Intermediate Express.js: How To Render HTML From A EJS File?

The Express.js apps we have developed so far are just simply getting requests from users and sending matched message back to them. However, it is not what we want in the real web application.

In most case, we want to send back a relevant web page when our app receives request from user.

In order to do that, we need to npm install ejs file in the Express, create HTML page in the ejs file, and render HTMl from the ejs file.

I know it sounds confuse now. I am going to explain more details in the example.

EJS stands for embedded JavaScript. It lets us embed JavaScript code variables if statements loops inside of HTML.

How to render HTML from a EJS file?

Step One: Create a HTML page in EJS file

Firstly, in our server, we create a folder named "EJSDemo". In this folder, we touch two files, one is "app.js", and the other one is "home.ejs".

We are going to write a simple HTML code in the "home.ejs" file. The instructor create a dog page, but I would like to create a "Fresh Food for Summer" page.

Step Two: Install EJS and Use res.render()

We need to type "npm install ejs --save" to install EJS first, so Express.js can connect and run the ejs file successfully.

Then, in the app.js file, we need to write "res.render("XXX.ejs")" inside the app.get function. This will allow the server to find the HTML page and send it back to user.

Step Three: Run the app

We open the default link on browser, and it shows the HTML page I just created.

However, this still have limitation for web application because it will only send back the exact same page every single time. In most web apps, that's not what we want. In the next post, I will share my study notes to solve this problem.

Comments

Intermediate Express.Js: Write Conditions and Loops In The EJS (study note)

We continue to use the app.js which we have build to be the study example. In the last post, we only add a simple EJS tag <%= thingVar %> inside h1 tag. This will match the "thing" to any "thing" request from the user. If Statement Today, the course shows us to write a simple if statement in the EJS file. I learn to apply it to my own app. In the if statement, if users send"/wantto/workout" request, the page will show a new content "Good Idea!". We wrote the if statement in the "diet.ejs" file, and we add "<% %>" tags around the code. We have to wrap every line of JavaScript anytime JavaScript starts and ends. Moreover, you may see there are two types of ejs tags here: <%= %> The one with equal sign. According to the course, when we add equal sign, the value that is returned inside of the tag will be rendered to the HTML page. it will be added to the HTML. For example, if we write ...

Intermediate Express.js: How To Add Styles & Partials in EJS File?

So far, we only have simple HTML tags and ejs tags in each ejs file. Every template page has no style at all. And the basic HTML header and footer are also missing. Today, I learned how to add styles and partials in ejs file. Link Style Step One: Touch a Separate CSS file I create a new directory "Style" under the "EJSDemo" directory, then I add a new CSS file "app.css" inside "Style" folder. Step Two: Add app.use(express.static()) in the app.js I add app.use(express.static("style")) in the "app.js". This will tell Express.js to serve the content of "Style" directory. Step Three: Write styles in CSS file I simple give body an orange background color and set text color to be grey. Step Four: Link to CSS file in the EJS file I just add <link> tag to link the "app.css" file on the top of the h1 tag in each ejs template. As the result, when I run the app and...

Express.js Study Note: Route Order Is Matters!

Last post, I have learned to develop my first Express App from the course. Basically, it has three routes. When we type "/", "/bye" and "/cat", the app will receive the request and send the matched response to us. But, if we want to send a nice message when users type other texts after slash, what should we do? We can write a "*" route which will run whenever out app gets any request to any url aside from those three routes that we have already defined. app.get("*", function) In the App.js file, we add a new star route, and it will send you a new message whenever you type any undefined request. I run my app, and put some random texts after slash, and hit enter. All I get is "You are a star!". If we move the star route to the top of those three routes, what will happen? The instructor run the app, the result is even though we send the "/", "/bye" or "/cat" request, all we get...

Learn Bootcamp From Zero

Search This Blog