Cannot read post parameters with Node.js and Express framework - node.js

Question

I have a node.js server with express Framework.
var express = require('express');
var http = require('http');
var api_helper = require('./helpers/api_helper');
var app = express();
app.use(app.router);
app.use(express.bodyParser());
app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 8081);
app.post('/api/nodev1/users/login', function(req, res){
var email = req.param('email', null);
var password = req.param('password', null);
console.log(email);console.log(password);
});
http.createServer(app).listen(app.get('port'), function(){
console.log('Express server listening on port ' + app.get('port'));
});
When I try to post a request to /api/nodev1/users/login I cannot read the parameters. I am trying with curl as follows:
curl -d "email=user#example2.com" -d "password=mypassword" http://localhost:8081/api/nodev1/users/login
The email and password are undefined.

Answer 1

You have to move app.use(app.router) below app.use(express.bodyParser()). app.router is just a hook in which stage to handle your routes. And if it comes before bodyParser the body is not parsed.
Your code could look like this (in case I didn't manage to explain understandable):
var app = express();
app.use(express.bodyParser());
app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 8081);
app.use(app.router);
// I added following line so you can better see what happens
app.use(express.logger('dev'));
app.post('/api/nodev1/users/login', function(req, res){ ... }
Offtopic remark: express.bodyParser() should only be used when you have file-uploads. And then you have to take care of deleting temp-files. If you don't have file-uploads, you are better off with only
app.use(express.json());
app.use(express.urlencoded());
I just wanted to add this in case you didn't know. I ran in problems because I didn't know...
Edit for Express 4
Thanks to #jonathan-ong there is no app.use(app.router) since Express 4:
All routing methods will be added in the order in which they appear. You should not do app.use(app.router). This eliminates the most common issue with Express.
In other words, mixing app.use() and app[VERB]() will work exactly in the order in which they are called.
Read more: New features in 4.x.

Answer 2

edit - nope, see other answer about middleware order!
change req.param to req.body.x:
app.post('/api/nodev1/users/login', function(req, res){
var email = req.param('email', null);
var password = req.param('password', null);
console.log(email);console.log(password);
});
to
app.post('/api/nodev1/users/login', function(req, res){
var email = req.body.email);
var password = req.body.password);
console.log(email); console.log(password);
});