## API ### App Create a Loopback application. var loopback = require('loopback'); var app = loopback(); app.get('/', function(req, res){ res.send('hello world'); }); app.listen(3000); **Notes:** - extends [express](http://expressjs.com/api.html#express) - see [express docs](http://expressjs.com/api.html) for details - supports [express / connect middleware](http://expressjs.com/api.html#middleware) #### app.model(Model) Expose a `Model` to remote clients. // create a testing data source var memory = loopback.memory(); var Color = memory.createModel('color', {name: String}); Color.attachTo(memory); app.model(Color); app.use(loopback.rest()); **Note:** this will expose all [shared methods](#shared-methods) on the model. #### app.models() Get the app's exposed models. var models = app.models(); models.forEach(function (Model) { console.log(Model.modelName); // color }); #### app.docs(options) Enable swagger REST api documentation. **Options** - `basePath` The basepath for your API - eg. 'http://localhost:3000'. **Example** // enable docs app.docs({basePath: 'http://localhost:3000'}); Run your app then navigate to [the api explorer](http://petstore.swagger.wordnik.com/). Enter your API basepath to view your generated docs. ### Model A Loopback `Model` is a vanilla JavaScript class constructor with an attached set of properties and options. A `Model` instance is created by passing a data object containing properties to the `Model` constructor. A `Model` constructor will clean the object passed to it and only set the values matching the properties you define. // valid color var Color = loopback.createModel('color', {name: String}); var red = new Color({name: 'red'}); console.log(red.name); // red // invalid color var foo = new Color({bar: 'bat baz'}); console.log(foo.bar); // undefined **Properties** A model defines a list of property names, types and other validation metadata. A [DataSource](#data-source) uses this definition to validate a `Model` during operations such as `save()`. **Options** Some [DataSources](#data-source) may support additional `Model` options. Define A Loopbackmodel. var User = loopback.createModel('user', { first: String, last: String, age: Number }); ### Validation (expiremental) #### Model.validatesFormatOf(property, options) Require a model to include a property that matches the given format. User.validatesFormat('name', {with: /\w+/}); #### Model.validatesPresenceOf(properties...) Require a model to include a property to be considered valid. User.validatesPresenceOf('first', 'last', 'age'); #### Model.validatesLengthOf(property, options) Require a property length to be within a specified range. User.validatesLengthOf('password', {min: 5, message: {min: 'Password is too short'}}); #### Model.validatesInclusionOf(property, options) Require a value for `property` to be in the specified array. User.validatesInclusionOf('gender', {in: ['male', 'female']}); #### Model.validatesExclusionOf(property, options) Require a value for `property` to not exist in the specified array. User.validatesExclusionOf('domain', {in: ['www', 'billing', 'admin']}); #### Model.validatesNumericalityOf(property, options) Require a value for `property` to be a specific type of `Number`. User.validatesNumericalityOf('age', {int: true}); #### Model.validatesUniquenessOf(property, options) Ensure the value for `property` is unique in the collection of models. User.validatesUniquenessOf('email', {message: 'email is not unique'}); **Note:** not available for all [connectors](#connectors). Currently supported in these connectors: - [In Memory](#memory-connector) - [Oracle](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-oracle) - [MongoDB](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-mongodb) #### myModel.isValid() Validate the model instance. user.isValid(function (valid) { if (!valid) { user.errors // hash of errors {attr: [errmessage, errmessage, ...], attr: ...