Axios is a popular promise-based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. It provides an easy-to-use API for making HTTP requests and handling responses, supporting features like interceptors, request and response transformations, and automatic JSON data parsing. Axios is widely used for its simplicity, flexibility, and robust error handling capabilities.
Node-fetch is a lightweight and efficient library that brings window.fetch API to Node.js environment, allowing you to make HTTP requests easily. It provides a simple and modern interface for fetching resources over the network, supporting features like streaming, promises, and async/await syntax. Node-fetch is actively maintained and widely used in Node.js applications for its simplicity and compatibility with the Fetch API standards.
Alternatives:
axios-+
got-+
superagent-+
isomorphic-fetch-+
cross-fetch-+
node-superfetch-+
undici-+
request-promise-native-+
ky-+
make-fetch-happen-+
Tags: node.jshttpfetchpromisesasync/await
Fight!
Popularity
Axios is a more popular choice among developers due to its simplicity, ease of use, and wide adoption in the JavaScript community. Node-fetch, while also popular, is not as widely used as Axios.
Features
Axios provides additional features out of the box, such as built-in support for handling request and response interceptors, automatic transformation of JSON data, and the ability to cancel requests. Node-fetch, on the other hand, is a more lightweight package that focuses on the core functionality of making HTTP requests.
Browser and Node.js Support
Axios is designed to work in both browser and Node.js environments seamlessly, making it a versatile choice for developers. Node-fetch, on the other hand, is primarily targeted for Node.js environments and may require additional polyfills to work in the browser.
Flexibility
Node-fetch is a more low-level package that allows for more fine-grained control over HTTP requests, making it a good choice for developers who need more control over the request process. Axios, on the other hand, abstracts away some of the complexities of making HTTP requests, providing a more user-friendly interface.
Performance
In terms of performance, Node-fetch is generally faster than Axios due to its lightweight nature and fewer abstractions. However, the performance difference might be negligible for most use cases unless dealing with a high volume of requests.
Community and Maintenance
Both Axios and Node-fetch are actively maintained by their respective communities. Axios has a larger community and more frequent updates, while Node-fetch is also well-maintained but may not receive updates as frequently as Axios.
