| # qs <sup>[![Version Badge][2]][1]</sup> |
| |
| [![Build Status][3]][4] |
| [![dependency status][5]][6] |
| [![dev dependency status][7]][8] |
| [![License][license-image]][license-url] |
| [![Downloads][downloads-image]][downloads-url] |
| |
| [![npm badge][11]][1] |
| |
| A querystring parsing and stringifying library with some added security. |
| |
| Lead Maintainer: [Jordan Harband](https://github.com/ljharb) |
| |
| The **qs** module was originally created and maintained by [TJ Holowaychuk](https://github.com/visionmedia/node-querystring). |
| |
| ## Usage |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var qs = require('qs'); |
| var assert = require('assert'); |
| |
| var obj = qs.parse('a=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(obj, { a: 'c' }); |
| |
| var str = qs.stringify(obj); |
| assert.equal(str, 'a=c'); |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Parsing Objects |
| |
| [](#preventEval) |
| ```javascript |
| qs.parse(string, [options]); |
| ``` |
| |
| **qs** allows you to create nested objects within your query strings, by surrounding the name of sub-keys with square brackets `[]`. |
| For example, the string `'foo[bar]=baz'` converts to: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.deepEqual(qs.parse('foo[bar]=baz'), { |
| foo: { |
| bar: 'baz' |
| } |
| }); |
| ``` |
| |
| When using the `plainObjects` option the parsed value is returned as a null object, created via `Object.create(null)` and as such you should be aware that prototype methods will not exist on it and a user may set those names to whatever value they like: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var nullObject = qs.parse('a[hasOwnProperty]=b', { plainObjects: true }); |
| assert.deepEqual(nullObject, { a: { hasOwnProperty: 'b' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| By default parameters that would overwrite properties on the object prototype are ignored, if you wish to keep the data from those fields either use `plainObjects` as mentioned above, or set `allowPrototypes` to `true` which will allow user input to overwrite those properties. *WARNING* It is generally a bad idea to enable this option as it can cause problems when attempting to use the properties that have been overwritten. Always be careful with this option. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var protoObject = qs.parse('a[hasOwnProperty]=b', { allowPrototypes: true }); |
| assert.deepEqual(protoObject, { a: { hasOwnProperty: 'b' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| URI encoded strings work too: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.deepEqual(qs.parse('a%5Bb%5D=c'), { |
| a: { b: 'c' } |
| }); |
| ``` |
| |
| You can also nest your objects, like `'foo[bar][baz]=foobarbaz'`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.deepEqual(qs.parse('foo[bar][baz]=foobarbaz'), { |
| foo: { |
| bar: { |
| baz: 'foobarbaz' |
| } |
| } |
| }); |
| ``` |
| |
| By default, when nesting objects **qs** will only parse up to 5 children deep. This means if you attempt to parse a string like |
| `'a[b][c][d][e][f][g][h][i]=j'` your resulting object will be: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var expected = { |
| a: { |
| b: { |
| c: { |
| d: { |
| e: { |
| f: { |
| '[g][h][i]': 'j' |
| } |
| } |
| } |
| } |
| } |
| } |
| }; |
| var string = 'a[b][c][d][e][f][g][h][i]=j'; |
| assert.deepEqual(qs.parse(string), expected); |
| ``` |
| |
| This depth can be overridden by passing a `depth` option to `qs.parse(string, [options])`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var deep = qs.parse('a[b][c][d][e][f][g][h][i]=j', { depth: 1 }); |
| assert.deepEqual(deep, { a: { b: { '[c][d][e][f][g][h][i]': 'j' } } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| The depth limit helps mitigate abuse when **qs** is used to parse user input, and it is recommended to keep it a reasonably small number. |
| |
| For similar reasons, by default **qs** will only parse up to 1000 parameters. This can be overridden by passing a `parameterLimit` option: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var limited = qs.parse('a=b&c=d', { parameterLimit: 1 }); |
| assert.deepEqual(limited, { a: 'b' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| To bypass the leading question mark, use `ignoreQueryPrefix`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var prefixed = qs.parse('?a=b&c=d', { ignoreQueryPrefix: true }); |
