In Node.js, there are several ways to make HTTP requests. You can use the built-in HTTP and HTTPS modules that come with Node.js, the Fetch API that’s part of Node, or third-party packages like Axios, Got, SuperAgent, and node-fetch that you add to make things easier. can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the built-in HTTPS module and the Fetch API. We’ll also examine some popular npm packages like Axios, Got, SuperAgent, and node-fetch, which help make HTTP requests easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s get into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
npm init<\/code>, and know how to install new packages using npm install <module-name><\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Running JavaScript<\/strong>: Know how to run JavaScript files using the
node <filename><\/code> command to check out what each script does.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- JavaScript Knowledge<\/strong>: Understand JavaScript concepts like callbacks, promises, and async\/await for handling asynchronous operations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Example RESTful API<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For our examples, we\u2019ll use the JSONPlaceholder API<\/a> to fetch and display data about 10 users, showing each user\u2019s username and ID on the console. You can find all the example code in a GitHub repository<\/a> linked in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMethods for Making HTTP Requests in Node.js<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We’ll explore five different ways to send GET requests to the JSONPlaceholder API, starting with the built-in HTTP(S) module in Node.js as our first example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 Ways to Make HTTP Requests in Node.js<\/h2>\n\n\n\nStandard Node.js HTTP(S) Module<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The default HTTP module in the standard library is first on our hit parade. You don’t need to install any external dependencies with this module. However, it is not very user-friendly compared to other solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the following code, a GET request will be sent to NASA’s API and the URL for that day’s astronomy picture and explanation will be printed: JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
const https = require('https');\n\nhttps.get('https:\/\/api.nasa.gov\/planetary\/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY', (resp) => {\n let data = '';\n\n \/\/ A chunk of data has been received.\n resp.on('data', (chunk) => {\n data += chunk;\n });\n\n \/\/ The whole response has been received. Print out the result.\n resp.on('end', () => {\n console.log(JSON.parse(data).explanation);\n });\n\n}).on("error", (err) => {\n console.log("Error: " + err.message);\n});<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe majority of HTTP and HTTPS modules have fairly low-level functionality. To receive the response data in chunks, you should not provide a callback function to execute after all the data is received. Additionally, you must manually parse the response data. In a JSON format, this is fairly trivial, but it still requires additional steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll also need the HTTP module if the API we’re using communicates over HTTPS since this module doesn’t support HTTPS by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it might take a little more work, it’s a great utility for those who don’t want to add a lot of dependencies or access low-level features to their codebase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Node-Fetch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In Node.js, node-fetch translates the browser library window.fetch<\/strong><\/code> as a lightweight module. Unlike HTTP, you must install this from npm as a dependency.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRun the following commands from the directory you want your code to reside in: JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
npm install node-fetch@2.6.0<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nAs this library uses promises, we can use async\/await syntax with it as well: JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
const fetch = require('node-fetch');\n\n(async () => {\n try {\n\n const response = await fetch('https:\/\/api.nasa.gov\/planetary\/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY')\n const json = await response.json()\n\n console.log(json.url);\n console.log(json.explanation);\n } catch (error) {\n console.log(error.response.body);\n }\n})();<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nIn this library, the response is converted to JSON via a built-in function, but it doesn’t do it automatically as it does in some of the libraries below. For browser users who are familiar with the Fetch API, this is great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Axios<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Node.js and the browser both support Axios<\/a>, a Promise<\/a>-based HTTP client. Promises are very useful when dealing with code that requires a complex chain of events. There are several solutions to the problem of writing asynchronous code, and Promises are one of them. Swift and other languages can also benefit from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can install Axios from npm by entering the following command: JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
npm install axios@0.21.1<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe code below notes the URL and explains the day’s astronomical image.JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
const axios = require('axios');\n\naxios.get('https:\/\/api.nasa.gov\/planetary\/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY')\n .then(response => {\n console.log(response.data.url);\n console.log(response.data.explanation);\n })\n .catch(error => {\n console.log(error);\n });<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nAxios also parses JSON answers by default. That’s completely convenient! You can see that error handling is completed. We now use promises, thus .catch()<\/strong><\/code> is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAxios supports many concurrent queries. For example, if you wish to capture an astronomical image of two days simultaneously:JavaScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n
var axios = require('axios');\n\naxios.all([\n axios.get('https:\/\/api.nasa.gov\/planetary\/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY&date=2017-08-03'),\n axios.get('https:\/\/api.nasa.gov\/planetary\/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY&date=2017-08-02')\n]).then(axios.spread((response1, response2) => {\n console.log(response1.data.url);\n console.log(response2.data.url);\n})).catch(error => {\n console.log(error);\n});<\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\nAsynchronous code may quickly become overly difficult and unpleasant to work with, and the way Axios approaches this issue may make your life simpler in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SuperAgent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n