Fetch vs Axios: Which Should You Use for HTTP Requests? 

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into comparisons, let's briefly understand what each option brings to the table.

Key Differences in Syntax

One of the most noticeable differences is in the syntax and ease of use. Let's compare how each handles a simple GET request:

fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error('Network response was not ok');
    }
    return response.json();
  })
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(error => console.error('Fetch error:', error));

axios.get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error('Axios error:', error));

As you can see, Axios provides a more concise syntax. It automatically transforms JSON data and throws errors on HTTP error status codes, while Fetch requires you to manually check the response.ok property and call response.json().

POST Requests Comparison

The difference becomes even more apparent when making POST requests with JSON data:

fetch('https://api.example.com/data', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: 'John Doe',
    email: 'john@example.com'
  })
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data))
.catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

axios.post('https://api.example.com/data', {
  name: 'John Doe',
  email: 'john@example.com'
})
.then(response => console.log(response.data))
.catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

Axios automatically sets the appropriate headers and stringifies the JSON data, while Fetch requires you to manually set these up.

Feature Comparison

Error Handling Differences

One key difference is how each handles errors. Fetch will not reject on HTTP error statuses (like 404 or 500). It only rejects on network failures. This means you need to manually check the status:

Axios, on the other hand, rejects the promise automatically for non-2xx status codes, making error handling more intuitive in many cases.

When to Choose Fetch API

Fetch is an excellent choice when:

• You want to minimize dependencies in your project
• You're working on a simple application with basic HTTP request needs
• Bundle size is a critical concern
• You only need to support modern browsers
• You prefer using native web APIs whenever possible

When to Choose Axios

Axios shines when:

• You need advanced features like interceptors or automatic transforms
• You want more straightforward error handling
• You need wider browser compatibility (including older browsers)
• Your application makes complex API calls requiring detailed configuration
• You need the same HTTP client to work in both browser and Node.js environments

Creating a Simple Wrapper

If you prefer Fetch but want some of Axios's convenience, you can create a simple wrapper:

// Enhanced fetch wrapper
const enhancedFetch = async (url, options = {}) => {
  const defaultOptions = {
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      ...options.headers,
    },
  };
  
  if (options.body && typeof options.body === 'object') {
    options.body = JSON.stringify(options.body);
  }
  
  const response = await fetch(url, { ...defaultOptions, ...options });
  
  if (!response.ok) {
    const error = new Error('Request failed');
    error.response = response;
    error.status = response.status;
    throw error;
  }
  
  return response.json();
};

// Usage
enhancedFetch('https://api.example.com/data', {
  method: 'POST',
  body: { name: 'John Doe' }
})
.then(data => console.log(data))
.catch(error => console.error(`Error ${error.status}:`, error));

Conclusion

Both Fetch API and Axios are excellent tools for making HTTP requests in JavaScript applications. Your choice should depend on your specific project requirements, not just what's trendy or popular.

If simplicity and small bundle size are your priorities, Fetch is a great choice. If you need more features out of the box and better error handling, Axios might be worth the extra dependency.

Many developers start with Fetch for simpler projects and migrate to Axios when they need more robust features. However, with a few utility functions, you can enhance Fetch to provide much of the convenience that Axios offers.

Ultimately, the best choice is the one that meets your specific requirements and fits well with your development workflow.