Using Axios in Node? Have a look at got

When working with Node.js, it's not uncommon to make HTTP requests to external APIs or services. Two popular libraries for handling HTTP requests are Got and Axios. Both libraries are known for their ease of use, but each offers its own unique set of features, advantages, and drawbacks. In this blog post, we will explore the similarities and differences between Got and Axios, helping you decide which one is the best fit for your project.

Overview of Got and Axios

Both Got and Axios are HTTP client libraries for Node.js, designed to make it easier to perform HTTP requests in your applications. They provide promise-based APIs, which means you can use them with async/await syntax, making your code more readable and easier to maintain.

Similarities:

Promise-based APIs: Both libraries support promises and async/await syntax, making them easy to integrate with modern JavaScript code.

Customization: Both Got and Axios allow you to create customized instances, enabling you to set default settings for your requests, such as headers, timeouts, and base URLs.
Request and response interception: Both libraries provide mechanisms to modify requests and responses before they are sent or handled. Axios uses interceptors, while Got uses hooks for this purpose.

Differences:

Browser support: Axios is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, while Got is specifically tailored for Node.js. If you need a library that can handle requests in both environments, Axios would be the better choice.

Feature set: Axios has a more extensive feature set, including support for interceptors, which allows you to modify requests and responses before they are handled. Got, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and a more minimal API, making it suitable for simpler use cases.

Performance: Got is known for its performance and lightweight nature, making it a suitable choice for performance-critical applications. Axios, while also performant, is generally considered to be less lightweight than Got.

Error handling: Got offers more descriptive error messages and improved error handling capabilities compared to Axios, which can make debugging easier.

Community and support: Due to its longer history and widespread use, Axios has a larger community and more active development. However, Got has been gaining traction in recent years and has a dedicated community as well.

Comparing in code

Here's an example of using Axios with an interceptor and Got with hooks to perform a simple GET request and modify the request headers before the request is sent:

const axios = require('axios');

// Create an instance of Axios
const axiosInstance = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com',
});

// Add an interceptor to modify request headers
axiosInstance.interceptors.request.use((config) => {
  config.headers['X-Custom-Header'] = 'CustomHeaderValue';
  return config;
});

// Make a GET request
axiosInstance.get('/posts/1')
  .then((response) => {
    console.log(response.data);
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error);
  });

Got with hooks:

const got = require('got');

// Define hooks to modify request headers
const hooks = {
  beforeRequest: [
    (options) => {
      options.headers['X-Custom-Header'] = 'CustomHeaderValue';
    },
  ],
};

// Create an instance of Got
const gotInstance = got.extend({
  prefixUrl: 'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com',
  hooks,
});

// Make a GET request
gotInstance.get('posts/1')
  .json()
  .then((data) => {
    console.log(data);
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error);
  });

When choosing between Got and Axios for your Node.js project, it's essential to consider your specific use case and requirements. Axios is more versatile, being suitable for both Node.js and browser environments, and offers a richer feature set out-of-the-box. Got, on the other hand, is designed specifically for Node.js, is more lightweight, and focuses on simplicity and performance.

Both libraries have their strengths and weaknesses, so take the time to evaluate your project's needs and determine which library best aligns with your goals. Whichever you choose, you'll be working with a powerful and easy-to-use tool for handling HTTP requests in Node.js.