When working with Angular 2 and needing to send data to a server using the `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` format, you might come across the need to force Angular 2 to post using `x-www-form-urlencoded`. This process requires a specific configuration to ensure that your data is formatted correctly before being sent to the server.
To begin, let's understand that by default, Angular 2 uses JSON by sending data as a payload in the body of the HTTP request when you make a POST request. However, some APIs or server-side applications may explicitly require data to be formatted as `x-www-form-urlencoded`. Here's how you can achieve this:
1. Import the `URLSearchParams` Class: This class allows you to encode key-value pairs in a way that's compatible with `x-www-form-urlencoded`. You can import the `URLSearchParams` class by adding the following line at the top of your Angular service file:
import { URLSearchParams } from '@angular/http';
2. Convert Data to URL-Encoded Format: Before making a POST request, convert your data to the `x-www-form-urlencoded` format using the `URLSearchParams` class. Here's an example of how you can do this within your Angular service method:
let body = new URLSearchParams();
body.set('key1', 'value1');
body.set('key2', 'value2');
In this snippet, we're creating a new `URLSearchParams` object and setting key-value pairs that represent the data you want to send.
3. Set Request Headers: When making the HTTP POST request, you need to ensure that the `Content-Type` header is set to `application/x-www-form-urlencoded`. You can achieve this by explicitly setting the headers in your POST request:
let headers = new Headers({ 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' });
let options = new RequestOptions({ headers: headers });
this.http.post('https://your-api-endpoint.com', body.toString(), options)
.subscribe(response => {
console.log(response);
});
By setting the `Content-Type` header in the request to `application/x-www-form-urlencoded`, you're informing the server that the data being sent is in the correct format.
4. Handle the Response: After making the POST request, you can handle the response from the server based on your application's requirements. Don't forget to include error handling and any additional processing that your application needs.
By following these steps, you can force Angular 2 to post data using `x-www-form-urlencoded` format. This approach allows you to work with APIs or server-side applications that require data to be formatted in a specific way. Keep in mind that understanding how to format and send your data correctly is crucial for successful communication between your Angular application and the server.