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JavaScript Node.js Basics 2017 Handling Errors in Node Handling Status Code Errors

Gerry K
Gerry K
5,877 Points
Posted by Gerry K
Gerry K
5,877 Points

Question with else statement for error message in this video

Here's the code from the video...

else { const message = there was an error getting the profile for ${username} (${response.statusCode}); const statusCodeError = new Error(message);
printError(message); }

I don't understand why we are creating the statusCodeError variable, could someone please explain why this is required? And if it is required?

Thanks!

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points

It's only "required" to show the reason for the error to the user.

But first, you have an error in your code. The last line is to print the error string, and should be:

     printError(statusCodeError);

So now with that fixed, when an error occurs in getting the profile, the statusCodeError which was filled in with a message explaining what went wrong will appear on the screen. Without all this, if a problem occurred, you would just not see anything at all.

Steve Mbouadeu
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Steve Mbouadeu
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 47 Points
Steve Mbouadeu
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Steve Mbouadeu
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 47 Points

There is another error in your code. Don't forget to surround your string with `` or you will get an error. The reason we make an error variable is to utilize the printError function. Remember the printError function needs the parameter passed in to be an error since it calls error.message. We could simply print the string to display the error but using the printError function brings neatness and consistency to our code since we already used it to print all of our other errors.