node.js - Expressjs - AJAX not recognized by req.xhr -

i have action within application user triggers delete ajax call delete account , redirected homepage message. action occurs expected, message not appear. can't use flash messages because destroying session on deletion, decided use if(req.xhr) , pass object view render if true , view if false. however, doesn't appear route recognizing x-requested-with:xmlhttprequest delete , delivering else statement. can point me why might be?

here route:

siteroutes.get('/', function(req, res) {         if(req.xhr) {         console.log("ajax request")         res.render('pages/site/index.hbs',{             successmessage: "account deleted."         });     } else {         console.log("regular request") //being triggered         res.render('pages/site/index.hbs');     } }); 

here ajax:

$.ajax({      method: 'delete',      url: '/app/settings/account/delete',      data: { successmessage: "account deleted" },      success: function(){          window.location.replace('/');      },      error: function(error){          console.log(error);      } }); 

update:

approutes.delete('/settings/account/delete', function(req, res){ return     .... .then(function(){             req.session.destroy();             req.logout();     }) 

your ajax function send method delete:

$.ajax({       method: 'delete',       url: '/app/settings/account/delete',       data: { successmessage: "account deleted" },       success: function(){             window.location.replace('/');       },       error: function(error){             console.log(error);       } }); 

so should change route method delete this:

siteroutes.delete('/', function(req, res) {      if(req.xhr) { // sure works         console.log("ajax request")         res.render('pages/site/index.hbs',{             successmessage: "account deleted."         });     } else {         console.log("regular request") //being triggered         res.render('pages/site/index.hbs');     } });