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POCan Express alter incoming requests and redirect to a different method after alteration?
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copied!<p>I have an Express (v3) app where (in an ideal scenario) a user types a string into an input field, waits for an autocomplete function to return a list matching the string, and chooses from that list, thereby adding an 'id' value to a hidden field. When they click 'Go', their request is routed to this endpoint with their query:</p> <pre><code>app.get('/predict', function(req, res) { // req.query should be something like // { name: "wat", id: 123 } res.render('predictions'); } </code></pre> <p>I want to change this functionality slightly, so that if the req.query.id is empty (i.e. the user didn't wait for the autocomplete), I don't have to redirect them back saying "Please wait for the autocomplete".</p> <p>In my mind, I want to extend the above endpoint to do something like</p> <pre><code>app.get('/predict', function(req, res) { // req.query is { name: 'wat', id: '' } if(req.query.id=='') { // then the user didn't wait for the autocomplete, so // guess the id ourselves } else { // ... some code res.render('predictions'); } } </code></pre> <p>In guessing the ID for myself, I'm using the same external API as I use for my autocomplete function, which returns an array of results with confidence values based on a query parameter, i.e. how likely it thinks the result is what I want.</p> <p>Now we get to the question. Can I do something like this?</p> <pre><code>app.get('/predict', function(req, res) { // req.query is { name: 'wat', id: '' } if (req.query.id=='') { makeRequestToAPIWithQuery(req.query.name, function(err, suggestions) { // suggestions[0] should contain my 'best match' var bestMatchName = suggestions[0].name; var bestMatchId = suggestions[0].id; // I want to redirect back to *this* endpoint, but with different query parameters res.redirect('/predict?name='+bestMatchName+'&id='+bestMatchId); } } else { // some code res.render('predictions'); } } </code></pre> <p>I want the server to make a different request to itself if req.query.id is empty. So after the redirect, req.query.id shouldn't be empty and res will render my 'predictions' view as required.</p> <p>Is this possible/wise/safe? Am I missing something?</p> <p>Big thanks in advance.</p>

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