How to handle GET requests in Node.js
Łukasz Holeczek
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Handling GET requests is fundamental for creating APIs, serving data, and building RESTful web services in Node.js backend applications. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve implemented GET request handling in numerous Node.js APIs for user data retrieval, configuration endpoints, and dashboard data services in enterprise applications. From my expertise, the most practical approach is to use Express.js with route parameters and query string handling. This method provides clean URL patterns, automatic request parsing, and robust middleware support for authentication, validation, and error handling.
Use Express.js app.get() method to handle GET requests with route parameters and query strings.
const express = require('express')
const app = express()
app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {
const { page = 1, limit = 10 } = req.query
// Fetch users with pagination
res.json({ users: [], page, limit })
})
app.get('/api/users/:id', (req, res) => {
const userId = req.params.id
// Fetch specific user
res.json({ id: userId, name: 'John Doe' })
})
Express.js simplifies GET request handling with the app.get() method that accepts a route pattern and handler function. Access route parameters with req.params (e.g., :id becomes req.params.id) and query strings with req.query (e.g., ?page=1 becomes req.query.page). Use destructuring with default values for optional parameters. Always send appropriate responses with res.json() for JSON data or res.send() for other content types. Implement proper error handling and status codes for robust API endpoints.
Best Practice Note:
This is the same approach we use in CoreUI backend APIs for data retrieval and configuration endpoints.
Add input validation with libraries like joi, implement pagination for large datasets, use middleware for authentication: app.get('/protected', authenticateToken, handler), and include proper error handling with try-catch blocks.
