301 Redirect with Express

By  on  

If you've created a site using Node.js, there's a great chance you've used the Express framework.  Express has turned into a massive project and for good reason:  it's loaded with useful functionality, an easy API, and massive community support.  On of my recent projects was using Express and I loved it!

One problem I recently needed to solve was creating a 301 redirect from an old staging domain to the new production domain.  Here's how you can create that 301 redirect with Express:

app.use(function forceLiveDomain(req, res, next) {
  // Don't allow user to hit Heroku now that we have a domain
  var host = req.get('Host');
  if (host === 'serviceworker-cookbook.herokuapp.com') {
    return res.redirect(301, 'https://serviceworke.rs/' + req.originalUrl);
  }
  return next();
});

Surprisingly the redirect code is the first argument to redirect instead of the URL.  It's important to call next() at the end of the function or a non-match will make your app hang!

Recent Features

Incredible Demos

  • By
    pointer Media Query

    As more devices emerge and differences in device interaction are implemented, the more important good CSS code will become.  In order to write good CSS, we need some indicator about device capabilities.  We've used CSS media queries thus far, with checks for max-width and pixel ratios.

  • By
    CSS Counters

    Counters.  They were a staple of the Geocities / early web scene that many of us "older" developers grew up with;  a feature then, the butt of web jokes now.  CSS has implemented its own type of counter, one more sane and straight-forward than the ole...

Discussion

  1. Great code snippet and saved me a ton of time. Thanks!

  2. Joe

    You shouldn’t have the trailing slash after serviceworke.rs. I.e. instead of this:

    res.redirect(301, 'https://serviceworke.rs/' + req.originalUrl);
    

    It should be this:

    res.redirect(301, 'https://serviceworke.rs' + req.originalUrl);
    

    Otherwise it redirects to:

    https://serviceworke.rs//the/path
    

Wrap your code in <pre class="{language}"></pre> tags, link to a GitHub gist, JSFiddle fiddle, or CodePen pen to embed!