using JSON data in client side javascript file

Question

Im fairly new to node.js and express. My question is how to correctly retrieve json data in a client side javascript file since im getting a 404 code about the .json file not being found.

my file structure is a generic express structure and the .json file is in the nodeapp folder right below the package.json file and app.js. Im trying to access this file from a javascript file that is saved in public/javascripts folder but can seem to get around it. here is the function im trying to implement in the .js file:

function getJSONData(){
    var json;
    $.getJSON('/public/web_text.json', function(data){

        json = data
    });
}

Get Off My Lawn · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-17 21:37:23Z

4

Option 1

You need to setup static files in express, and you do it like this:

app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/public'))

You then can call it from your client (without the public prefix):

$.getJSON('/javascript/web_text.json', function(data){});

https://expressjs.com/en/starter/static-files.html

Option 2

Your other option is to send it via sendFile http://expressjs.com/en/api.html#res.sendFile:

app.get('/public/web_text.json', (req, res) => {
    res.sendFile(__dirname + '/my_json_file.json');
});

Then in your client you can call it like this:

$.getJSON('/public/web_text.json', function(data){})

edited Jul 17, 2017 at 21:37

answered Jul 17, 2017 at 20:37

Get Off My Lawn

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5 Comments

cjlogrono11 Over a year ago

still same error.... my web_text.json file is not saved under the public/javascripts file! it is saved in the main app folder where the package.json and app.js is located

cjlogrono11 Over a year ago

when i reload the browser and call the function in the client side js file i get an error saying that the variable app was not defined...

Get Off My Lawn Over a year ago

that is your server side code, it needs to go there

cjlogrono11 Over a year ago

so you're saying option 2 code must go in my app.js file?

Get Off My Lawn Over a year ago

option 1 and/or option 2 must go in your app.js file, aka the file loaded via node

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