Скачать или смотреть Solving the 404 Not Found Error: How to Fix Your Express API Routes

Discover how to troubleshoot and fix the `404 Not Found` error in your Express application by properly structuring your API routes.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/69517069/ asked by the user 'YassBan' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15816207/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/69703568/ provided by the user 'jkalandarov' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8852720/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: server cannot handle requests

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding and Resolving the 404 Not Found Error in Express API Requests

When working with web applications, encountering errors can be a common frustration. One of the most common issues developers face is the 404 Not Found error, particularly when making requests to an API. In this guide, we'll explore what this error means, why it occurs, and how to solve it in your Express application.

The Problem: 404 Not Found Error

Imagine you've built an API for your web application using Express, and everything seems to be set up correctly. However, when you attempt to make a GET request to retrieve user data, you receive the dreaded 404 error in the console, indicating that the resource could not be found. In this case, you're trying to access http://localhost:3000/users, but for some reason, the server cannot handle this request.

Code Breakdown

To better understand the situation, let's analyze the relevant parts of the code provided.

Client-Side Code

In the client-side code, we initiate a fetch request to retrieve users:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Here, we're trying to access the users endpoint. This line is where the issue originates if the server isn't configured correctly.

Server-Side Code

Next, let’s look at the server-side code where the Express server handles the request:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The problem arises here: notice that the route defined in app.get is missing a crucial element.

The Solution: Properly Defining API Routes

The solution to the 404 Not Found issue is simple and often overlooked – you need to include a forward slash before the endpoint name in your route definition.

Step-by-Step Fix

Edit the Route Definition: Update your app.get call to include a forward slash in front of users:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Relaunch Your Server: After updating your route, don't forget to restart your server. This ensures that the changes take effect.

Test the Fetch Request: Now, go back to your client-side script and test the fetch request again by calling the getUsers() function. You should now receive the expected data rather than a 404 error.

Conclusion

The 404 Not Found error can be a significant hurdle in the development process, but it often stems from simple oversights, such as incorrectly defining API endpoints. By ensuring that your routes are specified correctly – in this case by adding the / before users – you can resolve the issue effectively.

Next time you encounter a similar error, remember to check your route declarations in Express. It may save you time and frustration in debugging your application. Happy coding!