how to download files using axios with code examples

Axios is a popular JavaScript library used for making HTTP requests. It is often used in combination with other libraries, such as React or Vue.js, to handle data fetching and manipulation. In this article, we will discuss how to download files using Axios with code examples.

Before we begin, make sure that you have Axios installed in your project. You can install it using npm by running the following command:

npm install axios

Using the get method

The simplest way to download a file using Axios is to use the get method. This method takes a URL as its first parameter and returns a promise that resolves to the response data. Here is an example of how to download a file using the get method:

import axios from 'axios';

const url = 'https://example.com/file.txt';
axios.get(url, {
    responseType: 'blob'
}).then(response => {
    const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(new Blob([response.data]));
    const link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = url;
    link.setAttribute('download', 'file.txt');
    document.body.appendChild(link);
    link.click();
}).catch(error => {
    console.log(error);
});

In this example, we are using the responseType option to specify that we want to receive the file as a blob, which is a type of binary data. Then we create a new object URL using the response data, and create an <a> element that we use to trigger the download.

Using the create method

Another way to download a file using Axios is to use the create method to create a new instance of the Axios client. This can be useful if you need to set some global options for all requests, such as headers or base URL. Here is an example of how to download a file using the create method:

import axios from 'axios';

const instance = axios.create({
    baseURL: 'https://example.com',
    responseType: 'blob'
});

const url = '/file.txt';
instance.get(url).then(response => {
    const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(new Blob([response.data]));
    const link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = url;
    link.setAttribute('download', 'file.txt');
    document.body.appendChild(link);
    link.click();
}).catch(error => {
    console.log(error);
});

In this example, we are using the baseURL option to specify the base URL for all requests, and the responseType option to specify that we want to receive the file as a blob. Then we create an instance of the Axios client, and use its get method to download the file.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to download files using Axios with code examples. We have seen two ways of doing this: using the get method and using the create method. Both methods allow you to specify the responseType option to receive the file as a blob, and create an

Handling file name and type

When downloading a file, it's important to properly set the file name and type so the browser can properly handle it. The get and create methods provide a way to specify the file name and type in the response headers. Here is an example of how to set the file name and type:

import axios from 'axios';

const url = 'https://example.com/file.txt';
axios.get(url, {
    responseType: 'blob',
    headers: {
        'Content-Disposition': 'attachment; filename=file.txt'
    }
}).then(response => {
    const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(new Blob([response.data]));
    const link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = url;
    link.setAttribute('download', 'file.txt');
    document.body.appendChild(link);
    link.click();
}).catch(error => {
    console.log(error);
});

In this example, we are using the headers option to specify the Content-Disposition header with the value attachment; filename=file.txt. This tells the browser to download the file as "file.txt"

Progress Event

When downloading large files, it's often useful to know the progress of the download. Axios provides a way to track the progress of a request through the onDownloadProgress callback. This callback is passed an event object that contains information about the progress of the request. Here's an example of how to track the progress of a download:

import axios from 'axios';

const url = 'https://example.com/large-file.zip';
axios.get(url, {
    responseType: 'blob',
    onDownloadProgress: (progressEvent) => {
        console.log(`Downloaded ${progressEvent.loaded} of ${progressEvent.total}`);
    }
}).then(response => {
    const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(new Blob([response.data]));
    const link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = url;
    link.setAttribute('download', 'large-file.zip');
    document.body.appendChild(link);
    link.click();
}).catch(error => {
    console.log(error);
});

In this example, we are using the onDownloadProgress option to specify a callback function that logs the progress of the download. The callback function is passed an event object that contains the loaded and total properties, which represent the number of bytes loaded and the total number of bytes, respectively.

In conclusion, Axios provides a powerful and easy-to-use API for making HTTP requests, including downloading files. It allows you to set the file name and type, track the progress of the download, and handle errors. By following the examples in this article, you should be able to easily download files using Axios in your own projects.

Popular questions

1. What is Axios?

• Axios is a popular JavaScript library used for making HTTP requests.

2. How do I install Axios?

• You can install Axios by running the command npm install axios in your project.

3. What are some ways to download files using Axios?

• Two ways to download files using Axios are using the get method and using the create method.

4. How do I set the file name and type when downloading a file using Axios?

• You can set the file name and type by specifying the Content-Disposition header in the headers option.

5. Can I track the progress of a download using Axios?

• Yes, you can track the progress of a download using the onDownloadProgress callback. The callback is passed an event object that contains information about the progress of the request.

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