How to Handle Errors Using Node.js HTTP Module Efficiently

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The Problem

Imagine you have two servers. Server1 has an addUser API that calls the getId API from Server2. When getId throws an error, addUser attempts to parse the response, which results in failure. Here’s a brief overview of the situation:

Server1 requests user IDs from Server2.

Server2 may throw an error that Server1 attempts to parse as JSON.

This can lead to uncaught exceptions and a break in the application flow.

As a developer, you may find yourself wondering: How do I effectively handle errors in such a scenario?

1. Recognizing HTTP Status Codes

2. Accumulating Response Data

The response from the server may arrive in chunks, and it's crucial to accumulate this data before attempting to parse it. Failing to wait for the complete response leads to parsing errors.

3. Implementing Robust Error Handling

Here’s a structured way to handle error scenarios effectively:

Sample Code Implementation

The following code snippet provides a revised approach to handling errors when calling the getId API:

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

4. Consider Higher-Level Libraries

Despite the effectiveness of the HTTP module, consider using higher-level libraries like got or node-fetch. It simplifies the request process by automatically handling errors and parsing responses, leading to cleaner and more manageable code.

Example with got

Here’s how simple it can be using got:

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

Conclusion