Fetch vs Axios in React

In React applications, API calls are very important because real-world apps always take data from some server or database. There are two popular ways to make an API call: Fetch API and Axios. In this blog, we will understand both in detail — their use, benefits, code, and best practices in simple English.

This blog is perfect for beginners who want to learn API calling in React.

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Why API Calling is Important in React?

Whenever you need data from an external server — like user list, product list, posts, comments — you must send an HTTP request. In React, we send these requests using Fetch or Axios.

You can do the following with API calls:

• Fetch data
• Send data to server/database (POST)
• Update data (PUT / PATCH)
• Delete data (DELETE)

In this blog, we will focus on GET request which is the most common.

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1. Fetch API

What is Fetch API?

Fetch API is a built-in browser feature used to send HTTP requests. You do not need any library to use it. It works with React, JavaScript, and any browser. The syntax of Fetch is simple, but error handling is a little difficult.

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How Fetch API works?

Fetch function sends a request to a URL. The server sends a response. You must convert that response into JSON manually. Then you store the JSON in React state. Finally, you display it on the UI.

In React, we use useEffect and useState for API calls.

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React Example Using Fetch API (Full Working Code)

import { useEffect, useState } from "react";

function Fetchs() {
  const [sodata, setSodata] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts")
      .then((response) => response.json())
      .then((data) => setSodata(data))
      .catch((error) => console.log(error));
  }, []);

  return (
    <>
      <h2>User Data</h2>
      {sodata.map((item) => (
        <p key={item.id}>{item.title}</p>
      ))}
    >
  );
}

export default Fetchs;

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When to Use Fetch API?

• Project is small
• No advanced features needed
• Simple GET/POST requests
• You don’t want to install extra libraries

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Advantages of Fetch API

• Built-in browser feature
• Lightweight
• No need for extra library
• Perfect for basic requests

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Disadvantages of Fetch API

• Weak error handling
• No built-in timeout
• JSON must be manually parsed
• Request cancelation is difficult

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2. Axios

What is Axios?

Axios is a powerful HTTP client library. It is more powerful and easier to use than Fetch. Professional React projects mostly use Axios.

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How to Install Axios?

Axios is an external library, so you must install it.

Run this command in the terminal:

npm install axios

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How Axios Works?

Axios makes GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests easy. It automatically converts response into JSON. Error handling is cleaner than Fetch. Axios also supports interceptors, cancel requests, timeout, and easy header settings.

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React Example Using Axios (Full Working Code)

import axios from "axios";
import { useEffect, useState } from "react";

function AxiosData() {
  const [data, setData] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    axios
      .get("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts")
      .then((res) => setData(res.data))
      .catch((err) => console.log(err));
  }, []);

  return (
    <>
      <h2>Axios Data</h2>
      {data.map((item) => (
        <p key={item.id}>{item.title}</p>
      ))}
    >
  );
}

export default AxiosData;

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When to Use Axios?

• Project is large or professional
• Strong error handling needed
• Authentication headers required
• File upload or download
• Need request interceptors
• Frequent data fetching

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Advantages of Axios

• Simple and short syntax
• Automatic JSON parsing
• Best error handling
• Timeout support
• Interceptors for tokens
• Can cancel requests
• Perfect for large projects

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Disadvantages of Axios

• You must install an extra library
• Bundle size is slightly bigger than Fetch

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Fetch vs Axios – Which is Better?

Fetch is perfect for small and simple projects. Axios is the best for large, professional, and complex applications.

If you need:

• Authentication
• Headers
• Timeout
• Interceptors
• Short code
• Better error handling

Then Axios is the best.

If your project is small and you want lightweight code, then Fetch is perfect.

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Final Conclusion

Doing API calls in React is one of the most basic and important steps of web development. Both Fetch and Axios are great tools — it depends on your project requirement.

• Fetch is easier for beginners
• Axios is more powerful for advanced developers
• Companies mostly use Axios
• Students can use Fetch for small/simple projects