Difference between app.all('*') and app.use('/')

Question

Is there a useful difference between app.all(\'*\', ... ) and app.use(\'/\', ...) in Node.JS Express?

Answer 1

app.use takes only one callback function and it's meant for Middleware. Middleware usually doesn't handle request and response, (technically they can) they just process input data, and hand over it to next handler in queue.

app.use([path], function)

app.all takes multiple callbacks, and meant for routing. with multiple callbacks you can filter requests and send responses. Its explained in Filters on express.js

app.all(path, [callback...], callback)

app.use only sees whether url starts with the specified path

app.use( "/product" , mymiddleware);
// will match /product
// will match /product/cool
// will match /product/foo

app.all will match complete path

app.all( "/product" , handler);
// will match /product
// won't match /product/cool   <-- important
// won't match /product/foo    <-- important

app.all( "/product/*" , handler);
// won't match /product        <-- Important
// will match /product/
// will match /product/cool
// will match /product/foo