Express express.urlencoded() Function

The express.urlencoded() function is a built-in middleware function in Express. It parses incoming requests with URL-encoded payloads and is based on a body parser.

Syntax:

express.urlencoded( [options] )

Parameter: The options parameter contains various properties like extended, inflate, limit, verify, etc.

Return Value: It returns an Object.

Steps to create the application:

Step 1: You can install this package by using this command.

npm install express

Step 2: After installing the express module, you can check your express version in the command prompt using the command.

npm version express

Project Structure:

The updated dependencies in package.json file will look like:

"dependencies": {
    "express": "^4.18.2",
}

Example 1: Below is the code example for express.urlencoded() Function

javascript

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: false }));

app.post('/', function (req, res) {
    console.log(req.body);
    res.end();
});

app.listen(PORT, function (err) {
    if (err) console.log(err);
    console.log("Server listening on PORT", PORT);
});

Steps to run the program:

Run the index.js file using the below command: 

node index.js

Console Output:

Server listening on PORT 3000

Browser Output:  Now make a POST request to http://localhost:3000/ with header set to ‘content-type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded’ and body {“name”:”GeeksforGeeks”}, then you will see the following output on your console: 

Example 2: Below is the code example for express.urlencoded() Function

javascript

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

// Without this middleware
// app.use(express.urlencoded({extended:false}));

app.post('/', function (req, res) {
    console.log(req.body);
    res.end();
});

app.listen(PORT, function (err) {
    if (err) console.log(err);
    console.log("Server listening on PORT", PORT);
});

Steps to run the program:

node index.js

Now make a POST request to http://localhost:3000/ with header set to ‘content-type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded’ and body {“title”:”GeeksforGeeks”}, then you will see the following output on your console: 

Output:

Server listening on PORT 3000
undefined

We have a complete list of Express express module methods, to check those please go through this Express.js express() function Complete Reference article.