Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Webpack VS axios

Compare Webpack VS axios and see what are their differences

Webpack logo Webpack

Webpack is a module bundler. Its main purpose is to bundle JavaScript files for usage in a browser, yet it is also capable of transforming, bundling, or packaging just about any resource or asset.

axios logo axios

Promise based HTTP client for the browser and node.js - axios/axios
  • Webpack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-13
  • axios Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Webpack features and specs

  • Modular Bundling
    Webpack efficiently bundles all your modules (JavaScript, CSS, images, etc.) into manageable chunks, minimizing HTTP requests and enhancing load performance.
  • Code Splitting
    It allows splitting your codebase into 'chunks' which can be loaded on demand. This leads to faster initial page loads as only necessary chunks are loaded initially.
  • Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
    HMR allows you to update modules without needing a full refresh. This improves development speed and efficiency as live changes are instantly reflected in the application.
  • Advanced Configuration
    Webpack is highly configurable, accommodating various needs from simple setups to complex, custom configurations, making it versatile for different projects.
  • Strong Plugin Ecosystem
    There is a rich ecosystem of plugins available to extend Webpack's capabilities, such as minification, asset management, and more.
  • Tree Shaking
    Webpack supports tree shaking, a method to eliminate dead code from your bundle, resulting in more efficient, smaller output files.
  • Dependency Management
    It handles dependencies among modules effectively, automatically managing module load order and avoiding conflicts.

Possible disadvantages of Webpack

  • Complex Configuration
    Its extensive configuration options can be overwhelming, particularly for beginners, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Build Time
    Complex configurations and large projects can result in slower build times, impacting development speed.
  • Documentation Issues
    Despite improvements, there are instances where Webpack's documentation might lack clarity, making it harder to find solutions for specific configurations.
  • Overhead for Simple Projects
    For small and simple projects, Webpack might be overkill, adding unnecessary complexity and setup time.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasionally, Webpack updates can lead to breaking changes, which may require significant adjustments to your configuration and codebase.

axios features and specs

  • Simple API
    Axios provides a straightforward and easy-to-use API for performing HTTP requests, which can be simpler and more intuitive than the native Fetch API.
  • Promise-based
    Axios uses Promises, making it easier to handle asynchronous operations with `.then()` and `.catch()`, which integrates well with modern JavaScript and async/await syntax.
  • Interceptors
    Axios allows you to set up request and response interceptors, enabling you to handle tasks like modifying requests, handling errors globally, or adding authorization tokens in a centralized place.
  • Automatic JSON Transformation
    Axios automatically transforms JSON data, saving developers the hassle of performing manual JSON.parse() or JSON.stringify() operations.
  • Node.js Support
    Axios supports Node.js, making it a versatile choice for both frontend and backend development.
  • Request Cancellation
    Axios supports cancelling requests using the AbortController API, allowing better control over long-running or redundant requests.
  • Wide Browser Support
    Axios works across many older browsers and environments where the Fetch API might not be fully supported.

Possible disadvantages of axios

  • Bundle Size
    Since Axios is an external library, including it in a project will increase the overall bundle size, which can be a concern for performance-sensitive applications.
  • Dependency Management
    Adding Axios introduces one more dependency to manage in your project, which can lead to potential conflicts or issues with package updates.
  • Redundant for Simple Tasks
    For very simple HTTP requests, using Axios might be overkill, especially as the Fetch API can handle many straightforward use cases with minimal code.
  • Learning Curve for Interceptors
    While interceptors are powerful, they add an additional layer of complexity that developers need to learn, which might be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Inconsistent Error Handling
    Error handling in Axios can sometimes be inconsistent and may require extra boilerplate code to handle different types of errors such as network errors, HTTP errors, or unexpected payloads.
  • Global Configuration Complexity
    Managing global Axios configuration for large applications can become complex and might lead to less readable and maintainable code if not handled carefully.
  • No Native TypeScript Support
    While Axios can be used with TypeScript, it does not provide type definitions out of the box and relies on the DefinitelyTyped community for typings, which might lag behind the main library updates.

Webpack videos

Learn Webpack - Full Tutorial for Beginners

More videos:

  • Review - Core Concepts of Webpack
  • Review - Learn Webpack Pt. 6: Cache Busting and Plugins

axios videos

A Spec Monster Diver! The Axios Ironclad!

