Fetch API for GET requests in React Native - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the Fetch API used for in React Native?

The Fetch API is used to make network requests, such as getting data from a server, in React Native apps.

beginner

How do you specify a GET request using Fetch API?

By default, Fetch makes a GET request if no method is specified, so you can simply call fetch(url) to perform a GET request.

intermediate

What does the fetch() function return?

fetch() returns a Promise that resolves to a Response object representing the server's response.

intermediate

How do you convert the response from fetch() to JSON?

You call the .json() method on the Response object, which returns a Promise that resolves to the parsed JSON data.

beginner

Why should you handle errors when using fetch()?

Because network requests can fail due to no internet, server errors, or bad URLs, handling errors prevents app crashes and improves user experience.

What is the default HTTP method used by fetch() if none is specified?

A POST

B PUT

C GET

D DELETE

fetch() uses GET by default to retrieve data from the server.

Which method converts the fetch response to JSON?

A toJSON()

B json()

C parse()

D convert()

The json() method parses the response body as JSON.

What does fetch() return?

A A Promise

B An error

C A JSON object

D A Response object

fetch() returns a Promise that resolves to a Response object.

Why is it important to handle errors when using fetch()?

A To prevent app crashes and handle network issues

B To speed up the request

C To improve app performance

D To change the request method

Handling errors helps manage network failures and keeps the app stable.

How do you make a GET request with fetch()?

A fetch(url, { method: 'DELETE' })

B fetch(url, { method: 'POST' })

C fetch(url, { method: 'PUT' })

D fetch(url)

Simply calling fetch(url) makes a GET request by default.

Explain how to use the Fetch API to get data from a server in React Native.

Think about calling fetch, then using .then() to get JSON, and catching errors.

Describe why error handling is important when making GET requests with fetch.

Consider what happens if the internet is off or the server is down.

Practice

1.

What does the Fetch API do in React Native?

Choose the best description.

easy

A. It retrieves data from a web server using HTTP requests.

B. It styles components with CSS.

C. It manages app navigation between screens.

D. It stores data locally on the device.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Fetch API purpose

   The Fetch API is designed to make network requests to get or send data.

2. Step 2: Match description to Fetch API

   Only It retrieves data from a web server using HTTP requests. describes retrieving data from a web server, which is what Fetch does.

3. Final Answer:

   It retrieves data from a web server using HTTP requests. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Fetch API = Data retrieval [OK]

Hint: Fetch is for network data requests, not styling or storage [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Fetch with styling or navigation libraries
• Thinking Fetch stores data locally
• Assuming Fetch only works with JSON

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to fetch JSON data from https://api.example.com/data?

fetch(_____).then(response => response.json())

easy

A. "https://api.example.com/data"

B. url

C. https://api.example.com/data

D. 'https://api.example.com/data'

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct string syntax in JavaScript

   URLs must be passed as strings, enclosed in quotes.

2. Step 2: Choose proper quotes for URL string

   'https://api.example.com/data' uses single quotes correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   'https://api.example.com/data' -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   URL as string = 'https://api.example.com/data' [OK]

Hint: Always wrap URLs in quotes for fetch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not using quotes around the URL
• Using undefined variable url without declaration
• Using double quotes inside double quotes without escaping

3.

What will be logged to the console after running this code?

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

Assume the server returns { "name": "Alice" }.

medium

A. SyntaxError

B. undefined

C. Alice

D. null

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand fetch and JSON parsing

   The fetch call gets the response, then response.json() parses it into an object.

2. Step 2: Access the 'name' property from parsed data

   The data object has a 'name' key with value "Alice", so console.log(data.name) prints "Alice".

3. Final Answer:

   Alice -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Parsed JSON name = Alice [OK]

Hint: Parsed JSON data properties print their values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Logging before JSON parsing
• Trying to access data.name before fetch resolves
• Ignoring asynchronous nature of fetch

4.

Identify the error in this fetch code snippet:

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

medium

A. Missing parentheses after response.json() call

B. URL string is not quoted properly

C. No catch block to handle errors

D. Using console.log instead of alert

Solution

1. Step 1: Check response.json usage

   response.json is a function and must be called with parentheses to parse JSON.

2. Step 2: Identify missing parentheses error

   The code uses response.json without () which returns the function itself, not the parsed data.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses after response.json() call -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Call response.json() with () [OK]

Hint: Always call response.json() with parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting parentheses on response.json
• Misplacing catch block
• Using wrong quotes for URL

5.

You want to fetch user data and show a loading message while waiting. Which code snippet correctly handles loading state and errors?

const [loading, setLoading] = React.useState(true);
const [error, setError] = React.useState(null);

React.useEffect(() => {
  fetch('https://api.example.com/user')
    .then(res => res.json())
    .then(data => {
      // handle data
      setLoading(false);
    })
    .catch(err => {
      setError(err.message);
      setLoading(false);
    });
}, []);

What is missing to properly show loading and error states?

hard

A. Remove catch block to avoid errors

B. Render UI that shows loading and error messages based on state

C. Call setLoading(true) inside fetch then block

D. Use async/await instead of then/catch

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand state variables usage

   loading and error states are set correctly during fetch lifecycle.

2. Step 2: Identify missing UI rendering logic

   Without UI code that checks loading and error states, user won't see messages.

3. Final Answer:

   Render UI that shows loading and error messages based on state -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Show loading/error UI based on state [OK]

Hint: Set state is not enough; render UI accordingly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not rendering loading or error messages
• Setting loading true too late
• Ignoring error handling in UI