What does body-parser do with express?

I don't understand why we need body-parser in an Express application, as we can get data without using body-parser. And what does it do actually and how?

To handle HTTP POST requests in Express.js version 4 and above, you need to install the middleware module called body-parser.

body-parser extracts the entire body portion of an incoming request stream and exposes it on req.body.

The middleware was a part of Express.js earlier but now you have to install it separately.

This body-parser module parses the JSON, buffer, string and URL encoded data submitted using HTTP POST request. Install body-parser using NPM as shown below.

npm install body-parser --save

edit in 2019-april-2: in [email protected] the body-parser middleware bundled with express. for more details see this

Yes we can work without body-parser. When you don't use that you get the raw request, and your body and headers are not in the root object of request parameter . You will have to individually manipulate all the fields.

Or you can use body-parser, as the express team is maintaining it .

What body-parser can do for you: It simplifies the request.
How to use it: Here is example:

Install npm install body-parser --save

This how to use body-parser in express:

const express = require('express'),
      app = express(),
      bodyParser = require('body-parser');

// support parsing of application/json type post data
app.use(bodyParser.json());

//support parsing of application/x-www-form-urlencoded post data
app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }));

Link.

https://github.com/expressjs/body-parser.

And then you can get body and headers in root request object . Example

app.post("/posturl",function(req,res,next){
    console.log(req.body);
    res.send("response");
});

What does body-parser do with express?

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