More videos:

  • Review - Axios Ironclad Review - Upcoming Affordable Diver
  • Review - The dive watch you've been waiting for. Axios Flagship Automatic Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Webpack and axios)
Web Application Bundler
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
49 49%
51% 51
JS Build Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
70 70%
30% 30

User comments

Share your experience with using Webpack and axios. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Webpack and axios

Webpack Reviews

Rollup v. Webpack v. Parcel
Tool Prod Build Time One Prod Build Time Two Prod Build Time Three Prod Build Time Avg Parcel 738.509 s 35.364 s 35.592 s 269.82 avg s Rollup 0.712 s 0.665 s 0.714 s 0.697 avg s Webpack 3.636 s 3.805 s 4.305 s 3.915 avg s
Source: x-team.com
If you’ve ever configured Webpack, Parcel will blow your mind!
document.body.className = document.body.className.replace(/(^|\s)is-noJs(\s|$)/, "$1is-js$2")HomepageHomepageJavascriptBecome a memberSign inGet startedIf you’ve ever configured Webpack, Parcel will blow your mind!And how to hit the ground running with Parcel.Ibrahim ButtBlockedUnblockFollowFollowingMar 16, 2018Click here to share this article on LinkedIn »Zero...
Source: medium.com
First impressions with Parcel JS
From first impressions and experience, my take currently would be as follows. Webpack is generally going to be more flexible. It also places a bit more power in the developers hands to make bundling happen exactly as desired. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use Parcel though. Where Parcel excels is the fact you don’t configure it. You will still need to configure plugins for...
Source: codeburst.io
Parcel vs webpack - Jakob Lind
Webpack is the stable choice. You will not get fired for picking webpack. But you don’t get as much stuff for free such as optimized bundles, and code splitting.

axios Reviews

We have no reviews of axios yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Webpack should be more popular than axios. It has been mentiond 243 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Webpack mentions (243)

  • Dark Souls CRUD Arena - The Prisoner Approach
    To then serve to the browser. If I was using something like Vite or Webpack I would have gotten this handling for free. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • You Don’t Know JS Yet: My Weekly Journey Through JavaScript Mastery
    The JS code gets transpiled by tools like Babel, then bundled (often by Webpack) into a single or few files (like bundle.js). This optimizes the website to load faster, as the browser can fetch everything from one file instead of multiple. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Webpack 5: The Next Generation Module Bundler
    Remember that Webpack is highly configurable, and this article only scratches the surface of what's possible. Be sure to check the official Webpack documentation for more detailed information and advanced configurations. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Discover the power of microfrontends: A revolution in frontend development
    With Webpack 5, a new feature has helped microfrontends proliferate: Module Federation. Module Federation allows JavaScript code to be loaded — synchronously or asynchronously — at runtime. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Which JavaScript Bundler Is Right for You? A Deep Dive into Webpack, Vite, and More
    Webpack is one of the oldest and most widely used bundlers in web development, created by Tobias Koppers in 2012. It gained popularity after Browserify and RequireJS and has become the go-to choice for managing complex projects. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
View more

axios mentions (116)

  • My Type of Library: Axios TypeScript Conversion
    This is the first post in an ad-hoc series where I convert libraries to TypeScript, and analyze the results. In the same vein as my re-conversion of the Turbo Framework to TypeScript, I decided to take a popular JavaScript library, this time one that had always been in JavaScript, and see what converting the codebase to TypeScript revealed. I chose Axios, because it’s:. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • How To Use React JS In a Laravel Project
    Axios: This library is great for making HTTP requests from React to your Laravel backend. More details can be found on Axios GitHub. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • How To Work With API In React JS
    Axios GitHub Repository: If you decide to try Axios, the Axios GitHub page is a good place to see how it works and to get installation instructions. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Journeying from React to React Native
    React and React Native share many core libraries. You can use the same state management libraries like Redux, MobX, and data fetching libraries like Axios or the Fetch API. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • How to Read a JSON File in JavaScript
    When you need to read a json file in your project, it is easy to get the idea using fetch or axios. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Webpack and axios, you can also consider the following products

rollup.js - Rollup is a module bundler for JavaScript which compiles small pieces of code into a larger piece such as application.

Redux.js - Predictable state container for JavaScript apps

Parcel - Blazing fast, zero configuration web application bundler

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

RxJS - Reactive Extensions for Javascript