What Are the Benefits Of Using Node.js To Fetch APIs?

The fetch API was used in making the API request from the client side for some of the time but due to some of the issues it needed to be added in the Node.js. After the release of NodeJS v17.0, it was added as a demonstration feature, and after the Node 18.0 version, it offers with Long term support (LTS) that also completes the demand for awaited features of the developer community of Nodejs, So after the short discussion we look out the steps of Nodejs fetch API in detail. 

The Nodejs fetch module was built mainly to backfill the feature in Node.js that the reason for its existence. Well, the core Node.js support the API by eliminating the requirement of a separate module.  

In this article, we examine the fetch() API with an explanation of its useful addition that be used. 

The Extra Search Pack Is Removed

The fetch is built on Node.js considered as the end of the package such as node-fetch, got moreover, cross fetch and some of the others created for the same use. The Node js developer does not have to install npm before networking on Node.  The native fetch API is going to make HTTP fetch in the node environment more natural and seamless. 

Multi-platform

If a developer already has experience using the Fetch API, they will have no problem using the Node.js integration. Instead, you will work in a simple and intuitive environment, as opposed to using external packages to achieve the same functionality.

Quick implementation

Fetch was constructed on Undici, an HTTP client that considers for reliability, speed, and compatibility with Node specifications. This foresees enhance performance if fetches API.  

Steps: Fetch In Node.js Framework 

The fetch API is the high-level performance functionality that makes URLs to  solve the query like: 

fetch("http://example.com/api/endpoint")

  .then((response) => {

    // Do something with response

  })

  .catch(function (error) {

    console.log("Unable to fetch -", err);

  }); 

You can also change the fetching process by adding the optional object after the URL. 

Installation

npm install node-fetch

Configuring the modules

ES module

import fetch from 'node-fetch';

CommonJS

npm install node-fetch@2

Global Access

To use Fetch without importing it, you can use:

// fetch-polyfill.js

import fetch, {

  Blob,

  blobFrom,

  blobFromSync,

  files,

  fileFrom,

  fileFromSync,

  FormData,

  headers,

  request,

  Reply,

} from 'node-fetch'

if (!globalThis.fetch) {

  globalThis.fetch = fetch

  globalThis.Headers = Headers

  globalThis.Request = Request

  globalThis.Response = Response

}

// index.js

import './fetch-polyfill'

// ...

Conclusion 

Fetch was based on Undici, In HTTP client was considered for reliability, compatibility, and speed with the specification of Node.js. This anticipated and enhance the performance of Fetch API. All in all officially Nodejs comes with a bundle of  Nodejs fetch API that simplifies the development experience more easier.