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

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.