Node.js 17.5 Brings Built‑in Fetch API: What Developers Need to Know
Node.js v17.5 introduces experimental support for the familiar fetch API—originally a browser‑side HTTP client—by leveraging the Undici library, allowing developers to use a lightweight, standards‑compliant request method without external modules, though it still requires the --experimental-fetch flag to activate.
Node.js v17.5 adds experimental support for the fetch API, a widely used cross‑platform HTTP client in front‑end development that runs in browsers and service workers. This brings a familiar interface to the server side.
The previous built‑in http module exposed many private APIs, leading many community HTTP clients to rely on them, which hindered rapid iteration and new features. To address this, the Undici library was created as a fast, reliable, standards‑compliant HTTP/1.1 client.
The new fetch implementation in Node.js is built on Undici, allowing the core to integrate this functionality and potentially replace the older http request mechanisms over time.
To use the built‑in fetch, start Node.js with the --experimental-fetch flag. While the feature is lightweight and simple, it remains experimental and may take time before it becomes the default.
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