| assert.deepEqual(prefixed, { a: 'b', c: 'd' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| An optional delimiter can also be passed: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var delimited = qs.parse('a=b;c=d', { delimiter: ';' }); |
| assert.deepEqual(delimited, { a: 'b', c: 'd' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Delimiters can be a regular expression too: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var regexed = qs.parse('a=b;c=d,e=f', { delimiter: /[;,]/ }); |
| assert.deepEqual(regexed, { a: 'b', c: 'd', e: 'f' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Option `allowDots` can be used to enable dot notation: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withDots = qs.parse('a.b=c', { allowDots: true }); |
| assert.deepEqual(withDots, { a: { b: 'c' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| If you have to deal with legacy browsers or services, there's |
| also support for decoding percent-encoded octets as iso-8859-1: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var oldCharset = qs.parse('a=%A7', { charset: 'iso-8859-1' }); |
| assert.deepEqual(oldCharset, { a: '§' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Some services add an initial `utf8=✓` value to forms so that old |
| Internet Explorer versions are more likely to submit the form as |
| utf-8. Additionally, the server can check the value against wrong |
| encodings of the checkmark character and detect that a query string |
| or `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` body was *not* sent as |
| utf-8, eg. if the form had an `accept-charset` parameter or the |
| containing page had a different character set. |
| |
| **qs** supports this mechanism via the `charsetSentinel` option. |
| If specified, the `utf8` parameter will be omitted from the |
| returned object. It will be used to switch to `iso-8859-1`/`utf-8` |
| mode depending on how the checkmark is encoded. |
| |
| **Important**: When you specify both the `charset` option and the |
| `charsetSentinel` option, the `charset` will be overridden when |
| the request contains a `utf8` parameter from which the actual |
| charset can be deduced. In that sense the `charset` will behave |
| as the default charset rather than the authoritative charset. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var detectedAsUtf8 = qs.parse('utf8=%E2%9C%93&a=%C3%B8', { |
| charset: 'iso-8859-1', |
| charsetSentinel: true |
| }); |
| assert.deepEqual(detectedAsUtf8, { a: 'ø' }); |
| |
| // Browsers encode the checkmark as ✓ when submitting as iso-8859-1: |
| var detectedAsIso8859_1 = qs.parse('utf8=%26%2310003%3B&a=%F8', { |
| charset: 'utf-8', |
| charsetSentinel: true |
| }); |
| assert.deepEqual(detectedAsIso8859_1, { a: 'ø' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| If you want to decode the `&#...;` syntax to the actual character, |
| you can specify the `interpretNumericEntities` option as well: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var detectedAsIso8859_1 = qs.parse('a=%26%239786%3B', { |
| charset: 'iso-8859-1', |
| interpretNumericEntities: true |
| }); |
| assert.deepEqual(detectedAsIso8859_1, { a: '☺' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| It also works when the charset has been detected in `charsetSentinel` |
| mode. |
| |
| ### Parsing Arrays |
| |
| **qs** can also parse arrays using a similar `[]` notation: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withArray = qs.parse('a[]=b&a[]=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(withArray, { a: ['b', 'c'] }); |
| ``` |
| |
| You may specify an index as well: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withIndexes = qs.parse('a[1]=c&a[0]=b'); |
| assert.deepEqual(withIndexes, { a: ['b', 'c'] }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Note that the only difference between an index in an array and a key in an object is that the value between the brackets must be a number |
| to create an array. When creating arrays with specific indices, **qs** will compact a sparse array to only the existing values preserving |
| their order: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var noSparse = qs.parse('a[1]=b&a[15]=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(noSparse, { a: ['b', 'c'] }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Note that an empty string is also a value, and will be preserved: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withEmptyString = qs.parse('a[]=&a[]=b'); |
