How To Use Xhr Api In Node Js

If you're diving into the world of Node.js and looking to make asynchronous HTTP requests, the XHR API can become your best friend. XMLHttpRequest (XHR) is a browser-based API that allows you to transfer data between a web client and a server. But did you know you can also use the XHR API in Node.js to make HTTP requests? In this guide, we'll walk through the steps on how to use the XHR API in Node.js, so you can harness its power for your projects.

First things first, you need to install the `xhr2` package using npm. This package enables the XMLHttpRequest functionality in Node.js, making it easier for you to incorporate XHR requests into your server-side applications. Simply run the following command in your terminal to install the `xhr2` package:

npm install xhr2

Once you have `xhr2` installed, you can start using the XHR API in your Node.js code. Here's a simple example to demonstrate how to make a GET request using the XHR API:

const XMLHttpRequest = require('xhr2');

const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
const url = 'https://api.example.com/data';

xhr.open('GET', url, true);
xhr.onreadystatechange = function() {
    if (xhr.readyState === 4 && xhr.status === 200) {
        console.log(xhr.responseText);
    }
};

xhr.send();

In this example, we first require the `xhr2` package and create a new instance of `XMLHttpRequest`. We then specify the URL we want to make a GET request to using the `open` method. The `onreadystatechange` event listener is used to handle the response once it's received. Finally, we send the request using the `send` method.

You can also make POST requests using the XHR API in Node.js. Here's an example to demonstrate how you can send data in a POST request:

const XMLHttpRequest = require('xhr2');

const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
const url = 'https://api.example.com/data';
const data = JSON.stringify({ key: 'value' });

xhr.open('POST', url, true);
xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
xhr.onreadystatechange = function() {
    if (xhr.readyState === 4 && xhr.status === 200) {
        console.log(xhr.responseText);
    }
};

xhr.send(data);

In this example, we stringify the data object and set the request header to specify that we are sending JSON data. The rest of the process is similar to making a GET request.

Using the XHR API in Node.js gives you the flexibility to make HTTP requests directly from your server-side code, opening up a world of possibilities for interacting with external APIs, fetching data, and more. With the `xhr2` package and a few lines of code, you can easily incorporate XHR functionality into your Node.js applications.