Express JS Passing variable to Javascript file

Question

In my Express JS app, I am using ejs view engine, I want to pass variable to javascript file on client side.

This is my render:

return res.render('data/show', {
    data: data
});

This is working for me:

<script>
    var data = <%- JSON.stringify(data) %>;
    console.log(data);
</script>

But my function is in separate .js file that I am including, when I am using the same code:

function gettingData() {
    var data = <%- JSON.stringify(data) %>;
    console.log(data);
}

I am getting syntax error:

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token <

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

kshetline · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-11 01:30:00Z

1

I haven't worked with EJS, but my guess would be that:

<%- JSON.stringify(data) %>

...only works as a substitution in the HTML files being served up by the node server (with an .ejs extension, I believe), but that the above would come straight through as-is in a separate .js file being loaded separately.

answered Mar 11, 2018 at 1:30

kshetline

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1 Comment

Marcin Over a year ago

<%- JSON.stringify(data) %> works only in .html file. I am looking for way to access this 'data' in .js file that is included.

fh0592x · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-11 03:53:20Z

0

You could give this a shot...JSON.stringify(<%= data %>). Hope this helps :)

answered Mar 11, 2018 at 3:53

fh0592x

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7 Comments

Marcin Over a year ago

unfortunately your code is giving me the same syntax error. It seems that <%%> ejs marks are not recognized inside .js file.

fh0592x Over a year ago

Put the whole thing in quotes. var someVar = "<%= JSON.stringify(data) %>"

Marcin Over a year ago

I was trying this also. Result is that someVar is type of String and equal "<%= JSON.stringify(data) %>". This was't even executed, javascript is treating it's as regular string.

fh0592x Over a year ago

It worked for me...but just realized that it was because I was using it within the script tags in the .ejs file.

Marcin Over a year ago

Yes, exactly, with <script> tag everything is workin fine, but my script is getting big, that's why it's necessary to include another file and not write everything inside .html.

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