| assert.deepEqual(withEmptyString, { a: ['', 'b'] }); |
| |
| var withIndexedEmptyString = qs.parse('a[0]=b&a[1]=&a[2]=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(withIndexedEmptyString, { a: ['b', '', 'c'] }); |
| ``` |
| |
| **qs** will also limit specifying indices in an array to a maximum index of `20`. Any array members with an index of greater than `20` will |
| instead be converted to an object with the index as the key. This is needed to handle cases when someone sent, for example, `a[999999999]` and it will take significant time to iterate over this huge array. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withMaxIndex = qs.parse('a[100]=b'); |
| assert.deepEqual(withMaxIndex, { a: { '100': 'b' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| This limit can be overridden by passing an `arrayLimit` option: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withArrayLimit = qs.parse('a[1]=b', { arrayLimit: 0 }); |
| assert.deepEqual(withArrayLimit, { a: { '1': 'b' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| To disable array parsing entirely, set `parseArrays` to `false`. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var noParsingArrays = qs.parse('a[]=b', { parseArrays: false }); |
| assert.deepEqual(noParsingArrays, { a: { '0': 'b' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| If you mix notations, **qs** will merge the two items into an object: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var mixedNotation = qs.parse('a[0]=b&a[b]=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(mixedNotation, { a: { '0': 'b', b: 'c' } }); |
| ``` |
| |
| You can also create arrays of objects: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var arraysOfObjects = qs.parse('a[][b]=c'); |
| assert.deepEqual(arraysOfObjects, { a: [{ b: 'c' }] }); |
| ``` |
| |
| Some people use comma to join array, **qs** can parse it: |
| ```javascript |
| var arraysOfObjects = qs.parse('a=b,c', { comma: true }) |
| assert.deepEqual(arraysOfObjects, { a: ['b', 'c'] }) |
| ``` |
| (_this cannot convert nested objects, such as `a={b:1},{c:d}`_) |
| |
| ### Stringifying |
| |
| [](#preventEval) |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify(object, [options]); |
| ``` |
| |
| When stringifying, **qs** by default URI encodes output. Objects are stringified as you would expect: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b' }), 'a=b'); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: { b: 'c' } }), 'a%5Bb%5D=c'); |
| ``` |
| |
| This encoding can be disabled by setting the `encode` option to `false`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var unencoded = qs.stringify({ a: { b: 'c' } }, { encode: false }); |
| assert.equal(unencoded, 'a[b]=c'); |
| ``` |
| |
| Encoding can be disabled for keys by setting the `encodeValuesOnly` option to `true`: |
| ```javascript |
| var encodedValues = qs.stringify( |
| { a: 'b', c: ['d', 'e=f'], f: [['g'], ['h']] }, |
| { encodeValuesOnly: true } |
| ); |
| assert.equal(encodedValues,'a=b&c[0]=d&c[1]=e%3Df&f[0][0]=g&f[1][0]=h'); |
| ``` |
| |
| This encoding can also be replaced by a custom encoding method set as `encoder` option: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var encoded = qs.stringify({ a: { b: 'c' } }, { encoder: function (str) { |
| // Passed in values `a`, `b`, `c` |
| return // Return encoded string |
| }}) |
| ``` |
| |
| _(Note: the `encoder` option does not apply if `encode` is `false`)_ |
| |
| Analogue to the `encoder` there is a `decoder` option for `parse` to override decoding of properties and values: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var decoded = qs.parse('x=z', { decoder: function (str) { |
| // Passed in values `x`, `z` |
| return // Return decoded string |
| }}) |
| ``` |
| |
| Examples beyond this point will be shown as though the output is not URI encoded for clarity. Please note that the return values in these cases *will* be URI encoded during real usage. |
| |
| When arrays are stringified, by default they are given explicit indices: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c', 'd'] }); |
| // 'a[0]=b&a[1]=c&a[2]=d' |
| ``` |
| |
| You may override this by setting the `indices` option to `false`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c', 'd'] }, { indices: false }); |