} } }); #### Model.properties An object containing a normalized set of properties supplied to `loopback.createModel(name, properties)`. Example: var props = { a: String, b: {type: 'Number'}, c: {type: 'String', min: 10, max: 100}, d: Date, e: loopback.GeoPoint }; var MyModel = loopback.createModel('foo', props); console.log(MyModel.properties); Outputs: { "a": {type: String}, "b": {type: Number}, "c": { "type": String, "min": 10, "max": 100 }, "d": {type: Date}, "e": {type: GeoPoint}, "id": { "id": 1 } } #### Model.attachTo(dataSource) Attach a model to a [DataSource](#data-source). Attaching a [DataSource](#data-source) updates the model with additional methods and behaviors. var oracle = loopback.createDataSource({ connector: require('loopback-connector-oracle'), host: '111.22.333.44', database: 'MYDB', username: 'username', password: 'password' }); User.attachTo(oracle); **Note:** until a model is attached to a data source it will **not** have any **attached methods**. #### CRUD and Query Mixins Mixins are added by attaching a vanilla model to a [data source](#data-source) with a [connector](#connectors). Each [connector](#connectors) enables its own set of operations that are mixed into a `Model` as methods. To see available methods for a data source call `dataSource.operations()`. Log the available methods for a memory data source. var ops = loopback .createDataSource({connector: loopback.Memory}) .operations(); console.log(Object.keys(ops)); Outputs: [ 'create', 'updateOrCreate', 'upsert', 'findOrCreate', 'exists', 'findById', 'find', 'all', 'findOne', 'destroyAll', 'deleteAll', 'count', 'include', 'relationNameFor', 'hasMany', 'belongsTo', 'hasAndBelongsToMany', 'save', 'isNewRecord', 'destroy', 'delete', 'updateAttribute', 'updateAttributes', 'reload' ] Here is the definition of the `count()` operation. { accepts: [ { arg: 'where', type: 'object' } ], http: { verb: 'get', path: '/count' }, remoteEnabled: true, name: 'count' } #### Static Methods **Note:** These are the default mixin methods for a `Model` attached to a data source. See the specific connector for additional API documentation. ##### Model.create(data, [callback]) Create an instance of Model with given data and save to the attached data source. Callback is optional. User.create({first: 'Joe', last: 'Bob'}, function(err, user) { console.log(user instanceof User); // true }); **Note:** You must include a callback and use the created model provided in the callback if your code depends on your model being saved or having an `id`. ##### Model.count([query], callback) Query count of Model instances in data source. Optional query param allows to count filtered set of Model instances. User.count({approved: true}, function(err, count) { console.log(count); // 2081 }); ##### Model.find(filter, callback) Find all instances of Model, matched by query. Fields used for filter and sort should be declared with `{index: true}` in model definition. **filter** - **where** `Object` { key: val, key2: {gt: 'val2'}} - **include** `String`, `Object` or `Array`. - **order** `String` - **limit** `Number` - **skip** `Number` - **fields** `Object|Array|String` - `['foo']` or `'foo'` - include only the foo property - `['foo', 'bar']` - include the foo and bar properties - `{foo: true}` - include only foo - `{bat: false}` - include all properties, exclude bat Find the second page of 10 users over age 21 in descending order exluding the password property. User.find({ where: { age: {gt: 21}}, order: 'age DESC', limit: 10, skip: 10, fields: {password: false} }, console.log ); **Note:** See the specific connector's [docs](#connectors) for more info. ##### Model.destroyAll(callback) Delete all Model instances from data source. **Note:** destroyAll method does not perform destroy hooks. ##### Model.findById(id, callback) Find instance by id. User.findById(23, function(err, user) { console.info(user.id); // 23 }); ##### Model.findOne(where, callback) Find a single instance that matches the given where expression. User.findOne({id: 23}, function(err, user) { console.info(user.id); // 23 }); ##### Model.upsert(data, callback) Update when record with id=data.id found, insert otherwise. **Note:** no setters, validations or hooks applied when using upsert. ##### Custom Static Methods Define a static model method. User.login = function (username, password, fn) { var passwordHash = hashPassword(password); this.findOne({username: username}, function (err, user) { var failErr = new Error('login failed'); if(err) { fn(err); } else if(!user) { fn(failErr); } else if(user.password === passwordHash) { MySessionModel.create({userId: user.id}, function (err, session) { fn(null, session.id); }); } else { fn(failErr); } }); } Setup the static model method to be exposed to clients as a [remote method](#remote-method). loopback.remoteMethod( User.login, { accepts: [ {arg: 'username', type: 'string', required: true}, {arg: 'password', type: 'string', required: true} ], returns: {arg: 'sessionId', type: 'any'}, http: {path: '/sign-in'} } ); #### Instance Methods **Note:** These are the default mixin methods for a `Model` attached to a data source. See the specific connector for additional API