How to Properly Catch Errors in Axios API Calls Using React.js

Описание: Learn how to effectively handle errors in your Axios API calls with React.js by choosing the right syntax for your async and sync code.
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How to Properly Catch Errors in Axios API Calls Using React.js

When working with APIs in a React.js project, you may encounter challenges when it comes to error handling. For instance, you could experience situations where you receive an HTTP 404 error, but your code fails to catch the error effectively. This can lead to confusion and complicate debugging. In this post, we will explore how to manage errors correctly in your API calls using Axios and help you understand why you might not be catching errors properly.

Understanding the Problem

In the given scenario, the user is trying to perform an API call using Axios and is not able to catch a 404 error response. This is a common issue when mixing synchronous (then/catch) and asynchronous (async/await) code styles. Such mixing can lead to unhandled errors being overlooked.

Let's break down the code involved so that we can identify areas for improvement.

Code Breakdown

axios.js - Here, you initialize an Axios instance with a base URL and content type.

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api.js - The function that makes the POST request.

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postData function - This is where the error handling should happen.

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The problem lies in the way postData is set up. It combines an asynchronous function with chained then and catch, which could cause confusion and lead to unhandled errors.

Solution: Catching Errors Effectively

To effectively catch errors when making API calls, you need to stick to either the synchronous or asynchronous pattern consistently. Here’s how to approach both methods:

Option 1: Using async/await

This method makes your code cleaner and easier to read. Here's how you can refactor postData using try/catch blocks:

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Option 2: Keeping with Promises

If you prefer to stay synchronous with promises, ensure the postData function only uses then/catch without mixing async/await:

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Conclusion

Handling errors effectively in your Axios API calls is crucial to ensure your React.js application can manage unexpected responses gracefully. Remember to choose either the asynchronous async/await syntax or stick with synchronous promise chaining to avoid confusion and missed error handling.

By following these guidelines, you should find it much easier to catch errors such as HTTP 404 responses, enabling you to build a more robust and user-friendly application.

If you're looking to improve your API handling skills further, practice combining error handling with various HTTP status codes beyond 404. Happy coding!