Can GitHub Pages send HTTP requests to an external API? Here’s How to Fix It!

Описание: Discover why your React app isn't making HTTP requests on GitHub Pages and learn how to resolve the issue effectively.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64077314/ asked by the user 'MOHIT BHATIA' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13622310/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64077744/ provided by the user 'mohamed khounti' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8378929/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Can github pages send http requests to an external api?

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Can GitHub Pages Send HTTP Requests to an External API? Here’s How to Fix It!

If you're a developer, chances are you've used GitHub Pages to showcase your projects. But what happens when your React app, which utilizes HTTP requests to an external API, results in a blank page after deployment? This is a common issue that many face, and understanding the underlying reasons and solutions can help get your application back online.

The Problem

You've developed a shiny new React app that fetches data from an API using the popular Axios library. Everything works beautifully when you run it locally with npm start. However, after deploying it on GitHub Pages, your app doesn't function as expected. Instead of displaying the data as intended, you encounter a static page. This raises a crucial question:

Can GitHub Pages send HTTP requests to an external API?

The short answer is yes, but there are some crucial considerations.

The Key Issue

Static Hosting: GitHub Pages hosts static content, meaning it serves your files as they are. While it can display your React app, it may not handle requests the same way your local server does.

HTTP vs. HTTPS: One of the most common problems encountered with web applications today is the enforcement of secure connections. Browsers have become stringent about allowing HTTP requests to APIs that are served over HTTP. If you're trying to access a non-secure API (http://), your requests may be blocked, leading to the blank page issue you see.

The Solution

Step 1: Update Your API Endpoint

The first thing you should try is changing your API endpoint from http:// to https://. This adjustment is essential because modern browsers often block insecure HTTP requests when your website is served over HTTPS (which is the case with GitHub Pages).

If your original API request looked like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Update it to:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Check Your Code for Errors

Go through your code to ensure that there are no typos in your API endpoints.

Review your Axios request configuration to ensure everything is set up correctly for both development and production environments.

Step 3: Review CORS Policies

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) rules govern whether your browser will allow the request from your GitHub Pages URL to the external API. If the API you're trying to fetch data from does not allow requests from your domain, it's possible that your request will be blocked.

To check if this is an issue:

Open your browser's developer console (usually F12).

Look at the network tab to see if there are any CORS-related errors.

If CORS is the problem, you'll need to check the external API's documentation or consider using a different API that supports CORS.

Conclusion

Deploying a React app to GitHub Pages can be a fantastic way to showcase your work, but it doesn’t come without challenges. If you're dealing with issues related to external API requests, start by ensuring your API endpoints use HTTPS, and troubleshoot any CORS problems that may arise.

By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to get your application up and running, allowing it to make those crucial HTTP requests. Don't let a blank page hold you back—get your React app working on GitHub Pages today!