How can I trigger a route handler manually in express js?

Question

suppose I have a simple express js application like the following:

var express = require('express');
var app = express();

app.get('/', function(req, res) {
  return res.json({ hello: 'world' });
});

module.exports = app;

I want to be able to go to the command line, require the app, start the server and simulate a request. Something like this:

var app = require('./app');
app.listen(3000);
app.dispatch('/') // => {hello:"world"}

Answer 1

You can use run-middleware module exactly for that. This is working by creating new Request & Response objects, and call your app using those objects.

app.runMiddleware('/yourNewRoutePath',{query:{param1:'value'}},function(responseCode,body,headers){
     // Your code here
})

More info:

• Module page in Github & NPM;
• Examples of use run-middleware module

Disclosure: I am the maintainer & first developer of this module.