Difference between express.js and axios.js in Node

Question

We use axios for http requests such as get, post, etc. We use express for the same purpose also. However according to what I read, they are for different purposes. Please explain how.

PS: If you explain it by giving an example, it would be great!

Overnight

Have you read their respective website ? – Directoire

express.js is web framework of javascript, but axios.js is Promise based HTTP client for the browser and node.js. they are do diffrent things – Whom

I suggest you fo through this short description here - masteringjs.io/tutorials/express/router – Trophozoite

Answer 1

You can think of express.js as a warehouse:

app.get('/item/:name', async function (req, res) {
  res.send(await findItemByName(req.params.name));
});

If you want to get an item, for example a pencil, from this warehouse, you can use axios.js.

axios.get('/item/pencil')

Posturize

We use ajax requests for getting/posting an item. So is axios a way to send them securely? – Overnight

ajax and axios do exactly the same thing. axios isn't more secure, but personally I think it's easier to use (less code to write, promise-based,...) – Posturize

Answer 2

Axios is used to send a web request whereas express is used to listen and serve these web requests.

In simple words, express is used to respond to the web requests sent by axios.

If you know about the fetch() method in javascript, axios is just an alternative to fetch().

Heterogony

Answer 3

I would say that express is used to create HTTP servers. So the server runs somewhere and responds to a request.

Axios is an HTTP client. It creates requests!

Ogburn

Answer 4

In very simple words axios is just passing the web request to the server-side (express). They basically work together (axios -> express -> DB)

Phenomenal

Answer 5

Just reiterating/clarifying: (IF I understand correctly),

• Use Axios to make API calls FROM your FRONT END UI, and
• Use Express on your BACK-END SERVER to respond to API calls.
• Express is connected to your database (Mongo, etc.)
• Use Postman to send test requests to your back-end.
• Use Mockable, Mockbin, Swagger, JSONPlaceholder, Amazon API gateway, or IBM to act as a server and respond to App requests with test data.

Also, it's my understanding that these should be two separate projects/folders so don't co-mingle the code with each other. (Not a 100% sure on that part)

Steapsin