Fetch PHP is a Lightweight HTTP Library Inspired by JavaScript’s fetch()

Fetch PHP is a lightweight HTTP library for PHP designed to simplify HTTP requests like JavaScript’s fetch() API. It allows PHP developers to send HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) and handle responses intuitively and modernly.

Similar to JavaScript’s fetch() method for making network requests, Fetch PHP aims to provide a more elegant and cleaner way to perform HTTP requests in PHP. The design of Fetch PHP is inspired by fetch() in JavaScript, allowing developers to work with promise-like behavior. Although PHP doesn’t use promises, it will enable callbacks and provide a simpler syntax for handling responses.

Key Features of Fetch PHP:

1. Lightweight: It’s a minimalistic library, meaning it’s easy to install, configure, and use.
2. Inspired by JavaScript’s fetch(): Fetch PHP borrows the style and simplicity of JavaScript’s fetch() API, making it familiar for developers who work with both JavaScript and PHP.
3. Promise-Like Syntax: Although PHP doesn’t natively support promises, Fetch PHP abstracts HTTP requests in a way that mimics promise-based flow, simplifying asynchronous request handling.
4. Support for HTTP Methods: It supports various HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and PATCH.
5. Handles Responses Easily: It simplifies handling HTTP responses, working with JSON, headers, and status codes in an intuitive manner.

Example Usage of Fetch PHP:

Here’s an example of how Fetch PHP can be used to send an HTTP request:

// Include the Fetch PHP library (autoloaded via Composer or manually)
use Fetch\Fetch;

// Send a GET request
$response = Fetch::get('https://api.example.com/data');

// Output the response body
echo $response->body;

// Parse the JSON response
$data = $response->json();
print_r($data);

How Fetch PHP Works:

1. Installation: You can install Fetch PHP via Composer, which is the standard package manager for PHP.

composer require fetch/fetch

Making Requests: Fetch PHP allows you to make requests by calling methods like get(), post(), put(), etc. It abstracts away the complexity of CURL or other HTTP clients typically used in PHP.

// Making a GET request
$response = Fetch::get('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');

// Making a POST request
$response = Fetch::post('https://api.example.com/posts', [
    'json' => [
        'title' => 'My Post',
        'body' => 'This is the content of the post.',
        'userId' => 1
    ]
]);

Handling Responses: The response object in Fetch PHP contains several methods to easily work with the data returned by the server, such as retrieving the body, headers, and JSON parsing.

// Accessing response details
$statusCode = $response->status; // HTTP status code
$body = $response->body;         // Raw response body
$json = $response->json();       // Parsed JSON response

Handling Headers: Fetch PHP also allows you to pass and manipulate headers easily.

$response = Fetch::get('https://api.example.com/data', [
    'headers' => [
        'Authorization' => 'Bearer some-token',
        'Accept' => 'application/json'
    ]
]);

Advantages of Fetch PHP:

• Simplified API: Fetch PHP abstracts the complexity of PHP’s native CURL functions or other HTTP clients, making it easier for developers to focus on their application logic rather than on managing the details of the HTTP request.
• Familiar to JavaScript Developers: Developers coming from a JavaScript background, especially those familiar with the fetch() API, will find Fetch PHP very intuitive and easy to learn.
• Lightweight and Minimal: It’s not bloated with unnecessary features, making it ideal for applications that need a simple HTTP client without the overhead of more complex libraries.

Example Compared to JavaScript’s fetch():

Here’s how a simple request looks in Fetch PHP compared to JavaScript’s fetch():

fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
   .then(response => response.json())
   .then(data => console.log(data))
   .catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

$response = Fetch::get('https://api.example.com/data');
$data = $response->json();
print_r($data);

As you can see, Fetch PHP’s syntax is designed to closely resemble the simplicity and structure of JavaScript’s fetch().

Conclusion:

Fetch PHP provides a lightweight, modern way to make HTTP requests in PHP, inspired by JavaScript’s fetch(). It simplifies working with HTTP requests and responses, making it more intuitive and familiar for developers, especially those who work with JavaScript or prefer minimalistic libraries. Fetch PHP is a good option if you need a simple and elegant HTTP client for PHP.

Useful Links

• GitHub: GitHub Repository
• Packagist: FetchPHP on Packagist