documentation. ##### model.save([options], [callback]) Save an instance of a Model to the attached data source. var joe = new User({first: 'Joe', last: 'Bob'}); joe.save(function(err, user) { if(user.errors) { console.log(user.errors); } else { console.log(user.id); } }); ##### model.updateAttributes(data, [callback]) Save specified attributes to the attached data source. user.updateAttributes({ first: 'updatedFirst', name: 'updatedLast' }, fn); ##### model.destroy([callback]) Remove a model from the attached data source. model.destroy(function(err) { // model instance destroyed }); ##### Custom Instance Methods Define an instance method. User.prototype.logout = function (fn) { MySessionModel.destroyAll({userId: this.id}, fn); } Define a remote model instance method. loopback.remoteMethod(User.prototype.logout); #### Remote Methods Both instance and static methods can be exposed to clients. A remote method must accept a callback with the conventional `fn(err, result, ...)` signature. ##### loopback.remoteMethod(fn, [options]); Expose a remote method. Product.stats = function(fn) { var calc = require('./stats'); Product.find(function(err, products) { var productStats = calc(products); fn(null, productStats); }); } loopback.remoteMethod( Product.stats, { returns: {arg: 'stats', type: 'object'}, http: {path: '/info', verb: 'get'} } ); **Options** - **accepts** - (optional) an arguments description specifying the remote method's arguments. A - **returns** - (optional) an arguments description specifying the remote methods callback arguments. - **http** - (advanced / optional, object) http routing info - **http.path** - the path relative to the model the method will be exposed at. May be a path fragment (eg. '/:myArg') which will be populated by an arg of the same name in the accepts description. For example the stats method above will be at the whole path `/products/stats`. - **http.verb** - (get, post, put, del, all) - the route verb the method will be available from. **Argument Description** An arguments description defines either a single argument as an object or an ordered set of arguments as an array. // examples {arg: 'myArg', type: 'number'} [ {arg: 'arg1', type: 'number', required: true}, {arg: 'arg2', type: 'array'} ] **Types** Each argument may define any of the [loopback types](#loopback-types). **Notes:** - The callback is an assumed argument and does not need to be specified in the accepts array. - The err argument is also assumed and does not need to be specified in the returns array. #### Remote Hooks Run a function before or after a remote method is called by a client. // *.save === prototype.save User.beforeRemote('*.save', function(ctx, user, next) { if(ctx.user) { next(); } else { next(new Error('must be logged in to update')) } }); User.afterRemote('*.save', function(ctx, user, next) { console.log('user has been saved', user); next(); }); Remote hooks also support wildcards. Run a function before any remote method is called. // ** will match both prototype.* and *.* User.beforeRemote('**', function(ctx, user, next) { console.log(ctx.methodString, 'was invoked remotely'); // users.prototype.save was invoked remotely next(); }); Other wildcard examples // run before any static method eg. User.find User.beforeRemote('*', ...); // run before any instance method eg. User.prototype.save User.beforeRemote('prototype.*', ...); // prevent password hashes from being sent to clients User.afterRemote('**', function (ctx, user, next) { if(ctx.result) { if(Array.isArray(ctx.result)) { ctx.result.forEach(function (result) { result.password = undefined; }); } else { ctx.result.password = undefined; } } next(); }); #### Context Remote hooks are provided with a Context `ctx` object which contains transport specific data (eg. for http: `req` and `res`). The `ctx` object also has a set of consistent apis across transports. ##### ctx.user A `Model` representing the user calling the method remotely. **Note:** this is undefined if the remote method is not invoked by a logged in user. ##### ctx.result During `afterRemote` hooks, `ctx.result` will contain the data about to be sent to a client. Modify this object to transform data before it is sent. ##### Rest When [loopback.rest](#loopbackrest) is used the following `ctx` properties are available. ###### ctx.req The express ServerRequest object. [See full documentation](http://expressjs.com/api.html#req). ###### ctx.res The express ServerResponse object. [See full documentation](http://expressjs.com/api.html#res). Access the raw `req` object for the remote