Fetch vs Axios: Which One Should You Use?

Fetch vs Axios: Which One Should You Use?

When building a web application, making HTTP requests to retrieve data from an API is crucial to the development process. Developers typically use libraries such as Fetch and Axios to make HTTP requests. These libraries provide a simple and efficient way of making HTTP requests.

What is Fetch?

Modern browsers have a built-in web API called Fetch, which enables developers to request HTTP. This promise-based library offers a straightforward and user-friendly API. Since it’s built into the browser, there’s no need for additional libraries. Its syntax is easy to understand, which allows developers to obtain data from APIs without difficulty.

The Fetch API is user-friendly and intuitive, and it also has a small footprint, making it ideal for small projects. To initiate a request, developers can use the fetch() method. Here’s an example of how to make a GET request using Fetch:

fetch('<https://api.example.com/data>')
  .then((response) => response.json())
  .then((data) => console.log(data))
  .catch((error) => console.error(error))

One of the most significant advantages of Fetch is its simplicity. The library is easy to use and provides a simple syntax to retrieve data from APIs. However, Fetch has limitations, such as a lack of support for older browsers and no built-in support for cancelling requests.

What is Axios?

Axios is a widely used and popular JavaScript library for making HTTP requests. By being promise-based, it offers a clean and easy-to-use API that simplifies the process of making HTTP requests from client-side JavaScript code. With Axios, developers can make GET and POST requests effortlessly, without having to worry about the underlying implementation details.

Axios can be installed using npm, the Node.js package manager. Once installed, developers can import Axios into their project and start using it immediately. It is also compatible with popular front-end frameworks such as React and Vue.js, allowing developers to easily integrate it into their projects.

Here is an example of how to make a GET request using Axios:

axios
  .get('<https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1>')
  .then((response) => {
    console.log(response.data)
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error)
  })

One of the most significant advantages of Axios is its ease of use. It provides many features, such as cancelling requests, interceptors, and automatic conversion of response data. Axios also has built-in support for older browsers. However, Axios has a larger footprint than Fetch, requiring installation.

Pros and Cons of Fetch and Axios

Fetch and Axios both have their pros and cons. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using each library:

Fetch

Pros

• Fetch is built into the browser, so there is no need to install any additional libraries.
• Is lightweight and has a small footprint.
• The Fetch API is easy to use, and its syntax is intuitive.

Cons

• Has limitations, such as a lack of support for older browsers and no built-in support for cancelling requests.
• Fetch has limited functionality, which may be insufficient for some projects.

Axios

Pros

• Provides many features, such as cancelling requests, interceptors, and automatic conversion of response data.
• Has built-in support for older browsers.
• Has a large community of developers, meaning that many resources are available online.

Cons

• Is larger than Fetch, and it requires installation.
• The Axios API is more complex than Fetch and may take some time to learn.

Conclusion

Fetch and Axios are two libraries that can be used for making HTTP requests in a web application. Choosing between them depends on the specific needs and preferences of the project.

Fetch is lightweight and built into the browser, making it ideal for small projects. Developers who prefer a library with an intuitive API for simple use may find Fetch the right choice. Fetch can also be used in modern browsers that support the Fetch API.

Axios is a standalone library that provides many features, such as cancelling requests, interceptors, and automatic conversion of response data. Axios has built-in support for older browsers, making it ideal for larger projects. Developers who need a more extensive feature set and ease of use may prefer Axios.

In summary, developers should choose between Fetch and Axios based on the specific needs and preferences of the project. Both libraries are great for making HTTP requests in a web application.