Head-to-Head: r2 vs Request (deprecated) Analysis

r2

v2.0.1(over 6 years ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.The package doesn't have any types definitionsNumber of direct dependencies: 3Monthly npm downloads

R2 is a versatile and feature-rich HTTP client library for Node.js and browsers. It provides a simple and intuitive API for making HTTP requests, handling responses, and working with data. R2 supports various features like streaming requests and responses, automatic decompression, and request/response interception. It also offers built-in support for promises and async/await syntax, making it easy to work with asynchronous operations.

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

Tags: httpclientnode.jsbrowserrequests

request

v2.88.2(over 4 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 simplified HTTP client for Node.js that makes it easy to make HTTP requests to external servers. It provides a high-level interface for sending HTTP requests and handling responses, supporting features like streaming, authentication, and cookie handling. Request is widely used for making API calls, fetching data from web services, and interacting with external APIs.

Alternatives:
axios+
node-fetch+
got+
superagent+
ky+
bent+
isomorphic-fetch+
make-fetch-happen+
phin+
needle+

Tags: node.jshttp clienthttp requestsapi callsdeprecated

Fight!

Popularity

Both r2 and request are popular npm packages for making HTTP requests in Node.js. However, request has been around for longer and has a larger user base and community support.

Size

r2 is a lightweight package that aims to provide a simpler and more modern API for making HTTP requests. It has a smaller code base compared to request, which makes it more lightweight and faster to install.

API Design

r2 provides a more modern and streamlined API design, inspired by the Fetch API. It offers a promise-based interface and supports features like streaming responses and request cancellation. request, on the other hand, follows a more traditional callback-based API design.

Features

Both packages offer a wide range of features for making HTTP requests, including support for different HTTP methods, headers, cookies, and authentication. However, request has been around for longer and has a more mature feature set, including support for multipart/form-data and JSON parsing out of the box.

Maintenance

Both r2 and request are actively maintained by their respective communities. However, request has a larger user base and community support, which means it is more likely to receive timely updates and bug fixes.

Compatibility

r2 is designed to work specifically with Node.js and does not have built-in support for browser environments. request, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used in both Node.js and browser environments.