HttpClient vs OkHttp: Usage, Timeout Settings, Performance Comparison and Code Samples

The article, written by a senior architect, introduces how to use Apache HttpClient and OkHttp for sending HTTP requests in Java, covering GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, file upload, and request cancellation.

For HttpClient, it shows creating a CloseableHttpClient httpClient = HttpClientBuilder.create().build(); , configuring RequestConfig for timeouts, and executing requests with HttpGet , HttpPost , etc., with sample code snippets.

For OkHttp, it demonstrates creating an OkHttpClient client = new OkHttpClient.Builder().connectTimeout(60, TimeUnit.SECONDS).readTimeout(60, TimeUnit.SECONDS).build(); , building Request objects, and executing synchronous or asynchronous calls, providing code examples for each HTTP method and file upload.

The performance comparison tests both clients under singleton and non‑singleton connection modes, showing that HttpClient is slightly faster when used as a singleton, while OkHttp performs better when connections are not reused.

Finally, the article discusses timeout configuration differences, summarizes the pros and cons of each library, and concludes that the choice should be based on specific business requirements.