$.ajax post doesn't post data (JavaScript)

Question

I can't figure out why this problem is arising. When I make an ajax post request in my javascript file, the url gets called, but the data wont get sent. Here's how I make a post request:

<script type="text/javascript">
    $.ajax({
        type: "POST",
        url: "/test",
        dataType: "json",
        data: {test: "test"},
        contentType: "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",

    });
</script>

And on my backend, here's the post method I'm using:

app.post('/test', function(req, res) {
  console.log(req.body); // returns {}
  console.log(req.params); // returns {}
});

Here's what I tried so far: XMLHttpRequest to Post HTML Form, AJAX Post not sending form data , Send POST data using XMLHttpRequest but unfortunately none of them worked for me.

you can remove the contentType option, that's not necessary for what you're doing. (the default will suffice) — Kevin B, May 01 '17 at 19:53
You're sure you're hitting your endpoint? You're seeing stuff in your console on the server-side whenever you send an AJAX request? Have you tried doing `console.log(req)` to see if the data is on a different property? — Mike Cluck, May 01 '17 at 19:53
@KevinB I've tried it without contentType too, still doesn't work. Any other suggestions? — Babak Rz, May 01 '17 at 19:54
you have to send some response to FE right? `res.send('something')` ?? otherwise that request will get timedout in browser — Rohith K P, May 01 '17 at 19:54
Besides MikeC's advice, do you have something parsing the body? bodyparser maybe? — Kevin B, May 01 '17 at 19:54
@MikeC Yes, the server side is being called and I am seeing {} on the server side console. — Babak Rz, May 01 '17 at 19:55
@Mendax I tried JSON.stringify({test: "test"}), still not working — Babak Rz, May 01 '17 at 19:56
@rie `dataType: "json" sends data in JSON` eh, no, that's not what dataType does. — Kevin B, May 01 '17 at 19:56
@rie Wow, that worked! I'mm definitely sure I tried application/json before changing it to application/x-www-form-urlencoded. Somehow it's working now! If you post this as an answer, I will mark it correct. — Babak Rz, May 01 '17 at 20:00
Why would you want to use Ajax request when you can actually post it directly using `"action"`attribute? — Ozan, May 01 '17 at 20:02

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 01 '17 at 20:04

dataType: "json" expects data in JSON, but contentType: "application/x-www-form-urlencoded" sends data in different way. Maybe you should write dataType: "json", contentType: "application/json" or dataType: "html", contentType: "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"?

$.ajax post doesn't post data (JavaScript)

1 Answers1