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# 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' } }); ```
### 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:
```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' }] }); ```
### 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' ```
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'); ```
### Dealing with special character sets
By default the encoding and decoding of characters is done in `utf-8`. 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'); ```
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