What is Axios Follow-Redirects?
Axios Follow-Redirects is a drop-in replacement for Node’s built-in HTTP and HTTPS modules that automatically follows redirects. It provides request and get methods that work similarly to those of the HTTP and HTTPS modules. The main difference is that Follow-Redirects seamlessly follows redirects.
This module takes the pain out of handling redirects, freeing developers from worrying about all the edge cases that come with them. It allows developers to focus on their core work, ensuring that their applications work as expected without the extra hassle of dealing with redirects.
Getting started with Axios Follow-Redirects
Installation and usage of Axios Follow-Redirects
Setting maximum redirects and timeout
One of the most useful features of Axios Follow-Redirects is its ability to set maximum redirects and timeout. The maxRedirects option can be easily set in the request config by passing a second object argument. By default, it is set to 5, but you can adjust it to your desired value. However, be sure to set a limit that won’t cause an infinite loop with your redirects. Additionally, you can also set the timeout option by passing a value, which will abort the request if it takes too long to respond. These options have a significant impact on performance and should be used wisely.
Axios vs Fetch
Comparison Between Axios and Fetch
When it comes to making HTTP requests in JavaScript, developers have two main options: Axios and Fetch. While both tools have pros and cons, Axios is known for its wide browser support and its ability to handle errors more effectively.
One of the main selling points of Axios is its ability to use XMLHttpRequestunder the hood, allowing it to support browsers as old as IE11. Fetch, on the other hand, only supports more modern browsers like Chrome 42+, Firefox 39+, Edge 14+, and Safari 10.3+.
Another advantage of Axios is its error handling, which is more robust than Fetch. Axios allows you to intercept and handle errors more easily, making it a better choice for larger, more complex applications.
Explaining Fetch Redirect Option
Both Axios and Fetch have the ability to follow redirects, but they differ in how you enable this feature. In Fetch, you need to pass an option object to the fetch call that includes the redirect option, for example:
https://example.com”, {redirect: “follow”})
This will tell Fetch to automatically follow any redirects it encounters.
On the other hand, Axios includes a separate package called ‘follow-redirects’ that provides this functionality. To use follow-redirects with Axios, simply install the package and require it in your code:
const axios = require('axios').create(require('follow-redirects').axios)
Once you’ve done this, Axios will automatically follow redirects for any requests you make with it.
Axios Follow-Redirects use cases
Following multiple redirects
Axios Follow-Redirects makes it incredibly easy to follow multiple redirects. By setting the maxRedirects option in the request config, you can specify the maximum number of redirects to follow. By default, this is set to 5, but you can adjust it as needed. This saves you from having to manually handle each redirect, making your code cleaner and more efficient. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential for infinite redirects, so ensure that your redirects won’t cause any issues.
With Axios Follow-Redirects, you can easily implement authentication and authorization flows. Simply make the initial request with a set of credentials, and Axios will follow any redirects and automatically send those credentials along with each subsequent request. This cuts down on the amount of code you need to write and also helps to ensure that your requests are secure. However, be sure to follow best practices for handling sensitive data and stay up to date on any potential vulnerabilities.
Tracking tracking and analytics with Axios Follow-Redirects
Axios Follow-Redirects can also be used to track and analyze URL redirections. This can be incredibly useful for SEO purposes, as well as for tracking marketing campaigns and other user interactions. By setting up proper tracking and analytics, you can gain valuable insights into how users are behaving on your site and use that information to make data-driven decisions. There are also many success stories of companies using this data to dramatically improve their conversion rates and overall business performance.
Conclusion
Axios Follow-Redirects is an essential tool for modern web development. Its ability to automatically follow redirects eliminates the need for additional code, making API calls cleaner and easier to test using mock data. With the maxRedirects option, it ensures that your redirects don’t cause an infinite loop. Additionally, Axios has wide browser support, making it a reliable choice even for older browsers like IE11. By using Axios Follow-Redirects, you can improve the overall performance and user experience of your web applications.
References
One useful option available in this package is the maxRedirects configuration option, which sets the maximum number of redirects that the request can follow. This option is necessary to prevent infinite redirect loops, which can bring down your application if not handled properly.
Another alternative is the Fetch Redirect Option spec, which specifies how fetch() handles redirects. However, it has limited browser support, with only Chrome 42+, Firefox 39+, Edge 14+, and Safari 10.3+ supporting it.
If you prefer to use Axios over fetch(), you can be assured of its wide browser support. Axios uses XMLHttpRequest under the hood, making it a suitable option even for older browsers like IE11.
You can find more information about Axios on its Github repository. Additionally, you can use Axios Follow-Redirects for tracking virtual page views, as described in Google Analytics DevGuides.
