.end(function(err, res){
// Calling the end function will send the request
});
