node and express send json formatted

Question

I'm trying to send formatted json with express.

Here is my code:

var app = express();

app.get('/', function (req, res) {
  users.find({}).toArray(function(err, results){
    // I have try both
    res.send(JSON.stringify(results, null, 4));
    // OR
    res.json(results);
  });
});

I get the json in my browser but it's a string. How can I send it so it's readable in the browser?

JSON is always a string. To get the object back, you have to parse that string on the client side. — Sirko, Sep 20 '15 at 12:40

score 57 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 02 '18 at 14:25

57

try to set the "secret" property json spaces on the Node app.

app.set('json spaces', 2)

This statement above will produce indentation on json content.

answered Jan 02 '18 at 14:25

Alexis Diel

775
6
15

1

I think JSON.stringify() plus content-type header is the "official" way that one should understand, but this secret property is preferred because it's much cleverer! – Zhiyong Jul 11 '19 at 11:49

Bidhan · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-20T12:46:43.440

41

You're going to have to set the Content-Type to application/json like this

app.get('/', function (req, res) {
    users.find({}).toArray(function(err, results){
        res.header("Content-Type",'application/json');
        res.send(JSON.stringify(results, null, 4));
  });
});

edited Sep 20 '15 at 12:46

answered Sep 20 '15 at 12:40

Bidhan

10,089
3
34
46

thanks it works with the stringify way. Please edit your post so it will be more clear and I can validate it – BoumTAC Sep 20 '15 at 12:43

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 27 '19 at 03:17

4

Use type('json') to set Content-Type and JSON.stringify() for formatting:

var app = express();

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  users.find({}).toArray((err, results) => {
    res.type('json').send(JSON.stringify(results, null, 2) + '\n');
  });
});

answered Mar 27 '19 at 03:17

Afanasii Kurakin

2,766
2
20
21

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 19 '18 at 21:07

0

This should solve your problem

var app = express();
app.set('json spaces', 4)

app.get('/', function (req, res) {
  users.find({}).toArray(function(err, results){
      res.json(JSON.parse(results));
  });
});

answered Jul 19 '18 at 21:07

Manjunath G

29
2

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 20 '15 at 12:42

-1

Maybe you need to JSON.parse(resp)

answered Sep 20 '15 at 12:42

Jason Livesay

6,116
3
22
30

node and express send json formatted

5 Answers5

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