DEV Community: Caspian Grey

How to send parameters in GET request?

Caspian Grey — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:42:59 +0000

When you send a GET request from the frontend to the backend, sometimes the server needs additional data to process that request.

Why is this needed?

Imagine you're using an e-commerce website. When you try to buy or search for an item, the backend needs to know:

Which item are you looking for? Without that information, the server can’t respond correctly.

Query Parameters

Query parameters allow you to send data (like names, IDs, or search terms) along with a GET request.

They are appended to the end of a URL and help the backend understand what exactly you want.

URL Examples

Without query parameters:

http://localhost:3000/search

With a single query parameter:

http://localhost:3000/search?q=powerbank

Understanding the Syntax

In the URL: http://localhost:3000/search?q=powerbank

?q=powerbank

"?" → starts the query string
"q" → parameter name (key)
"=" → assigns value
"powerbank" → parameter value

We are sending the parameter value powerbank which is assigned to the variable q.

Multiple Query Parameters

You can also send multiple values by separating them with &:

http://localhost:3000/search?q=phone&price=1000

Here:

q = "phone"
price = "1000"

Accessing Query Parameters in Backend (Express.js)

You can easily access query parameters using req.query.

Example:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/search', (req, res) => {
  const searchTerm = req.query.q;
  const price = req.query.price;

  res.send(
    `Search: ${searchTerm || 'none'}, Price: ${price || 'not specified'}`
  );
});

How it works

If you visit:

http://localhost:3000/search?q=powerbank

The server will respond with:

Search term: powerbank

Conclusion

Query parameters are a simple and powerful way to:

Send data in GET requests
Customize backend responses
Build dynamic features like search, filtering, etc.

If you're building full-stack apps, understanding query parameters is essential. They’re used everywhere from search bars to filtering APIs.

How to Convert a Number into a String in JavaScript?

Caspian Grey — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:50:53 +0000

In JavaScript, numbers and strings are different data types.
Sometimes you need to convert a number into a string — for example, when displaying values in the UI, concatenating text, or sending data to an API.

JavaScript provides multiple ways to do this. In this blog, we’ll look at four popular and commonly used techniques:

toString()
String() function
Concatenation with an empty string
Template literals

1. Using toString()

The toString() method converts a number directly into a string.

Example:

let num = 100;
let str = num.toString();

console.log(str);        // "100"
console.log(typeof str); // string

When to use?

When you are sure the value is a number
Clear and explicit conversion

Note: toString() cannot be used on null or undefined, otherwise it will throw an error.

2. Using the String() function

The String() function converts any value into a string.

Example:

let num = 250;
let str = String(num);

console.log(str);        // "250"
console.log(typeof str); // string

When to use?

Safe and reliable
Works even with null and undefined

This is one of the safest and most recommended ways.

3. Using concatenation with an empty string ("")

When you add a number to an empty string, JavaScript automatically converts the number into a string.

Example:

let num = 75;
let str = num + "";

console.log(str);        // "75"
console.log(typeof str); // string

When to use?

Quick and simple
Common in older codebases

This method is less readable, especially for beginners.

4. Using Template Literals

Template literals (introduced in ES6) convert values to strings automatically.
Example:

let num = 42;
let str = `${num}`;

console.log(str);        // "42"
console.log(typeof str); // string

When to use?

Modern JavaScript
Very readable Great when combining numbers with text

Example with text:

let age = 21;
console.log(`My age is ${age}`);

These are some common techniques used to convert a number into a string in JavaScript. I hope you learned something new and enjoyed the article. Like it if you enjoyed.

How do you take user inputs in Javascript(NodeJs)?

Caspian Grey — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:48:45 +0000

There are 2 common methods to take inputs from users in javscript(NodeJs):

Using prompt-sync
Using readline

let's learn how to take inputs using prompt-sync.
In Browser we use window.prompt(), which is a default builtin fucntion in browsers. But NodeJs does not have builtin synchronous method to take inputs.

That's why we use external modules like prompt-sync.
Since, prompt-sync is an external library, we first need to install the library in our terminal using package manager. We will use npm package manager here.

To install the package, simply open the terminal in vscode, go to the current file directory, and type npm install prompt-sync.
It will start the installation.

After the installation is complete, it is ready to use in the code.
Now, let's see how to use prompt-sync in the code.

We will write a program which takes input from users and print it on the screen(which means in terminal).

first we will import the module and call the function.

const prompt = require("prompt-sync")();

The () at the end is used to call the function prompt.
Now, we will use the prompt function and get the user inputs by giving a prompt(it tells the user what we need).

We will store the input in variable/constant.

const userInput = prompt("Enter your name:");

Now we will print the input using console.

For example, if the user enters his name as "David".
The output will show in the terminal as

David

Now, let's see the whole code together here:

npm install prompt-sync

const prompt = require("prompt-sync")();
const userInput = prompt("Enter your name:");
console.log(userInput);

This is how you can take inputs from user in NodeJs terminal using prompt-sync. Use this method until next we learn about readline.
readline is a bit confusing for beginner. That's why i avoided explaining it here. Try using prompt-sync, slowly we will learn everything one by one.

(Caspian Grey)

Intro Blog: “A New Beginning - Learning, Teaching, and Building as Caspian Grey”

Caspian Grey — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:48:58 +0000

Hi, I’m Caspian Grey.

I’m starting this blog for a simple reason: I want to learn in public.

For a long time, I tried learning JavaScript, web development, and computer science in silence - watching tutorials, reading docs, taking notes. But I realized something important:

You learn fastest when you teach.
You understand deeply when you explain.
You grow when you share what you’re learning.

So this blog marks the beginning of my journey as a developer, teacher, and creator. Not an expert. Not a guru.
Just someone who is learning - and taking you along with me.

What you can expect from this blog?

I’ll be documenting everything I learn about:

JavaScript fundamentals
DOM & browser concepts
Web development (HTML, CSS, JS, React, Node.js, Express.js, Next.js, Database and others)
Projects, challenges, and mistakes
Coding mindset & problem solving
My experience building real skills from scratch
Coding mindset & problem solving
My experience building real skills from scratch

But I won’t write in a “textbook” style.

I’ll write the way I understand things: Clear, simple, practical, conversational.

If I struggle with a concept, I’ll write about that too.
If I learn something useful, I’ll distill it.
If I build something small, I’ll break it down for you.

My goal is not to show “how much I know,” but to teach the way I wish someone had taught me.

Why I chose to teach while learning?

Because teaching forces clarity. Speaking forces courage. Sharing forces consistency.

It strengthens:

Communication
Confidence
Understanding
Identity
Thinking

And that’s exactly what I want to build - a calm, confident, clear communicator who can explain code simply.

Who is Caspian Grey?

It’s the identity I’m building for myself:

Calm
Sharp
Focused
Consistent
Always learning
Always improving

This name represents the version of me I’m becoming —
more confident, more skilled, and more expressive.

What’s next?

I’ll start sharing:

Short lessons
Mini-projects
Explanations of concepts I learn
Notes and insights
Mistakes and corrections
Tutorials
And eventually, full video lessons

You’ll see my progress in real-time - from basics to advanced.
If you want to grow alongside me or just enjoy simple explanations of coding concepts, stay tuned.

This is just the beginning.

(Caspian Grey)