node.js - sending regex to server

Question

I've created a client side mongodb interface to talk to server side mongodb.
it's very similar to the mini-mongo implemented in the meteor. here is an example:

model.find({"field": /search/}).exec(function(err, model){
    construct(model);
});

now normally everything works fine except when I use the regex. and I know what's the problem but I cannot fix it.
the problem, as you have guessed it, is when the regex /regexParameter/ when sent by ajax to server, is converted to "/regexParameter/" and the single quotes(or double) make the regex a normal string.
in the server I have something like this:

var findObject = req.query.findObject // {"field": "/search/"} :(
req.models[config.table]
   .find(findObject)
   .exec(function(err, model){
        return res.json({
            error: err,
            result: model,
        });
   });

is there anything I can do to make this work without writing like 100 of lines of code that iterates through each of the findObject and matches every string for a regex...?
Thanks everyone

bardzusny · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-06 06:44:35Z

2

You are right - you cannot pass RegExp objects between client and server because during serialization they are converted to strings.

Solution? (or perhaps - a workaround)

Use $regex operator in your queries, so you don't need to use RegExp objects.

So this:

{
  field: /search/
}

Becomes this:

{
  field: {
    $regex: 'search'
  }
}

Or, giving a case-insensitive search example:

{
  field: {
    $regex: 'search',
    $options: 'i'
  }
}

(instead of field: /search/i)

Read more about $regex syntax here (including about some of its restrictions).

edited Jun 6, 2015 at 6:44

answered Jun 6, 2015 at 6:29

bardzusny

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