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# Content

In Vapor 3, all content types (JSON, protobuf, FormURLEncoded, Multipart, etc) are treated the same. All you need to parse and serialize content is a `Codable` class or struct.

For this introduction, we will use JSON as an example. But keep in mind the API is the same for any supported content type.

## Request

Let's take a look at how you would parse the following HTTP request.

    POST /login HTTP/1.1
    Content-Type: application/json

    {
        "email": "user@vapor.codes",
        "password": "don't look!"
    }

### Decode Request

First, create a struct or class that represents the data you expect.

    import Foundation
    import Vapor

    struct LoginRequest: Content {
        var email: String
        var password: String
    }

Then simply conform this struct or class to `Content`. Now we are ready to decode that HTTP request.

    router.post("login") { req -> Response in
        let loginRequest = try req.content.decode(LoginRequest.self)

        print(loginRequest.email) // user@vapor.codes
        print(loginRequest.password) // don't look!

        return Response(status: .ok)
    }

It's that simple!

### Other Request Types

Since the request in the previous example declared JSON as it's content type, Vapor knows to use a JSON decoder automatically. This same method would work just as well for the following request.

    POST /login HTTP/1.1
    Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

    email=user@vapor.codes&don't+look!

Tip

You can configure which encoders/decoders Vapor uses. Read on to learn more.

## Response

Let's take a look at how you would create the following HTTP response.

    HTTP/1.1 200 OK
    Content-Type: application/json

    {
        "name": "Vapor User",
        "email": "user@vapor.codes"
    }

### Encode Response

Just like decoding, first create a struct or class that represents the data your expect.

    import Foundation
    import Vapor

    struct User: Content {
        var name: String
        var email: String
    }

Then just conform this struct or class to `Content`. Now we are ready to encode that HTTP response.

    router.get("user") { req -> Response in
        let user = User(
            name: "Vapor User",
            email: "user@vapor.codes"
        )

        let res = Response(status: .ok)
        try res.content.encode(user, as: .json)
        return res
    }

### Other Response Types

Content will automatically encode as JSON by default. You can always override which content type is used using the `as:` parameter.

    try res.content.encode(user, as: .formURLEncoded)

You can also change the default media type for any class or struct.

    struct User: Content {
        /// See Content.defaultMediaType
        static let defaultMediaType: MediaType = .formURLEncoded

        ...
    }

## Configuring Content

Coming soon.