Battle of HTTP Clients: Comparing Axios, Unfetch, and Superagent for beginners
Tags: beginners, webdev, javascript, api
Published: 2023-07-12 12:17:50

Gather around, fellow developers, as we witness the epic showdown between three of the most popular JavaScript HTTP clients. Today, we are going to witness the battle of **Axios **vs **Unfetch **vs **Superagent **to see who comes out on top!

In the red corner, we have Axios, the Promise-based HTTP client known for its flexibility and ability to work well with Node.js and browsers alike.

In the blue corner, we have Unfetch, the minimalistic, lightweight contender who can slip into any project without causing a fuss.

Finally, in the green corner, we have Superagent, the well-rounded client that boasts a fluent, chainable API and a vast array of plugins.

Let's dive in and see how these three HTTP clients fare against each other in a series of grueling challenges!


## Round 1: Basic Usage
First, let's see how our contenders perform when it comes to basic usage. Here's how you can fetch data using each of them:

**Axios**

```
const axios = require('axios');

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

**Unfetch**

```
const fetch = require('unfetch');

fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => {
    console.log(data);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.error(error);
  });
```

**Superagent**

```
const request = require('superagent');

request
  .get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    console.log(response.body);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.error(error);
  });
```

**Winner**: **Unfetch** for its minimalistic and familiar fetch API.


## Round 2: Error Handling

Now, let's see how our contenders deal with errors:

**Axios**

```
axios.get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    console.log(response.data);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    if (error.response) {
      console.error('Error status:', error.response.status);
    } else if (error.request) {
      console.error('No response received:', error.request);
    } else {
      console.error('Error:', error.message);
    }
  });
```

**Unfetch**

```
fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`Error status: ${response.status}`);
    }
    return response.json();
  })
  .then(data => {
    console.log(data);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.error('Error:', error.message);
  });
```

**Superagent**

```
request
  .get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    console.log(response.body);
  })
  .catch(error => {
    if (error.response) {
      console.error('Error status:', error.response.status);
    } else {
      console.error('Error:', error.message);
    }
  });
```

**Winner**: **Axios **for its detailed error information.


## Round 3: Browser Support

Finally, let's see which client supports the widest range of browsers:

- Axios: IE 11+ (with a Promise polyfill)
- Unfetch: IE 9+ (with a Promise polyfill)
- Superagent: IE 10+

**Winner**: **Unfetch** for its broader browser support.


## The Verdict

After three intense rounds, it's clear that each of our contenders has its strengths and weaknesses.

- Axios shines when it comes to error handling and flexibility.
- Unfetch is the lightweight champion with broader browser support.
- Superagent offers a fluent API and a wide array of plugins.


The winner ultimately depends on your specific needs and project requirements. Choose wisely and may the best HTTP client be with you!