How to Download Files from a Node.js Server Using Express.js?

Downloading Files from Node.js Server Using Express

Problem:
How to download files from a file stored in the server, Downloading a file to local machine by accessing a page in Node.js server?

Solution:

Using the helper functions provided by Express.js can simplify this process:

app.get('/download', function(req, res){
  const file = `${__dirname}/upload-folder/dramaticpenguin.MOV`;
  res.download(file); // Set disposition and send it.
});

Old solution :

In order for the browser to recognize the file name, you need to use other HTTP header to specify more information:

res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=dramaticpenguin.MOV');

You can also send MIME types, for example:

res.setHeader('Content-type', 'video/quicktime');

The following is a more detailed sample code:

var path = require('path');
var mime = require('mime');
var fs = require('fs');

app.get('/download', function(req, res){

  var file = __dirname + '/upload-folder/dramaticpenguin.MOV';

  var filename = path.basename(file);
  var mimetype = mime.getType(file);

  res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=' + filename);
  res.setHeader('Content-type', mimetype);

  var filestream = fs.createReadStream(file);
  filestream.pipe(res);
});

Please Note that this example code uses a stream to read the file, which is the preferred asynchronous method in Node.js.

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