connect-cookies is an unmaintained Node.js middleware for the `connect` and `express` frameworks, designed to simplify reading and setting HTTP(S) cookies. It wraps the `cookies` and `keygrip` packages to provide cookie management capabilities, including support for signed cookies to prevent tampering. Despite its purpose, the package is stuck at version `0.0.0` and has not seen updates in nearly a decade. Its underlying dependencies (`cookies` and `keygrip`) are also quite old. Modern Node.js applications, especially those using recent versions of Express, should avoid this package due to its abandoned status, potential security vulnerabilities, and lack of support for contemporary cookie standards (e.g., `SameSite` attribute defaults and `__Host` prefixes). Current stable alternatives like `cookie-parser` for basic cookie handling and `express-session` or `cookie-session` for session management are recommended for active development.
npm install connect-cookiesVerified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.
Demonstrates basic usage of `connect-cookies` middleware to implement a simple view counter, storing the count in a signed cookie. It showcases cookie retrieval and setting.
Migrate to `cookie-parser` for basic cookie handling and `express-session` or `cookie-session` for session management.
Replace with maintained alternatives like `cookie-parser` and `express-session` which provide secure defaults and are actively patched. Implement strong Content Security Policies (CSPs).
Avoid using this package in new projects. For existing projects, consider a full migration to modern middleware to ensure compatibility and stability.
If used in an ESM project, you would need to use `createRequire` or transpile your code, which adds unnecessary complexity. It's best to use modern, ESM-compatible alternatives.
Ensure `app.use(cookies(keys))` is called before any route handlers attempt to access `req.cookies`. Verify that `connect-cookies` is the intended cookie middleware.
Review middleware and route handler logic to ensure `res.end()` (or similar) is called only once. Ensure `next()` is called if the middleware is not terminating the request.
Ensure that cookies intended to be signed are set with `req.cookies.set('cookieName', value, { signed: true })` and that the `cookies()` middleware is initialized with the correct `keys` array that was used for signing.