| // 'a=b&a=c&a=d' |
| ``` |
| |
| You may use the `arrayFormat` option to specify the format of the output array: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c'] }, { arrayFormat: 'indices' }) |
| // 'a[0]=b&a[1]=c' |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c'] }, { arrayFormat: 'brackets' }) |
| // 'a[]=b&a[]=c' |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c'] }, { arrayFormat: 'repeat' }) |
| // 'a=b&a=c' |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c'] }, { arrayFormat: 'comma' }) |
| // 'a=b,c' |
| ``` |
| |
| When objects are stringified, by default they use bracket notation: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify({ a: { b: { c: 'd', e: 'f' } } }); |
| // 'a[b][c]=d&a[b][e]=f' |
| ``` |
| |
| You may override this to use dot notation by setting the `allowDots` option to `true`: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| qs.stringify({ a: { b: { c: 'd', e: 'f' } } }, { allowDots: true }); |
| // 'a.b.c=d&a.b.e=f' |
| ``` |
| |
| Empty strings and null values will omit the value, but the equals sign (=) remains in place: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: '' }), 'a='); |
| ``` |
| |
| Key with no values (such as an empty object or array) will return nothing: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: [] }), ''); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: {} }), ''); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: [{}] }), ''); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: { b: []} }), ''); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: { b: {}} }), ''); |
| ``` |
| |
| Properties that are set to `undefined` will be omitted entirely: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: null, b: undefined }), 'a='); |
| ``` |
| |
| The query string may optionally be prepended with a question mark: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b', c: 'd' }, { addQueryPrefix: true }), '?a=b&c=d'); |
| ``` |
| |
| The delimiter may be overridden with stringify as well: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b', c: 'd' }, { delimiter: ';' }), 'a=b;c=d'); |
| ``` |
| |
| If you only want to override the serialization of `Date` objects, you can provide a `serializeDate` option: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var date = new Date(7); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: date }), 'a=1970-01-01T00:00:00.007Z'.replace(/:/g, '%3A')); |
| assert.equal( |
| qs.stringify({ a: date }, { serializeDate: function (d) { return d.getTime(); } }), |
| 'a=7' |
| ); |
| ``` |
| |
| You may use the `sort` option to affect the order of parameter keys: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| function alphabeticalSort(a, b) { |
| return a.localeCompare(b); |
| } |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'c', z: 'y', b : 'f' }, { sort: alphabeticalSort }), 'a=c&b=f&z=y'); |
| ``` |
| |
| Finally, you can use the `filter` option to restrict which keys will be included in the stringified output. |
| If you pass a function, it will be called for each key to obtain the replacement value. Otherwise, if you |
| pass an array, it will be used to select properties and array indices for stringification: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| function filterFunc(prefix, value) { |
| if (prefix == 'b') { |
| // Return an `undefined` value to omit a property. |
| return; |
| } |
| if (prefix == 'e[f]') { |
| return value.getTime(); |
| } |
| if (prefix == 'e[g][0]') { |
| return value * 2; |
| } |
| return value; |
| } |
| qs.stringify({ a: 'b', c: 'd', e: { f: new Date(123), g: [2] } }, { filter: filterFunc }); |
| // 'a=b&c=d&e[f]=123&e[g][0]=4' |
| qs.stringify({ a: 'b', c: 'd', e: 'f' }, { filter: ['a', 'e'] }); |
| // 'a=b&e=f' |
| qs.stringify({ a: ['b', 'c', 'd'], e: 'f' }, { filter: ['a', 0, 2] }); |
| // 'a[0]=b&a[2]=d' |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Handling of `null` values |
| |
| By default, `null` values are treated like empty strings: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var withNull = qs.stringify({ a: null, b: '' }); |
| assert.equal(withNull, 'a=&b='); |
| ``` |
| |
| Parsing does not distinguish between parameters with and without equal signs. Both are converted to empty strings. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var equalsInsensitive = qs.parse('a&b='); |
