Head-to-Head: Request (deprecated) vs Superagent Analysis
request
v2.88.2(over 4 years ago)
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.
Superagent is a lightweight and flexible HTTP client library for Node.js and browsers, designed for making HTTP requests in a simple and intuitive way. It supports all HTTP methods, file uploads, custom headers, cookies, and more. Superagent also provides features like request and response serialization, timeout handling, and automatic parsing of JSON responses.
Alternatives:
axios-+
got-+
node-fetch-+
ky-+
isomorphic-fetch-+
fetch-h2-+
bent-+
needle-+
wreck-+
simple-get-+
Tags: httpclientnode.jsbrowserrequests
Fight!
Popularity
Both Request and Superagent are popular npm packages for making HTTP requests in Node.js and browsers. Request has been around for longer and has a larger user base, but Superagent has gained popularity in recent years and is widely used as well.
API Design
Request follows a callback-based API design, where you pass a callback function to handle the response. Superagent, on the other hand, uses a promise-based API design, which allows for more readable and concise code. It also supports async/await syntax for handling asynchronous requests.
Flexibility
Both packages provide a wide range of options and flexibility for making HTTP requests. Request offers more configuration options and supports additional features like cookie handling and multipart/form-data uploads. Superagent focuses on simplicity and ease of use, providing a more streamlined API.
Browser Support
Superagent is designed to work in both Node.js and browsers, making it a suitable choice for universal JavaScript applications. Request, on the other hand, is primarily targeted for Node.js and may require additional configuration or polyfills to work in the browser.
Community Support
Both packages have active communities and receive regular updates. Request has a larger community and a longer history, which means it has more resources and community support available. Superagent has a smaller but dedicated community and is actively maintained.
Additional Features
Request provides additional features like streaming, gzip compression, and automatic JSON parsing. Superagent focuses on the core functionality of making HTTP requests but provides plugins that can be used to extend its capabilities.
