How do you serve client/index.html from server/app.js?

Question

My file structure:

- simulated-selves
  - client
    - index.html
  - server
    - app.js

I'm trying to send the user index.html when they hit the / route.

// server/app.js

app.get('/', function(req, res) {
  res.sendFile(__dirname + '/../client/index.html', null, function(err) {
    if (err) {
      console.log('error: ', err);
      res.status(err.status).end();
    }
    else res.status(200).end();
  });
});

It's not working though. This is the error that gets logged out:

error:  { [Error: Forbidden] status: 403 }

So basically I have access to __dirname in app.js. Since app.js is in the server folder, __dirname resolves to /Users/azerner/code/simulated-selves/server. Since I need to access index.html in the client folder, I need to manipulate this __dirname that I have. I know I could do some string manipulation, but I'm looking for the best way to do this.

Yes, it should be /../client/index.html! It's still giving me the same error though. And yes - I've restarted my server. — Adam Zerner
– Adam Zerner, Commented Jul 18, 2015 at 21:25

filype · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-18 21:54:37Z

1

There is a node build-in module that deals with resolving path, which might help you with this issue

The function path.resolve will deal with the relative part (/../) and build an absolute path for you.

For example:

var path = require('path');
var clientFile = path.resolve(__dirname + '/../client/index.html');

See more info on the documentation on path http://devdocs.io/node/path#path_path_resolve_from_to

edited Jul 18, 2015 at 21:54

answered Jul 18, 2015 at 21:36

filype

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3 Comments

Adam Zerner Over a year ago

path.resolve(__dirname, '/../client/index.html') didn't work, but path.resolve(__dirname + '/../client/index.html') did.

filype Over a year ago

excellent, i wonder why passing each as arguments didnt work.

Adam Zerner Over a year ago

Idk, the documentation was hard for me to understand. Could you update your answer please?

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