method call. #### Relationships ##### Model.hasMany(Model) Define a "one to many" relationship. // by referencing model Book.hasMany(Chapter); // specify the name Book.hasMany('chapters', {model: Chapter}); Query and create the related models. Book.create(function(err, book) { // create a chapter instance // ready to be saved in the data source var chapter = book.chapters.build({name: 'Chapter 1'}); // save the new chapter chapter.save(); // you can also call the Chapter.create method with // the `chapters` property which will build a chapter // instance and save the it in the data source book.chapters.create({name: 'Chapter 2'}, function(err, savedChapter) { // this callback is optional }); // query chapters for the book using the book.chapters(function(err, chapters) { // all chapters with bookId = book.id console.log(chapters); }); book.chapters({where: {name: 'test'}, function(err, chapters) { // all chapters with bookId = book.id and name = 'test' console.log(chapters); }); }); #### Shared Methods Any static or instance method can be decorated as `shared`. These methods are exposed over the provided transport (eg. [loopback.rest](#rest)). ### Data Source A Loopback `DataSource` provides [Models](#model) with the ability to manipulate data. Attaching a `DataSource` to a `Model` adds [instance methods](#instance-methods) and [static methods](#static-methods) to the `Model`. The added methods may be [remote methods](#remote-methods). Define a data source for persisting models. var oracle = loopback.createDataSource({ connector: 'oracle', host: '111.22.333.44', database: 'MYDB', username: 'username', password: 'password' }); #### dataSource.createModel(name, properties, options) Define a model and attach it to a `DataSource`. var Color = oracle.createModel('color', {name: String}); #### dataSource.discoverModelDefinitions([username], fn) Discover a set of model definitions (table or collection names) based on tables or collections in a data source. oracle.discoverModelDefinitions(function (err, models) { models.forEach(function (def) { // def.name ~ the model name oracle.discoverSchema(null, def.name, function (err, schema) { console.log(schema); }); }); }); #### dataSource.discoverSchema([owner], name, fn) Discover the schema of a specific table or collection. **Example schema from oracle connector:** { "name": "Product", "options": { "idInjection": false, "oracle": { "schema": "BLACKPOOL", "table": "PRODUCT" } }, "properties": { "id": { "type": "String", "required": true, "length": 20, "id": 1, "oracle": { "columnName": "ID", "dataType": "VARCHAR2", "dataLength": 20, "nullable": "N" } }, "name": { "type": "String", "required": false, "length": 64, "oracle": { "columnName": "NAME", "dataType": "VARCHAR2", "dataLength": 64, "nullable": "Y" } }, "audibleRange": { "type": "Number", "required": false, "length": 22, "oracle": { "columnName": "AUDIBLE_RANGE", "dataType": "NUMBER", "dataLength": 22, "nullable": "Y" } }, "effectiveRange": { "type": "Number", "required": false, "length": 22, "oracle": { "columnName": "EFFECTIVE_RANGE", "dataType": "NUMBER", "dataLength": 22, "nullable": "Y" } }, "rounds": { "type": "Number", "required": false, "length": 22, "oracle": { "columnName": "ROUNDS", "dataType": "NUMBER", "dataLength": 22, "nullable": "Y" } }, "extras": { "type": "String", "required": false, "length": 64, "oracle": { "columnName": "EXTRAS", "dataType": "VARCHAR2", "dataLength": 64, "nullable": "Y" } }, "fireModes": { "type": "String", "required": false, "length": 64, "oracle": { "columnName": "FIRE_MODES", "dataType": "VARCHAR2", "dataLength": 64, "nullable": "Y" } } } } #### dataSource.enableRemote(operation) Enable remote access to a data source operation. Each [connector](#connector) has its own set of set remotely enabled and disabled operations. You can always list these by calling `dataSource.operations()`. #### dataSource.disableRemote(operation) Disable remote access to a data source operation. Each [connector](#connector) has its own set of set enabled and disabled operations. You can always list these by calling `dataSource.operations()`. // all rest data source operations are // disabled by default var oracle = loopback.createDataSource({ connector: require('loopback-connector-oracle'), host: '...', ... }); // or only disable it as a remote method oracle.disableRemote('destroyAll'); **Notes:** - disabled operations will not be added to attached models - disabling the remoting for a method only affects client access (it will still be available from server models) - data sources