Developers face a vital decision while building modern web applications: choosing between the built-in Fetch API and the popular Axios library to make HTTP requests. This fetch vs axios discussion matters more than ever to web developers who need the right tool for their projects.
The Fetch API comes built into modern browsers and Node.js v18+, but Axios provides features that developers find useful. Fetch API delivers simple HTTP functionality, and Axios enhances the experience with automatic JSON data transformation, built-in request cancelation, and broader browser support that works with IE11.
This complete comparison explores the differences between these two approaches to help you pick the best option for your next project. Your choice between these tools matters whether you're working on a small application or a large-scale system. Understanding their capabilities will guide you to the right solution that matches your specific needs.
Fetch API and Axios each provide simple methods for handling HTTP requests, though they take different approaches to implementation and data handling.
The simple syntax for GET requests shows fundamental differences between these tools. Axios transforms JSON responses automatically and offers an efficient approach [1]:
axios.get('https://api.example.com') .then(response => console.log(response.data));Fetch needs an extra step to process JSON data
fetch('https://api.example.com') .then(response => response.json()) .then(data => console.log(data));Each tool handles data transmission uniquely. Axios makes the process simpler through automatic data transformation:
axios.post('https://api.example.com', { property: "value" })Fetch needs you to serialize data manually :
fetch('https://api.example.com', { method: 'POST', headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ property: "value" }) })The main differences in request handling include:
Axios's data property handles request payloads, while Fetch uses the body property
Axios stringifies JavaScript objects automatically during POST requests
Fetch requires manual JSON stringification through JSON.stringify()
Axios also lets you configure multiple options through a second argument :
axios(url, { method: 'post', timeout: 1000, headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" }, data: { property: "value" } })Both tools accomplish similar tasks effectively. Axios needs less boilerplate code because of its built-in data handling features .
Fetch API and Axios handle data in different ways. This is especially when you have HTTP responses to process and manage.
Axios makes JSON handling quick with automatic data transformation . When it gets a response, Axios turns it into a JavaScript object right away. You don't need to parse it manually . To cite an instance, see this example:
const { data } = await axios.get('/api/endpoint'); console.log(data); // Already a JavaScript objectThe Fetch API works differently. You need to parse JSON in two steps :
const response = await fetch('/api/endpoint'); const data = await response.json(); console.log(data);These tools handle responses in their own unique ways. Axios keeps response data as a JavaScript object in the data field . When you make POST requests, Axios automatically converts the request body based on content type. It works with JSON, URL-encoded data, and multipart form data .
The Fetch API gives you more control but needs extra code. The response payload lives in the body field and you must stringify it explicitly :
const options = { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify(data) };These tools handle errors differently too. Axios rejects promises automatically for network failures and HTTP error status codes . This makes error handling straightforward:
try { const response = await axios.get('/api/endpoint'); } catch (error) { if (error.response) { // Handle HTTP error (4xx, 5xx) } else if (error.request) { // Handle network error } }The Fetch API takes a different path . It won't reject promises when it gets HTTP error status codes like 404 or 500. Instead, it resolves normally and sets the ok property to false . You need to check the response status yourself:
const response = await fetch('/api/endpoint'); if (!response.ok) { // Handle HTTP error }Axios and Fetch API go beyond simple HTTP functions. They handle complex requests in different ways that set them apart by a lot.
Axios comes with built-in interceptors that are a great way to get modify requests and responses before processing [3]. These interceptors help with tasks like adding authentication tokens or setting up error handling across your application:
axios.interceptors.request.use(config => { // Modify requests before sending return config; }, error => { return Promise.reject(error); });Fetch doesn't have built-in interceptor support. Developers can build custom wrappers to get the same results [8]:
async function fetchWithAuth(url, options = {}) { options.headers = { ...options.headers, 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` }; return fetch(url, options); }Live progress monitoring shows a key difference between these tools. Axios makes progress tracking easy through its callback functions :
axios.get(url, { onDownloadProgress: progressEvent => { const percentCompleted = Math.round( (progressEvent.loaded * 100) / progressEvent.total ); } });Fetch needs more work to track progress . Download progress tracking works but requires detailed handling of ReadableStream and Unit8Array operations:
const response = await fetch(url); const reader = response.body.getReader(); const contentLength = response.headers.get('content-length');Axios provides a straightforward way to cancel requests. Developers can set up timeout controls with ease:
axios({ method: 'post', url: '/api/data', timeout: 4000 // 4 seconds });Fetch uses the AbortController interface to cancel requests :
const controller = new AbortController(); const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 4000); fetch(url, { signal: controller.signal });These advanced features show how Axios takes a developer-friendly approach with built-in solutions for complex tasks. Fetch usually needs extra work to achieve similar results .
