Improving User Experience with Auto-Retrying API Calls in Node.js

2023/08/26

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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, user experience remains at the forefront of innovation. When it comes to applications that rely on networked services through APIs, ensuring a seamless experience is paramount. However, network issues are an unavoidable reality, and they often disrupt the essential API calls that power these applications.

Traditionally, users are presented with manual retry controls, such as the infamous “tap to retry” button or the “pull down to refresh” gesture, which they often have to repeatedly use in extremely poor network conditions. This article advocates for perpetually retrying API calls, with exceptions made only when there are compelling reasons to do so. It discusses the benefits of this approach and provides practical examples in JavaScript.

By automatically retrying API calls, developers can alleviate user frustration caused by network disruptions. The article highlights the importance of considering deliberate user intent, user control, and user experience when implementing automatic retries. It also emphasizes the need to handle situations where automatic retries should not be employed.

Overall, this article offers valuable insights and guidance for developers looking to improve the user experience of their applications by implementing auto-retrying API calls in Node.js.