Using Express to serve static files, return Cannot GET?

Question

I try to use Express to serve static files.

Here is my code: test.js

var express = require('express'),
    app = express();

app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/public'));

app.listen(8080);

Here is my folder directory:

├── public
│   ├── folder1
│   │     └── many .js files
│   └── folder2
│         └── many .xml files
├── test.js
│
└── node_modules

My node is 6.5.0, npm is 3.10.3

After I run node test.js, everything is OK. However, I open http://localhost:8080/, it returns Cannot GET /

peteb · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-09 20:40:16Z

1

The reason why you're receiving Cannot GET / is because you do not have a route for GET / just like the error says, if you want to see what is in your /public folder you would need to make a request to http://localhost:8080/folder1or http://localhost:8080/folder2.

To have express return something besides Cannot GET / when requesting http://localhost:8080 then add the following to your test.js

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  return res.status(200).send('This is the root of my express application');
});

answered Nov 9, 2016 at 20:40

peteb

19.6k9 gold badges58 silver badges67 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Wei Xia Over a year ago

YES! I try to http://localhost:8080/folder1/fileName.js, and it works. Thank you!

Niclas Pallin · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-09 20:25:58Z

0

Make sure you have a index.html in the public folder.

Starter guide for express: http://expressjs.com/en/starter/hello-world.html

answered Nov 9, 2016 at 20:25

Niclas Pallin

864 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using Express to serve static files, return Cannot GET?

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related