Is there any difference between using request.body or request.params in node.js?

Question

I am wondering if there is any preference in using request.body or request.params in node.js when sending data from client to server?

Answer 1

You can fit more (diverse) data in the body than in the url. You can pass any string (special characters) in the body, while encoding them in the url would get you vulnerable to status 414 (Request-URI Too Long). And it's a lot easier to use the body when passing arrays and complex objects :)

Answer 2

I would say that a best practice would be that you should use params when doing a get, but use body for post, put and patch.

a sample get

app.get "/api/items/:id", (req, res) ->
  itemController.getItem req.params.id, (item, error) =>      
     if !error
       res.send 'item': item
     else
       res.send 'error: error 

a sample post

app.post "/api/items", (req, res) ->
  itemController.saveItem req.body, (item, error) =>      
     if !error
       res.send 'item': item
     else
       res.send 'error: error 

You would add validation on as well, but this has been how I have been writing all of my endpoints.