You can use the Node.js request module to download a file from a REST API. The request module is an easy to use HTTP client that allows you to make HTTP requests to external sources.
To download a file from a REST API, you can use the following code:
const request = require(‘request’);
const fileUrl = ‘http://example.com/file.zip’;
request.get(fileUrl)
.on(‘response’, (response) => {
console.log(response.statusCode); // 200
console.log(response.headers[‘content-type’]); // ‘application/zip’
})
.pipe(fs.createWriteStream(‘file.zip’));
Node js + express rest API download file; In this tutorial, you will learn how to download files from server in node js + express+ rest API.
How to Download File From Rest API in Node js Express
Let’s follow the following steps to download files from rest api in node js express app:
- Step 1 – Create Node Express js App
- Step 2 – Install Node Modules
- Step 3 – Create Server.js File
- Import Installed Modules
- Create REST API to Download File
- Step 4 – Start Node Express Js App Server
- Step 5 – Test Node js Rest Api File Download
Step 1 – Create Node Express js App
Execute the following command on terminal to create node js app:
mkdir my-app cd my-app npm init
Step 2 – Install Node Modules
Execute the following command on terminal to install express dependencies:
npm install express --save
Step 3 – Create Server.js File
Create Server.js file and then follow the below steps:
Import Installed Modules
Open server.js file and import above installed modules, as shown below:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const path = require('path');
Create REST API to Download File
Open server.js file and crate download file rest API routes in node js app, as shown below:
//route to download a file
app.get('/download/:file(*)',(req, res) => {
var file = req.params.file;
var fileLocation = path.join('./uploads',file);
console.log(fileLocation);
res.download(fileLocation, file);
});
Step 4 – Start Node Express Js App Server
Execute the following command on terminal to start node express js server:
//run the below command npm start
Step 5 – Test Node js Rest Api File Download
To download files using rest APIs in node js server; So open postman call above created rest api into your postman app:
API URL :- http://localhost:3000/download/your-file-name Method :- GET
Conclusion
Node js + express rest API download file; Through this tutorial, you have learned how to download files from server in node js + express+ rest API.
