Latest Update
If you're working with Express, there's a handy helper function specifically designed for downloading files easily.
app.get('/download', function(req, res){
const file = `${__dirname}/upload-folder/dramaticpenguin.MOV`;
res.download(file); // This will set the appropriate disposition header and send the file.
});
Previous Solution
Your browser may only recognize the filename as 'download' initially, so it's necessary to provide more information using additional HTTP headers.
res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=dramaticpenguin.MOV');
You can also specify a MIME type like this:
res.setHeader('Content-type', 'video/quicktime');
For a more comprehensive approach, here's an alternative solution.
var path = require('path');
var mime = require('mime');
var fs = require('fs');
app.get('/download', function(req, res){
var file = __dirname + '/upload-folder/dramaticpenguin.MOV';
var filename = path.basename(file);
var mimetype = mime.getType(file);
res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=' + filename);
res.setHeader('Content-type', mimetype);
var filestream = fs.createReadStream(file);
filestream.pipe(res);
});
You have the flexibility to customize the header values as needed. In this example, I'm utilizing a MIME type library - node-mime, for identifying the file's MIME type.
Additionally, note that I've revised your code to use a readStream instead. It's recommended to avoid synchronous methods in Node.js, opting for asynchronous operations whenever possible.