must enable / disable operations before attaching or creating models #### dataSource.operations() List the enabled and disabled operations. console.log(oracle.operations()); Output: { find: { remoteEnabled: true, accepts: [...], returns: [...] enabled: true }, save: { remoteEnabled: true, prototype: true, accepts: [...], returns: [...], enabled: true }, ... } #### Connectors Create a data source with a specific connector. See **available connectors** for specific connector documentation. var memory = loopback.createDataSource({ connector: loopback.Memory }); **Available Connectors** - [In Memory](#memory-connector) - [REST](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-rest) - [Oracle](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-oracle) - [MongoDB](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-mongodb) - TODO - [MySQL](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-mysql) - TODO - [SQLite3](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-sqlite) - TODO - [Postgres](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-postgres) - TODO - [Redis](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-redis) - TODO - [CouchDB](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-couch) - TODO - [Firebird](http://github.com/strongloop/loopback-connector-firebird) **Installing Connectors** Include the connector in your package.json dependencies and run `npm install`. { "dependencies": { "loopback-connector-oracle": "latest" } } ##### Memory Connector The built-in memory connector allows you to test your application without connecting to an actual persistent data source, such as a database. Although the memory connector is very well tested it is not recommended to be used in production. Creating a data source using the memory connector is very simple. // use the built in memory function // to create a memory data source var memory = loopback.memory(); // or create it using the standard // data source creation api var memory = loopback.createDataSource({ connector: loopback.Memory }); // create a model using the // memory data source var properties = { name: String, price: Number }; var Product = memory.createModel('product', properties); Product.create([ {name: 'apple', price: 0.79}, {name: 'pear', price: 1.29}, {name: 'orange', price: 0.59}, ], count); function count() { Product.count(console.log); // 3 } ###### Operations **CRUD / Query** The memory connector supports all the standard [query and crud operations](#crud-and-query-mixins) to allow you to test your models against an in memory data source. **GeoPoint Filtering** The memory connector also supports geo-filtering when using the `find()` operation with an attached model. See [GeoPoint](#geopoint) for more information on geo-filtering. ### GeoPoint Use the `GeoPoint` class. var GeoPoint = require('loopback').GeoPoint; Embed a latitude / longitude point in a [Model](#model). var CoffeeShop = loopback.createModel('coffee-shop', { location: 'GeoPoint' }); Loopback Model's with a GeoPoint property and an attached DataSource may be queried using geo spatial filters and sorting. Find the 3 nearest coffee shops. CoffeeShop.attachTo(oracle); var here = new GeoPoint({lat: 10.32424, lng: 5.84978}); CoffeeShop.find({where: {location: {near: here}}, limit:3}, function(err, nearbyShops) { console.info(nearbyShops); // [CoffeeShop, ...] }); #### geoPoint.distanceTo(geoPoint, options) Get the distance to another `GeoPoint`. var here = new GeoPoint({lat: 10, lng: 10}); var there = new GeoPoint({lat: 5, lng: 5}); console.log(here.distanceTo(there, {type: 'miles'})); // 438 #### GeoPoint.distanceBetween(a, b, options) Get the distance between two points. GeoPoint.distanceBetween(here, there, {type: 'miles'}) // 438 #### Distance Types **Note:** all distance methods use `miles` by default. - `miles` - `radians` - `kilometers` - `meters` - `miles` - `feet` - `degrees` #### geoPoint.lat The latitude point in degrees. Range: -90 to 90. #### geoPoint.lng The longitude point in degrees. Range: -180 to 180. ### Loopback Types Various APIs in Loopback accept type descriptions (eg. [remote methods](#remote-methods), [loopback.createModel()](#model)). The following is a list of supported types. - `null` - JSON null - `Boolean` - JSON boolean - `Number` - JSON number - `String` - JSON string - `Object` - JSON object - `Array` - JSON array - `Date` - a JavaScript date object - `Buffer` - a node.js Buffer object - [GeoPoint](#geopoint) - A Loopback GeoPoint object. ### Bundled Models The Loopback library is unopinioned in the way