Solving the TypeError in Node.js: How to Properly Access JSON Data

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Understanding the Problem

You’re attempting to retrieve user data from a RESTful API, but while the data appears as JSON in the console, it fails when trying to print it on your web page, resulting in a frustrating error message:

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This error occurs when the JavaScript engine attempts to call forEach on a variable that hasn't been defined properly. In your case, the code snippet causing the issue looks like this:

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Analyzing the API Response

From your API response, it seems like you’re expecting the results property to contain an array of user objects:

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However, upon inspecting your reported issue, we can see a disconnected piece: the variable userlist is defined like this in your API route:

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Here, you’re trying to access results, but if your response data is structured differently, this can lead to a TypeError.

The Solution: Accessing Array Directly

Fixing the Code

Change your API route variable declaration from:

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to

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Updated Code Example

Here’s how your API route should look after the change:

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This adjustment should ensure that userlist is always defined as an array, allowing the subsequent forEach method to work without errors.

Rendering the Data with EJS

Now that the data is correctly fetched and defined, you can render it effectively in your EJS template:

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Conclusion

If you find yourself stuck on similar problems, take a moment to inspect your API responses and confirm that you’re accessing the right properties. Happy coding!