@actions/http-client

What is @actions/http-client?

The @actions/http-client npm package is designed to provide a simple and efficient way to make HTTP requests from Node.js, particularly within the context of GitHub Actions. It supports features like making GET, POST, and other HTTP requests, handling streams, and processing responses.

What are @actions/http-client's main functionalities?

Making GET requests

This feature allows you to make GET requests to retrieve data from a specified endpoint. The code sample demonstrates how to create an instance of HttpClient, make a GET request, and read the response body.

const { HttpClient } = require('@actions/http-client');
const httpClient = new HttpClient('my-user-agent');

async function getExample() {
  const response = await httpClient.get('https://api.example.com/data');
  const body = await response.readBody();
  console.log(body);
}

getExample();

Making POST requests

This feature allows you to make POST requests to send data to a specified endpoint. The code sample shows how to send a JSON payload with the appropriate headers and process the response.

const { HttpClient } = require('@actions/http-client');
const httpClient = new HttpClient('my-user-agent');

async function postExample() {
  const data = JSON.stringify({ key: 'value' });
  const headers = { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
  const response = await httpClient.post('https://api.example.com/submit', data, headers);
  const body = await response.readBody();
  console.log(body);
}

postExample();

Handling streams

This feature is useful for handling large amounts of data by streaming it directly to a file or another destination. The code sample demonstrates how to pipe the response from a GET request into a writable stream.

const { HttpClient } = require('@actions/http-client');
const fs = require('fs');
const httpClient = new HttpClient('my-user-agent');

async function streamExample() {
  const response = await httpClient.get('https://api.example.com/data');
  const stream = fs.createWriteStream('./data.txt');
  response.message.pipe(stream);
}

streamExample();

Other packages similar to @actions/http-client

axios

Axios is a popular HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. It provides a promise-based API and has a similar feature set to @actions/http-client, including the ability to make various HTTP requests, intercept requests and responses, and transform request and response data. Axios is often preferred for its simplicity and wide adoption.

node-fetch

node-fetch is a light-weight module that brings the Fetch API to Node.js. It is similar to @actions/http-client in that it allows you to make HTTP requests, but it is designed to closely mimic the browser fetch API, which some developers may find more familiar.

got

Got is a human-friendly and powerful HTTP request library for Node.js. It offers features like stream support, retries, and request cancellation, which are similar to @actions/http-client. Got is known for its advanced features and comprehensive options for customizing requests.

superagent

Superagent is a small progressive client-side HTTP request library, and Node.js module with the same API, sporting many high-level HTTP client features. It compares to @actions/http-client with its fluent API and ability to handle both callback and promise-based workflows.

README

@actions/http-client

A lightweight HTTP client optimized for building actions.

Features

• HTTP client with TypeScript generics and async/await/Promises
• Typings included!
• Proxy support just works with actions and the runner
• Targets ES2019 (runner runs actions with node 12+). Only supported on node 12+.
• Basic, Bearer and PAT Support out of the box. Extensible handlers for others.
• Redirects supported

Features and releases here

Install

npm install @actions/http-client --save

Samples

See the tests for detailed examples.

Errors

HTTP

The HTTP client does not throw unless truly exceptional.

• A request that successfully executes resulting in a 404, 500 etc... will return a response object with a status code and a body.
• Redirects (3xx) will be followed by default.

See the tests for detailed examples.

Debugging

To enable detailed console logging of all HTTP requests and responses, set the NODE_DEBUG environment varible:

export NODE_DEBUG=http

Node support

The http-client is built using the latest LTS version of Node 12. It may work on previous node LTS versions but it's tested and officially supported on Node12+.

Support and Versioning

We follow semver and will hold compatibility between major versions and increment the minor version with new features and capabilities (while holding compat).

Contributing

We welcome PRs. Please create an issue and if applicable, a design before proceeding with code.

once:

npm install

To build:

npm run build

To run all tests:

npm test