Express.js res.redirect() Function

In Express.js, the res.redirect() function is one of the most commonly used methods to handle redirection in a web application. This method is part of the response object (res), and it allows you to send an HTTP redirect to the client, telling it to navigate to a different URL.

What is Redirection?

In web development, redirection refers to the process of sending the user from one URL to another. This can happen for several reasons:

• A page has moved to a new URL.
• After a form submission, you want to send the user to another page.

app.get('/example', (req, res) => {
    res.redirect('https://www.example.com');
});

Syntax

res.redirect([status] path)

Parameter: This function accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below:

• status: This parameter holds the HTTP status code
• path: This parameter describes the path.

Return Value: It returns an Object.

Type of Paths We Can Enter

• Absolute URL: You can specify a full global URL (e.g., https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/).
• Relative Path: The path can be relative to the root of the hostname (e.g., /user), so it will redirect from http://hostname/user/cart to http://hostname/user.
• Relative to the Current URL: You can also provide a relative path to the current URL (e.g., /addtocart), redirecting from http://hostname/user/ to http://hostname/user/addtocart.

Steps to Install the Express Module

Step 1: You can install this package by using this command.

npm install express

Step 2: After installing the express module, you can check your express version in the command prompt using the command.

npm version express

Step 3: After that, you can just create a folder and add a file, for example, index.js.

Project Structure

Example 1: Below is the code example of the res.redirect().

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

// Without middleware
app.get('/', function (req, res) {
    res.redirect('/user');
});

app.get('/user', function (req, res) {
    res.send("Redirected to User Page");
});

app.listen(PORT, function (err) {
    if (err) console.log(err);
    console.log("Server listening on PORT", PORT);
});

Steps to Run the Code

Run the index.js file using the below command:

node index.js

Output: Visit http://localhost:3000/ in your browser, and you'll be redirected to http://localhost:3000/user.

Server listening on PORT 3000

Browser Output: You'll be redirected to http://localhost:3000/user.

Example 2: Below is the code example of the res.redirect().

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

// With middleware
app.use('/verify', function (req, res, next) {
    console.log("Authenticate and Redirect")
    res.redirect('/user');
    next();
});

app.get('/user', function (req, res) {
    res.send("User Page");
});

app.listen(PORT, function (err) {
    if (err) console.log(err);
    console.log("Server listening on PORT", PORT);
});

Steps to Run the Code 

Run the index.js file using the below command:

node index.js

Output: Visit http://localhost:3000/verify in your browser, and you will be redirected to http://localhost:3000/user.

Server listening on PORT 3000
Authenticate and Redirect

Browser Output : You'll be redirected to http://localhost:3000/user.

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Article Tags :

• JavaScript
• Web Technologies
• Node.js
• Express.js