res.format()

res.format(object)

Performs content-negotiation on the Accept HTTP header on the request object, when present. It uses req.accepts() to select a handler for the request, based on the acceptable types ordered by their quality values. If the header is not specified, the first callback is invoked. When no match is found, the server responds with 406 “Not Acceptable”, or invokes the default callback.

The Content-Type response header is set when a callback is selected. However, you may alter this within the callback using methods such as res.set() or res.type().

The following example would respond with { "message": "hey" } when the Accept header field is set to “application/json” or “*/json” (however if it is “*/*”, then the response will be “hey”).

res.format({
  'text/plain': function(){
    res.send('hey');
  },

  'text/html': function(){
    res.send('<p>hey</p>');
  },

  'application/json': function(){
    res.send({ message: 'hey' });
  },

  'default': function() {
    // log the request and respond with 406
    res.status(406).send('Not Acceptable');
  }
});

In addition to canonicalized MIME types, you may also use extension names mapped to these types for a slightly less verbose implementation:

res.format({
  text: function(){
    res.send('hey');
  },

  html: function(){
    res.send('<p>hey</p>');
  },

  json: function(){
    res.send({ message: 'hey' });
  }
});