| assert.deepEqual(equalsInsensitive, { a: '', b: '' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| To distinguish between `null` values and empty strings use the `strictNullHandling` flag. In the result string the `null` |
| values have no `=` sign: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var strictNull = qs.stringify({ a: null, b: '' }, { strictNullHandling: true }); |
| assert.equal(strictNull, 'a&b='); |
| ``` |
| |
| To parse values without `=` back to `null` use the `strictNullHandling` flag: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var parsedStrictNull = qs.parse('a&b=', { strictNullHandling: true }); |
| assert.deepEqual(parsedStrictNull, { a: null, b: '' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| To completely skip rendering keys with `null` values, use the `skipNulls` flag: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var nullsSkipped = qs.stringify({ a: 'b', c: null}, { skipNulls: true }); |
| assert.equal(nullsSkipped, 'a=b'); |
| ``` |
| |
| If you're communicating with legacy systems, you can switch to `iso-8859-1` |
| using the `charset` option: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var iso = qs.stringify({ æ: 'æ' }, { charset: 'iso-8859-1' }); |
| assert.equal(iso, '%E6=%E6'); |
| ``` |
| |
| Characters that don't exist in `iso-8859-1` will be converted to numeric |
| entities, similar to what browsers do: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var numeric = qs.stringify({ a: '☺' }, { charset: 'iso-8859-1' }); |
| assert.equal(numeric, 'a=%26%239786%3B'); |
| ``` |
| |
| You can use the `charsetSentinel` option to announce the character by |
| including an `utf8=✓` parameter with the proper encoding if the checkmark, |
| similar to what Ruby on Rails and others do when submitting forms. |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var sentinel = qs.stringify({ a: '☺' }, { charsetSentinel: true }); |
| assert.equal(sentinel, 'utf8=%E2%9C%93&a=%E2%98%BA'); |
| |
| var isoSentinel = qs.stringify({ a: 'æ' }, { charsetSentinel: true, charset: 'iso-8859-1' }); |
| assert.equal(isoSentinel, 'utf8=%26%2310003%3B&a=%E6'); |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Dealing with special character sets |
| |
| By default the encoding and decoding of characters is done in `utf-8`, |
| and `iso-8859-1` support is also built in via the `charset` parameter. |
| |
| If you wish to encode querystrings to a different character set (i.e. |
| [Shift JIS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shift_JIS)) you can use the |
| [`qs-iconv`](https://github.com/martinheidegger/qs-iconv) library: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var encoder = require('qs-iconv/encoder')('shift_jis'); |
| var shiftJISEncoded = qs.stringify({ a: 'こんにちは!' }, { encoder: encoder }); |
| assert.equal(shiftJISEncoded, 'a=%82%B1%82%F1%82%C9%82%BF%82%CD%81I'); |
| ``` |
| |
| This also works for decoding of query strings: |
| |
| ```javascript |
| var decoder = require('qs-iconv/decoder')('shift_jis'); |
| var obj = qs.parse('a=%82%B1%82%F1%82%C9%82%BF%82%CD%81I', { decoder: decoder }); |
| assert.deepEqual(obj, { a: 'こんにちは!' }); |
| ``` |
| |
| ### RFC 3986 and RFC 1738 space encoding |
| |
| RFC3986 used as default option and encodes ' ' to *%20* which is backward compatible. |
| In the same time, output can be stringified as per RFC1738 with ' ' equal to '+'. |
| |
| ``` |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b c' }), 'a=b%20c'); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b c' }, { format : 'RFC3986' }), 'a=b%20c'); |
| assert.equal(qs.stringify({ a: 'b c' }, { format : 'RFC1738' }), 'a=b+c'); |
| ``` |
| |
| [1]: https://npmjs.org/package/qs |
| [2]: http://versionbadg.es/ljharb/qs.svg |
| [3]: https://api.travis-ci.org/ljharb/qs.svg |
| [4]: https://travis-ci.org/ljharb/qs |
| [5]: https://david-dm.org/ljharb/qs.svg |
| [6]: https://david-dm.org/ljharb/qs |
| [7]: https://david-dm.org/ljharb/qs/dev-status.svg |
| [8]: https://david-dm.org/ljharb/qs?type=dev |
| [9]: https://ci.testling.com/ljharb/qs.png |
| [10]: https://ci.testling.com/ljharb/qs |
| [11]: https://nodei.co/npm/qs.png?downloads=true&stars=true |
| [license-image]: http://img.shields.io/npm/l/qs.svg |
| [license-url]: LICENSE |
| [downloads-image]: http://img.shields.io/npm/dm/qs.svg |
| [downloads-url]: http://npm-stat.com/charts.html?package=qs |