Axios vs Fetch Advantages

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Why use Axios instead of Fetch for HTTP requests in JavaScript?

When it comes to making HTTP requests in JavaScript, there are two main options: Fetch and Axios. While both have their own benefits, in this blog post, we will explore why Axios is a better option in comparison to Fetch.

  1. Easy to use:

Axios is very easy to use as it has a simple API and a lot of helpful features built-in. It also automatically transforms the response data into JSON, making it easier to work with. On the other hand, Fetch requires additional code to transform the response data into a usable format.

  1. Better error handling:

Axios provides better error handling compared to Fetch. Axios automatically catches errors and returns them in a catch block, making it easier to handle errors in your code. Fetch, on the other hand, requires you to check the response’s ok property to determine if the request was successful, and if not, you have to manually throw an error.

  1. Ability to cancel requests:

Axios also provides the ability to cancel requests, which can be useful in scenarios where a user navigates away from a page or cancels an action before the request is complete. With Fetch, there is no built-in way to cancel a request.

  1. Support for older browsers:

Another advantage of Axios is that it supports older browsers, including Internet Explorer 8 and 9, while Fetch is not supported in these older browsers without a polyfill.

  1. Automatic transforms and easier to work with:

Axios automatically transforms the response data into JSON, making it easier to work with. With Fetch, you have to manually transform the response data into a usable format. Additionally, Axios provides a way to automatically transform request data, making it easier to send data in a specific format, such as JSON.

In my opinion, Axios is a better option for making HTTP requests in JavaScript due to its ease of use, better error handling, ability to cancel requests, support for older browsers, and automatic transforms. While both Axios and Fetch have their own benefits, Axios provides a more streamlined and easier to use experience for developers.

Axios Example:

axios.get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

 

Fetch Example:

fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error('Network response was not ok');
    }
    return response.json();
  })
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

 

As you can see, the Axios code is more concise and easier to read. The error handling is also more straightforward, as Axios automatically catches errors and returns them in a catch block. In the Fetch example, you have to manually check the response’s ok property and throw an error if the request was not successful.

Here’s an example of how to make a POST request with both Axios and Fetch:

Axios:

axios.post('https://api.example.com/data', {
    firstName: 'John',
    lastName: 'Doe'
  })
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

 

Fetch:

fetch('https://api.example.com/data', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      firstName: 'John',
      lastName: 'Doe'
    })
  })
  .then(response => {
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error('Network response was not ok');
    }
    return response.json();
  })
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(error => console.error(error));

 

Again, the Axios code is more concise and easier to read. Additionally, Axios automatically transforms the request data into the desired format, in this case JSON. With Fetch, you have to manually set the Content-Type header and stringify the request data.

In summary, Axios provides a more streamlined and easier to use experience for making HTTP requests in JavaScript, compared to Fetch.