Unexpected token colon JSON after jQuery.ajax#get

Question

I have created a minimalist API on nodejs which return data in JSON format.

But every time I try to make a ajax#get call and pass my API as URL, I will get an error and judging from Chrome, I'm getting a "Unexpected token :" error;

here the server code in nodejs + express:

var
 http    = require( 'http' ),
 express = require( 'express' ),
 app      = express(),
 server  = http.createServer( app );

app.get( '/', function( req, res ) {
    console.log( 'req received' );
        res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
    res.end( JSON.stringify({
    Name : "Tom",
    Description : "Hello it's me!"
    }) );

});

server.listen(3000, function() {
    console.log( 'Listening on 3000' );
});

The JSON returned from "/" is: {"Name":"Tom","Description":"Hello it's me!"}.

Here is my call from the client js:

$.ajax({
    url: findUrl,
    type: 'get',
    dataType: 'jsonp',
    success: function ( data ) {
        self.name( data.Name );
        self.description( data.Description );
    },
    error: function( jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown ) {
        alert(errorThrown);
    }
});

When plotting the error I get: "jQuery111108398571682628244_1403193212453 was not called"

Can someone help me?

I know this question has been asked already but I haven't manage to find a solution which fix my program.

Answer 1

To support JSONP requests, the server will have to include the P, or "Padding," in the response.

jQuery111108398571682628244_1403193212453({"Name":"Tom","Description":"Hello it's me!"})

The syntax error, "Unexpected token :", is because JSONP is parsed as JavaScript, where {...} also represents blocks. It just takes advantage of JSON and JavaScript's similar syntax to define the data being passed to a global function call.

By default, jQuery will include a callback query-string parameter with the name of the function:

var callback = req.query.callback;
var data = JSON.stringify({
    Name : "Tom",
    Description : "Hello it's me!"
});

if (callback) {
    res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/javascript');
    res.end(callback + '(' + data + ')');
} else {
    res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
    res.end(data);
}

ExpressJS also includes res.jsonp() that already implements this condition:

app.get( '/', function( req, res ) {
    console.log( 'req received' );

    res.jsonp({
        Name : "Tom",
        Description : "Hello it's me!"
    });
});