Developers choose between Fetch API and Axios based on performance metrics and browser compatibility for their HTTP request needs.
Latest performance tests show these tools are almost identical in speed. The Fetch API runs slightly faster at 1.077 seconds while Axios takes 1.095 seconds . This small advantage comes from Fetch's native implementation that doesn't need external dependencies.
Each approach handles memory differently. The Fetch API gives precise control over response handling and enables efficient data streaming and processing. Axios takes a different path by buffering responses completely . This difference becomes vital when applications deal with large datasets:
Fetch: Direct browser integration, no additional bundle size
Axios: Small overhead due to feature-rich implementation
Memory efficiency: Fetch's streaming capabilities vs Axios's buffered responses
Each tool has unique advantages when it comes to browser support. Here's a detailed breakdown of compatibility:
Axios
Supports all modern browsers
Works naturally with IE11
Uses XMLHttpRequest under the hood
Needs no additional polyfills
Fetch API
Chrome 42+
Firefox 39+
Edge 14+
Safari 10.1+
No IE11 support
Axios stands out as a reliable choice for projects that need legacy browser support. Developers can still use Fetch in older browsers through polyfills, but this might affect performance .
Project requirements typically determine the choice between these tools. Modern web applications targeting current browsers benefit from Fetch's native implementation and its slight performance edge. Projects needing broad browser support or developer convenience might prefer Axios's complete feature set, despite the small performance cost.
The tools handle Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) differently too. Axios manages preflight requests automatically for CORS by sending an OPTIONS request to check server permissions. This automatic handling makes development easier but could affect performance when frequent cross-origin requests are needed.
Feature | Fetch API | Axios |
|---|---|---|
Simple Implementation | JSON parsing and stringification need manual handling | JSON transforms automatically |
Request Body | Uses | Uses |
JSON Processing | Requires two steps with | Data transforms automatically |
Error Handling | HTTP error codes need manual status checks | Promises reject automatically for network and HTTP errors |
Request Interceptors | Custom implementation needed | Supports built-in interceptors |
Progress Tracking | ReadableStream makes implementation complex | Dedicated callbacks make it simple |
Request Cancelation | Works with AbortController interface | Comes with built-in cancelation and timeout control |
Performance | 1.077 seconds (slightly faster) | 1.095 seconds |
Browser Support | Chrome 42+, Firefox 39+, Edge 14+, Safari 10.1+, No IE11 | All modern browsers including IE11 |
Bundle Size | Native implementation adds no size | Feature-rich implementation adds small overhead |
CORS Handling | Needs manual handling | Handles preflight requests automatically |
Your choice between Fetch API and Axios really comes down to what your project needs and your priorities. Fetch API shines with its native implementation that gives you better performance without adding to your bundle size. Axios is a great way to get features like automatic JSON transformation, built-in interceptors, and complete browser support.
These tools work well for simple HTTP requests, but they take different approaches. Fetch API needs more setup but lets you control exactly how requests are handled. Axios makes development easier with automatic data transformation and error handling, which makes it perfect for bigger applications.
Browser compatibility is a vital factor, especially when you have legacy support requirements. Fetch API doesn't work natively with IE11, but Axios works smoothly across all major browsers. It also makes complex operations like request cancelation and progress tracking easier, though this adds a tiny bit to your app's size.
The best choice depends on what matters most to your project. Teams that want lightweight implementations and modern browser support might prefer Fetch API. But if developer productivity and a complete feature set are your priorities, Axios might be the better fit. Whatever tool you pick, both keep evolving to meet the needs of modern web development.