How to Traverse and Extract Data from Wikipedia API in React using Axios

Learn how to effectively traverse improperly grouped data from the Wikipedia API in your React application using Axios to extract crucial information like `canonicalurl`.
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How to Traverse and Extract Data from Wikipedia API in React using Axios

When developing with APIs, you might encounter data structures that are not as straightforward as you'd like. One common challenge is the inability to traverse improperly grouped data effectively. Today, we’ll explore a problem related to the Wikipedia API and how we can solve it to extract specific information.

The Problem: Understanding the Wikipedia API Response

When you make a request to the Wikipedia API, the structure of the returned JSON can be complex. For instance, the API groups items using pageid, which can make it difficult to access specific properties, such as canonicalurl.

Example of API Response

Here's a simplified version of what the Wikipedia API response looks like:

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

The Challenge

You want to extract the canonicalurl for each page based on the response structure. However, accessing the data directly can lead to confusion, especially when trying to map over the response.

Step-by-Step Solution

Make the API Call: Start by setting up your API call using Axios.

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

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

Mapping the Results: Now, with the data transformed into an array, you can easily map over it in your React component.

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

Benefits of this Approach

Simplicity: By transforming the data into an array, the mapping process becomes much simpler and more intuitive.

Flexibility: You can easily access any property you need from the pages without worrying about the structure of the response.

Conclusion