AJAX sending data to Node.js server

Question

I'm trying to send data with AJAX to a Node.js server but keep bumping into the same issue, the reception.

Here is the client-side JavaScript / AJAX code :

    var objects = [
        function() { return new XMLHttpRequest() },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("MSxml2.XMLHHTP") },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("MSxml3.XMLHHTP") },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP") }
    ];
    function XHRobject() {
        var xhr = false;
        for(var i=0; i < objects.length; i++) {
            try {
                xhr = objects[i]();
            }
            catch(e) {
                continue;
            }
            break;
        }
        return xhr;
    }
    var xhr = XHRobject();
    xhr.open("POST", "127.0.0.1:8080", true);
    xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "text/csv");
    xhr.send(myText);
    console.log(myText);

For some reason the basic HTTP server you can get on http://nodejs.org/api/http.html was causing ECONNREFUSED errors (even with sudo and port 8080) so I tried with this simple code :

var http = require('http');

http.createServer(function(req, res) {
    console.log('res: ' + JSON.stringify(res.body));
}).listen(8080, null)

But it keeps printing res: undefined.

On the other hand, the AJAX POST doesn't seem to trigger any errors in the console.

So my question if the following :

How can I have a simple but solid node.js server that can retrieve text that was send by an AJAX POST request ?

Thank you in advance !

Edit : The testing is done on 127.0.0.1 (localhost).

EDIT2: This is the updated Node.js code :

var http = require('http');

    var http = require('http');
    http.createServer(function (req, res) {
      res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
      res.end();
      req.on('data', function(data) {
        console.log(data);
      })
    }).listen(1337, '127.0.0.1');
    console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:1337/');

Vadim Baryshev · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-10 03:24:16Z

3

Look at example on http://nodejs.org home page.

var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(1337, '127.0.0.1');
console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:1337/');

Node.js request object have not request body as plain text. It need to be handled by chunks from data event.
You need to end request with res.end to send response to client.

Update:

This code should work fine:

var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  var body = '';
  req.on('data', function(chunk) {
    body += chunk.toString('utf8');
  });
  req.on('end', function() {
    console.log(body);
    res.end();    
  });
}).listen(8080);

edited Nov 10, 2012 at 3:24

answered Nov 10, 2012 at 2:53

Vadim Baryshev

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10 Comments

m_vdbeek Over a year ago

I don't want to send anything back, just receive what the client (AJAX) did send. The AJAX isn't a GET request but a POST.

Vadim Baryshev Over a year ago

Request must be completed in all cases. Client will waits for request end. If you don't need to send data back, just complete request with res.end(); without parameters.

m_vdbeek Over a year ago

Ok, so I tested your updated code, but it's still printing undefined. My node.js version is v0.8.2 if that has any importance at all.

Vadim Baryshev Over a year ago

Sorry, my fail. Node.js request have no plain request body by default. It need to be handled by chunks from data event. Check update now.

Vadim Baryshev Over a year ago

In your client code, change content type from text/csv to application/x-www-form-urlencoded. Add http:// before 127.0.0.1:8080

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