What is axios?
Axios is a promise-based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. It provides an easy-to-use API for sending asynchronous HTTP requests to REST endpoints and performing CRUD operations. It can be used to make XMLHttpRequests from the browser or HTTP requests from Node.js, supports the Promise API, and provides a way to intercept request and response, transform request and response data, and cancel requests.
What are axios's main functionalities?
Performing GET requests
This feature allows you to perform a GET request to retrieve data from a specified resource.
axios.get('/user?ID=12345').then(function (response) { console.log(response); }).catch(function (error) { console.log(error); });
Performing POST requests
This feature allows you to perform a POST request to send data to a server to create/update a resource.
axios.post('/user', { firstName: 'Fred', lastName: 'Flintstone' }).then(function (response) { console.log(response); }).catch(function (error) { console.log(error); });
Performing concurrent requests
This feature allows you to make multiple requests simultaneously.
axios.all([axios.get('/user/12345'), axios.get('/user/67890')]).then(axios.spread(function (acct, perms) { console.log(acct, perms); }));
Interceptors
This feature allows you to intercept requests or responses before they are handled by then or catch.
axios.interceptors.request.use(function (config) { config.headers.Authorization = AUTH_TOKEN; return config; }, function (error) { return Promise.reject(error); });
Creating instances
This feature allows you to create a new instance of axios with custom config defaults.
const instance = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }); instance.get('/users').then(function (response) { console.log(response); });
Other packages similar to axios
fetch
The Fetch API provides a JavaScript interface for accessing and manipulating parts of the HTTP pipeline, such as requests and responses. It is a modern alternative to XMLHttpRequest and is native to modern browsers. Unlike axios, it is not based on promises by default but can be used with promises.
superagent
Superagent is a light-weight progressive ajax API crafted for flexibility, readability, and a low learning curve after being frustrated with many of the existing request APIs. It is similar to axios but with a different API design and chainable methods.
got
Got is a human-friendly and powerful HTTP request library for Node.js. It is designed to be a simpler and more performant alternative to Node's native http module. Got offers stream support, promise APIs, and advanced features like retries and timeouts.
request
Request is a simplified HTTP request client 'simplified' with many features. It is one of the most popular HTTP client libraries but has been deprecated as of February 2020. It had a callback-based API, which is different from axios's promise-based API.
node-fetch
node-fetch is a light-weight module that brings the Fetch API to Node.js. It is an implementation of the window.fetch function for Node.js, aiming to provide a consistent API with the browser's fetch function. It is similar to axios in terms of promise-based requests but follows the Fetch API standard.