How to get data out of a Node js http get request

0 votes

I'm trying to get my function to return the http get request, however, whatever I do it seems to get lost in the ?scope?. I'm quit new to Node.js so any help would be appreciated

function getData(){
  var http = require('http');
  var str = '';

  var options = {
        host: 'www.random.org',
        path: '/integers/?num=1&min=1&max=10&col=1&base=10&format=plain&rnd=new'
  };

  callback = function(response) {

        response.on('data', function (chunk) {
              str += chunk;
        });

        response.on('end', function () {
              console.log(str);
        });

        //return str;
  }

  var req = http.request(options, callback).end();

  // These just return undefined and empty
  console.log(req.data);
  console.log(str);
}
Oct 12, 2020 in Node-js by kartik
• 37,520 points
6,916 views

1 answer to this question.

0 votes

Hello @kartik,

Your logs return undefined : you log before the request is done. The problem isn't scope but asynchronicity.

http.request is asynchronous, that's why it takes a callback as parameter. Do what you have to do in the callback (the one you pass to response.end):

callback = function(response) {

  response.on('data', function (chunk) {
    str += chunk;
  });

  response.on('end', function () {
    console.log(req.data);
    console.log(str);
    // your code here if you want to use the results !
  });
}

var req = http.request(options, callback).end();

Hope it helps!!

Get your Node.js Certification today to become a certified expert.

Thank you!!

answered Oct 12, 2020 by Niroj
• 82,880 points

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