Understanding How to Read FormData in Node.js

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The Problem: Receiving FormData from the Frontend

In our example, the frontend is attempting to send a FormData object that includes a file along with two pairs of key-value strings. Here's a summary of the implementation on the frontend:

A file is selected through an input element, and its reference is stored.

Additional string data is appended to the FormData object.

Common Issues Encountered

Headers Misconfiguration: Specifying the Content-Type manually may lead to incorrect handling of multipart data.

Step 1: Fixing Header Configuration

Firstly, do not set the Content-Type when sending FormData. Here's what you need to change on the client-side:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Using a Middleware to Parse FormData

To handle multipart form data, you will need a library like formidable. Here's how to implement it on your server-side code:

Install formidable: If you haven't installed it yet, use npm to add it to your project:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Update Your Server Code: Implement the formidable middleware to parse the incoming request.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Expected Output

Using formidable, when you upload the data, the console should now show outputs like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This means your server can now correctly read the FormData sent by the frontend.

Conclusion