How to set custom favicon in Express?

Question

I recently started working in Node.js and in the app.js file there is this line:

app.use(express.favicon());

Now, how do I set up my own cu

Answer 1

In app.js:

app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')));

Assuming the icon resides in "/public/images/favicon.ico" add next link in html's head:

<link rel='icon' href='/images/favicon.ico' class='js-favicon'>

This worked fine in a project auto-generated with the command:

express my-project

Answer 2

smiley favicon to prevent error:

 //const fs = require('fs'); 
 //const favicon = fs.readFileSync(__dirname+'/public/favicon.ico'); // read file
 const favicon = new Buffer.from('AAABAAEAEBAQAAAAAAAoAQAAFgAAACgAAAAQAAAAIAAAAAEABAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/4QAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEREQAAAAAAEAAAEAAAAAEAAAABAAAAEAAAAAAQAAAQAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD//wAA//8AAP//AAD8HwAA++8AAPf3AADv+wAA7/sAAP//AAD//wAA+98AAP//AAD//wAA//8AAP//AAD//wAA', 'base64'); 
 app.get("/favicon.ico", function(req, res) {
  res.statusCode = 200;
  res.setHeader('Content-Length', favicon.length);
  res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'image/x-icon');
  res.setHeader("Cache-Control", "public, max-age=2592000");                // expiers after a month
  res.setHeader("Expires", new Date(Date.now() + 2592000000).toUTCString());
  res.end(favicon);
 });

to change icon in code above

make an icon maybe here: http://www.favicon.cc/ or here :http://favicon-generator.org

convert it to base64 maybe here: http://base64converter.com/

then replace the icon base 64 value

general information how to create a personalized fav icon

icons are made using photoshop or inkscape, maybe inkscape then photoshop for vibrance and color correction (in image->adjustments menu).

for quick icon goto http://www.clker.com/ and pick some Vector Clip Arts, and download as svg. then bring it to inkscape (https://inkscape.org/) and change colors or delete parts, maybe add something from another vector clipart image, then to export select the parts to export and click file>export, pick size like 16x16 for favicon or 32x32. for further edit 128x128 or 256x256. ico package can have several icon sizes inside. it can have along with 16x16 pixel favicon a high quality icons for link for the website.

then maybe enhance the image in photoshop. like vibrance, bevel effect, round mask, anything.

then upload this image to one of the websites that generate favicons. there are also programs for windows for editing icons like https://sourceforge.net/projects/variicons/ .

to add the favicon to website. just put the favicon.ico as a file in the root folder of the domain. for example in node.js in public folder that contains the static files. it doesn't have to be anything special like code above just a simple file.

Answer 3

No need for custom middleware?! In express:

 //you probably have something like this already    
app.use("/public", express.static('public')); 

Then put your favicon in public and add the following line in your html's head:

<link rel="icon" href="/public/favicon.ico">

Answer 4

You must install middleware to serve the favicon.

I tried this just now:

app.use(express.favicon(path.join(__dirname, 'public','images','favicon.ico'))); 

and got this error message back:

Error: Most middleware (like favicon) is no longer bundled with Express and must be installed separately. Please see https://github.com/senchalabs/connect#middleware.

I think we can take that as being definitive.

Answer 5

If you are using Express.static to serve a folder, just put the favicon.ico file in the root of that folder and it will be served when the browser requests it. There's no need to add a link tag to your html or a special middleware route in the application code.

If you're behind a reverse proxy, you may need to specify the media/mime type for the file (here's how in IIS) but if you navigate directly to your app it "just works".

Answer 6

No extra middlewares required. Just use:

app.use('/favicon.ico', express.static('images/favicon.ico'));