Head-to-Head: Got vs Request (deprecated) Analysis

got

v14.4.5(28 days ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are provided via a separate npm package: @types/gotNumber of direct dependencies: 11Monthly npm downloads

Got is a popular and lightweight HTTP request library for Node.js that simplifies making HTTP requests with its user-friendly API. It supports both HTTP and HTTPS requests, providing features like automatic retries, timeouts, and streaming responses. Got also offers built-in support for promises and async/await syntax, making it easy to work with asynchronous operations.

Alternatives:
axios+
node-fetch+
superagent+
request-promise-native+
ky+
needle+
undici+
axios-retry+
fetch-h2+
wreck+

Tags: node.jshttprequestpromiseasync

request

v2.88.2(almost 5 years ago)

This package is deprecated: request has been deprecated, see https://github.com/request/request/issues/3142Types definitions are provided via a separate npm package: @types/requestNumber of direct dependencies: 20Monthly npm downloads

Request is a popular and versatile HTTP client library for Node.js, designed to simplify making HTTP requests and handling responses. It supports various HTTP methods, including GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and more, and provides features like streaming, cookies, and authentication. Request allows for easy customization of headers, query parameters, and request body, making it suitable for a wide range of use cases.

Alternatives:
axios+
node-fetch+
got+
superagent+
needle+
ky+
undici+
fetch+
axios-fetch+
isomorphic-fetch+

Tags: node.jshttpclientrequestdeprecated

Fight!

Popularity

Both Got and Request are popular npm packages for making HTTP requests in Node.js. However, historically, Request has been more widely used and well-established in the community.

API Design

Got is designed with a more modern and intuitive API, providing a chainable and promise-based interface for making HTTP requests. Request, while still widely used, has a more traditional callback-based API.

Features and Functionality

Both packages offer a rich set of features for handling HTTP requests and responses. Got focuses on providing a comprehensive set of modern features out-of-the-box, including support for JSON parsing, request cancellation, retries, and more. Request, on the other hand, offers a wide range of plugins and allows for more customization options.

Performance

Got is known for its performance optimizations, including leveraging HTTP/2, connection pool management, and automatic decompression. Request, while still performant, may not have the same level of built-in optimizations as Got.

Community Support

Both Got and Request have active communities and are actively maintained. However, due to its historical popularity, Request may have a larger community and more resources available, including extensive documentation, tutorials, and examples.

Size and Dependencies

Got is known for its lightweight and dependency-free nature, making it ideal for small and minimalistic projects. On the other hand, Request has more dependencies and may have a larger footprint, which might be a consideration for projects with stricter size constraints.