How to Correctly Retrieve Values from API Calls in a Node.js Backend using React Frontend

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As a beginner in web development, you might run into situations where your frontend and backend are not communicating as expected. One common problem involves API calls—specifically, when you need to fetch a single value from the backend using data submitted via the frontend.

The Problem: Incorrect Data Retrieval

Let's imagine you're working on a project where users interact with a UI to fetch data. You're utilizing zustand for state management in your React application, which allows you to store values such as Ethereum addresses (for instance, 0xD4a33860578De61DBAbDc8BFdb98FD742fA7028).

You want to send this Ethereum address to your backend via an API call to interact with a smart contract function. However, the backend is receiving the data in a format that isn't compatible with your needs. Instead of simply getting the address, you're receiving an object that looks like this:

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

Your goal is to directly extract the address value from this object efficiently. Let’s break down how to achieve that.

The Solution: Correcting the Backend Logic

In the current setup of your backend, you are defining a function that accepts a parameter called feed. However, the data received from the API call is wrapped as an object containing the key feed.

Step 1: Adjust Your Backend Function

To solve the problem, you can modify your backend function as follows:

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

Step 2: Alternative Approach

If you prefer not to destructure feed, you could access the feed value directly from the object:

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

Both methods work effectively, allowing your backend to access the address in the format you need for further processing, such as interacting with a smart contract.

Conclusion

Now that you have a clearer understanding, you can take this knowledge and apply it to your projects confidently. Happy coding!