you define your app's data and logic. Loopback also bundles useful pre-built models for common use cases. - User - register and authenticate users of your app locally or against 3rd party services. - Email - send emails to your app users using smtp or 3rd party services. Defining a model with `loopback.createModel()` is really just extending the base `loopback.Model` type using `loopback.Model.extend()`. The bundled models extend from the base `loopback.Model` allowing you to extend them arbitrarily. #### User Model Register and authenticate users of your app locally or against 3rd party services. ##### Define a User Model Extend a vanilla Loopback model using the built in User model. // create a data source var memory = loopback.memory(); // define a User model var User = loopback.User.extend('user'); // attach to the memory connector User.attachTo(memory); // also attach the session model to a data source User.session.attachTo(memory); // expose over the app's api app.model(User); **Note:** By default the `loopback.User` model uses the `loopback.Session` model to persist sessions. You can change this by setting the `session` property. **Note:** You must attach both the `User` and `User.session` model's to a data source! ##### User Creation Create a user like any other model. // username and password are not required User.create({email: 'foo@bar.com', password: 'bar'}, function(err, user) { console.log(user); }); ##### Login a User Create a session for a user using the local auth strategy. **Node.js** User.login({username: 'foo', password: 'bar'}, function(err, session) { console.log(session); }); **REST** You must provide a username and password over rest. To ensure these values are encrypted, include these as part of the body and make sure you are serving your app over https (through a proxy or using the https node server). POST /users/login ... { "email": "foo@bar.com", "password": "bar" } ... 200 OK { "sid": "1234abcdefg", "uid": "123" } ##### Logout a User **Node.js** // login a user and logout User.login({"email": "foo@bar.com", "password": "bar"}, function(err, session) { User.logout(session.id, function(err) { // user logged out }); }); // logout a user (server side only) User.findOne({email: 'foo@bar.com'}, function(err, user) { user.logout(); }); **REST** POST /users/logout ... { "sid": "" } ##### Verify Email Addresses Require a user to verify their email address before being able to login. This will send an email to the user containing a link to verify their address. Once the user follows the link they will be redirected to `/` and be able to login normally. User.requireEmailVerfication = true; User.afterRemote('create', function(ctx, user, next) { var options = { type: 'email', to: user.email, from: 'noreply@myapp.com', subject: 'Thanks for Registering at FooBar', text: 'Please verify your email address!' template: 'verify.ejs', redirect: '/' }; user.verify(options, next); }); ##### Send Reset Password Email Send an email to the user's supplied email address containing a link to reset their password. User.reset(email, function(err) { console.log('email sent'); }); ##### Remote Password Reset The password reset email will send users to a page rendered by loopback with fields required to reset the user's password. You may customize this template by defining a `resetTemplate` setting. User.settings.resetTemplate = 'reset.ejs'; ##### Remote Password Reset Confirmation Confirm the password reset. User.confirmReset(token, function(err) { console.log(err || 'your password was reset'); }); #### Session Model Identify users by creating sessions when they connect to your loopback app. By default the `loopback.User` model uses the `loopback.Session` model to persist sessions. You can change this by setting the `session` property. // define a custom session model var MySession = loopback.Session.extend('my-session'); // define a custom User model var User = loopback.User.extend('user'); // use the custom session model User.session = MySession; // attach both Session and User to a data source User.attachTo(loopback.memory()); MySession.attachTo(loopback.memory()); #### Email Model Send emails from your loopback app. ### REST Router Expose models over rest using the `loopback.rest` router. app.use(loopback.rest()); **REST Documentation** View generated REST documentation by visiting: [http://localhost:3000/_docs](http://localhost:3000/_docs). ### SocketIO Middleware (Not Available) **Coming Soon** - Expose models over socket.io using the `loopback.sio()` middleware. app.use(loopback.sio);