node.js TypeError: path must be absolute or specify root to res.sendFile [failed to parse JSON]

Question

[add] So my next problem is that when i try adding a new dependence (npm install --save socket.io). The JSON file is also valid. I get this error: Failed to parse json

Answer 1

The error is pretty straightforward. Most likely the reason is that your index.html file is not in the root directory.

Or if it is in the root directory then the relative referencing is not working.

So you need to tell the server exact location of your file. This could be done by using dirname method in NodeJs. Just replace your code with this one:

 app.get('/', function(req, res){
  res.sendFile(__dirname + '/index.html');
});

Make sure that your add the slash "/" symbol before your homepage. Otherwise your path will become: rootDirectoryindex.html

Whereas you want it to be: rootDirectory/index.html

Answer 2

in .mjs files we for now don't have __dirname

hence

res.sendFile('index.html', { root: '.' })

Answer 3

This can be resolved in another way:

app.get("/", function(req, res){

    res.send(`${process.env.PWD}/index.html`)

});

process.env.PWD will prepend the working directory when the process was started.

Answer 4

In Typescript with relative path to the icon:

import path from 'path';

route.get('/favicon.ico', (_req, res) => res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../static/myicon.png')));

Answer 5

If you trust the path, path.resolve is an option:

var path = require('path');

// All other routes should redirect to the index.html
  app.route('/*')
    .get(function(req, res) {
      res.sendFile(path.resolve(app.get('appPath') + '/index.html'));
    });

Answer 6

You might consider using double slashes on your directory e.g

app.get('/',(req,res)=>{
    res.sendFile('C:\\Users\\DOREEN\\Desktop\\Fitness Finder' + '/index.html')
})