How to dynamically read external json files in node.js? - json

Question

I am creating a website that reads externally hosted json files and then uses node.js to populate the sites content.
Just to demonstrate what I'm after, this is a really simplified version of what I'm trying to do in node.js
var ids = [111, 222, 333];
ids.forEach(function(id){
var json = getJSONsomehow('http://www.website.com/'+id+'.json');
buildPageContent(json);
});
Is what I want to do possible?
(Marked as a duplicate of "How do I return the response from an asynchronous call?" see my comment below for my rebuttal)

Answer 1

You are trying to get it synchronously. What you should aim for instead, is not a function used like this:
var json = getJSONsomehow('http://www.website.com/'+id+'.json');
but more like this:
getJSONsomehow('http://www.website.com/'+id+'.json', function (err, json) {
if (err) {
// error
} else {
// your json can be used here
}
});
or like this:
getJSONsomehow('http://www.website.com/'+id+'.json')
.then(function (json) {
// you can use your json here
})
.catch(function (err) {
// error
});
You can use the request module to get your data with something like this:
var request = require('request');
var url = 'http://www.website.com/'+id+'.json';
request.get({url: url, json: true}, (err, res, data) => {
if (err) {
// handle error
} else if (res.statusCode === 200) {
// you can use data here - already parsed as json
} else {
// response other than 200 OK
}
});
For a working example see this answer.
For more info see: https://www.npmjs.com/package/request

Answer 2

I think problem is in async request. Function will return result before request finished.
AJAX_req.open( "GET", url, true );
Third parameter specified async request.
You should add handler and do all you want after request finished.
For example:
function AJAX_JSON_Req( url ) {
var AJAX_req = new XMLHttpRequest.XMLHttpRequest();
AJAX_req.open( "GET", url, true );
AJAX_req.setRequestHeader("Content-type", "application/json");
AJAX_req.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (AJAX_req.readyState == 4 && AJAX_req.status == 200) {
console.log(AJAX_req.responseText);
}
};
}