req.cookies with cookie-parser in Express - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using req.cookies with cookie-parser in Express

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple Express server that reads cookies sent by the browser. Cookies help remember user preferences or login info.

🎯 Goal: Create an Express app that uses cookie-parser middleware to read cookies from incoming requests and display them on the homepage.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an Express app with express()

Use cookie-parser middleware

Read cookies from req.cookies

Send the cookies as a JSON response on the root route /

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Web servers often need to read cookies to remember user sessions, preferences, or login states.

💼 Career

Understanding how to use cookie-parser and <code>req.cookies</code> is essential for backend developers working with Express to manage user data securely and efficiently.

1

Setup Express app and import cookie-parser

Write code to import express and cookie-parser modules, then create an Express app called app.

Express

const express = require('express');
const cookieParser = require('cookie-parser');

// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use require('express') and require('cookie-parser') to import modules. Then call express() to create the app.

2

Add cookie-parser middleware

Add the cookie-parser middleware to the Express app by calling app.use(cookieParser()).

Express

const express = require('express');
const cookieParser = require('cookie-parser');
const app = express();

// Add cookie-parser middleware here
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.use(cookieParser()) to enable cookie parsing for all routes.

3

Create a route to read cookies

Create a GET route for '/' that reads cookies from req.cookies and sends them as JSON using res.json(req.cookies).

Express

const express = require('express');
const cookieParser = require('cookie-parser');
const app = express();

app.use(cookieParser());

// Create GET '/' route to send req.cookies as JSON
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.get('/', (req, res) => { ... }) and inside send req.cookies as JSON.

4

Start the server on port 3000

Add code to start the Express server on port 3000 using app.listen(3000).

Express

const express = require('express');
const cookieParser = require('cookie-parser');
const app = express();

app.use(cookieParser());

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.json(req.cookies);
});

// Start server on port 3000
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use app.listen(3000) to start the server on port 3000.