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## Resource: wix-fetch



## Article: Introduction

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/velo/apis/wix-fetch/introduction.md

## Article Content:

# Introduction
The Fetch API enables you to send an HTTPS request to a server from your frontend or backend code.
 You can use the Fetch API to communicate with an external API to access or manage data.
 
 With the Fetch API, you can:
 + Integrate additional functionality using a 3rd-party API.
 + Retrieve data from an external service.
 + Submit data to an external database.

 The Fetch API is a Velo implementation of the standard [JavaScript Fetch API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/API/Fetch_API)
 and works in a similar fashion.

 Node.js **http**, **https**, and **net** modules are also available for calling a service.

 For examples of how to use the Fetch API, see [Getting Started](/getting-started/integration-with-third-party-services),
 [Using the Fetch API to Add a Currency Converter](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites/articles/code-tutorials/wix-editor-elements/tutorial-using-the-fetch-api-to-add-a-currency-converter.md)
 and [Using External API Keys Stored in the Secrets Manager to Call the OpenWeatherMap API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites/articles/code-tutorials/wix-editor-elements/use-external-api-keys-stored-in-the-secrets-manager-to-call-the-open-weather-map-api.md).
.
 For a video tutorial, see [Wix Learn](https://www.wix.com/learn/online-course/coding-with-velo/velo-backend#get-to-know-fetch).
 
 Get hands-on experience with the Fetch API on our [Hello Fetch](https://dev.wix.com/docs/coding-examples/getting-started/hello-world/hello-fetch.md) example page.

 To use the Fetch API, import `wixFetch` from the `wix-fetch` module:

   ```javascript
   import wixFetch from 'wix-fetch';
   ``` 

 ## Before you begin
 Although you can use the Fetch API in frontend or backend code, it's usually best to send requests to external APIs from your backend code.
 This is more secure, especially if the API requires a key or other authentication, and it avoids [CORS](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CORS) issues that can occur when
 sending some requests from the frontend.

 The Fetch API contains two functions for sending HTTP requests: `getJSON()` and `fetch()`. For simple `GET` requests for retrieving a JSON object we recommend using `getJSON()`.
 For more complex requests, `fetch()` provides greater functionality. 

 The implementation of the `fetch()` function differs slightly depending on whether you are using it in backend or frontend code.
 The features documented here reflect the base functionality for both implementations.
 However, each implementation contains additional features:

 + In frontend code, the browser's native
   [Fetch API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/API/Fetch_API) is used.
 + In backend code, the [node-fetch](https://github.com/bitinn/node-fetch) module is used.

 Because all Wix sites use [HTTPS](https://support.wix.com/en/article/about-ssl-and-https), you can't request HTTP content from a service in your site's code. 
 Invalid requests cause an error that you can see using your [browser's developer tools](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Tools_and_setup/What_are_browser_developer_tools).

 ## Terminology
 + **HTTP:** HTTP is a standard protocol for [transmitting information](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Messages) between a client and server. The client (your site or a site visitor's browser) sends a [request](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Messages#http_requests) to a server (an external API) and waits for a [response](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Messages#http_responses).
 + **Method:** Each HTTP request specifies a [method](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods) indicating the type of action being requested. For example, a `GET` request is used for retrieving data, and a `POST` request is used for submitting data.