Axios setup and configuration in Vue - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is Axios used for in Vue applications?

Axios is a library used to make HTTP requests from Vue applications to servers. It helps fetch or send data easily.

beginner

How do you create a basic Axios instance with a base URL?

You use axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }) to make a reusable Axios instance with a default URL for all requests.

intermediate

What is the purpose of Axios interceptors?

Interceptors let you run code before a request is sent or after a response is received. This helps add headers, handle errors, or log data.

intermediate

How do you set a default header for all Axios requests?

You can set default headers like this: axios.defaults.headers.common['Authorization'] = 'Bearer token'. This adds the header to every request.

beginner

Why is it helpful to create a separate Axios configuration file in Vue projects?

A separate config file keeps your HTTP setup organized and reusable. It makes it easy to update URLs, headers, or interceptors in one place.

What does axios.create() do?

A Creates a new Axios instance with custom settings

B Sends a GET request immediately

C Deletes all Axios defaults

D Imports Axios into the project

axios.create() makes a new Axios instance where you can set base URLs and headers separately from the global Axios.

Where do you add a header to every Axios request?

A In the CSS file

B Inside the Vue component data

C In the HTML meta tags

D In <code>axios.defaults.headers.common</code>

Headers for all requests go in axios.defaults.headers.common so every request includes them automatically.

What is an Axios interceptor used for?

A To handle CSS animations

B To style the Vue app

C To modify requests or responses globally

D To create Vue components

Interceptors let you run code before requests or after responses, useful for adding tokens or error handling.

How do you import Axios in a Vue 3 project?

A import axios from 'axios'

B require('axios')

C <script src='axios.js'></script>

D import { axios } from 'vue'

Use ES module syntax: import axios from 'axios' to use Axios in Vue 3.

Why create a separate Axios config file?

A To store Vue components

B To keep HTTP setup organized and reusable

C To write CSS styles

D To manage database schemas

A config file centralizes Axios settings, making maintenance easier and code cleaner.

Explain how to set up Axios in a Vue 3 project including creating an instance and adding a default header.

Think about making a reusable Axios setup for all your HTTP calls.

Describe what Axios interceptors are and give an example of how they can be used in Vue.

Imagine you want to add a token to every request automatically.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using axios.create() in a Vue project?

easy

A. To convert Axios requests into Vue components

B. To automatically fetch data when the component mounts

C. To create a reusable Axios client with custom settings

D. To replace Vue's reactive system with Axios

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand axios.create()

   This method creates a new Axios instance that can have its own configuration like baseURL, headers, and timeout.

2. Step 2: Purpose in Vue projects

   Using axios.create() helps keep your API calls consistent and reusable across components by sharing the same settings.

3. Final Answer:

   To create a reusable Axios client with custom settings -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   axios.create() = reusable client [OK]

Hint: Remember axios.create() makes a custom client [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking axios.create() fetches data automatically
• Confusing axios.create() with Vue lifecycle hooks
• Assuming axios.create() changes Vue's reactivity

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a base URL when creating an Axios instance?

easy

A. const api = axios.create('https://api.example.com')

B. const api = axios.create(baseURL = 'https://api.example.com')

C. const api = axios.create({ url: 'https://api.example.com' })

D. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' })

Solution

1. Step 1: Check axios.create() syntax

   axios.create() accepts an object with configuration keys like baseURL, timeout, and headers.

2. Step 2: Identify correct baseURL usage

   The correct key for setting the base URL is baseURL inside the config object.

3. Final Answer:

   const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   baseURL inside object = const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }) [OK]

Hint: Use an object with baseURL key inside axios.create() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing baseURL as a separate argument
• Using url instead of baseURL
• Passing a string directly without an object

3. Given this Axios instance setup in a Vue component:

const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com', timeout: 1000 });

api.get('/users')
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.log('Error:', error.message));

What will happen if the server takes 2 seconds to respond?

medium

A. The request will timeout and log an error message

B. The request will succeed and log the user data

C. The request will retry automatically until success

D. The request will hang indefinitely without error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand timeout setting

   The timeout is set to 1000 milliseconds (1 second), so if the server takes longer, Axios will abort the request.

2. Step 2: Effect on slow response

   Since the server takes 2 seconds, which is longer than 1 second, Axios triggers a timeout error and the catch block runs.

3. Final Answer:

   The request will timeout and log an error message -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Timeout 1s > 2s response = error [OK]

Hint: Timeout shorter than response time causes error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Axios retries automatically
• Thinking the request will succeed despite timeout
• Ignoring the catch block handling

4. Identify the error in this Axios setup code inside a Vue component:

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.example.com',
  timeout: '5000',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }
});

medium

A. timeout should be a number, not a string

B. baseURL must be inside headers object

C. Content-Type header is invalid here

D. axios.create() cannot have headers property

Solution

1. Step 1: Check timeout data type

   Timeout expects a number representing milliseconds, but here it is a string '5000'.

2. Step 2: Validate other properties

   baseURL is correctly placed, and headers with Content-Type is valid for axios.create().

3. Final Answer:

   timeout should be a number, not a string -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   timeout must be number, not string [OK]

Hint: Timeout must be numeric, not quoted string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting baseURL inside headers
• Removing headers property
• Using string for timeout value

5. You want to create an Axios instance in Vue that automatically adds an Authorization header with a token stored in localStorage for every request. Which setup is correct?

hard

A. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }); api.defaults.headers.common['Authorization'] = `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}`;

B. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }); api.interceptors.request.use(config => { config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}`; return config; });

C. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com', headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}` } });

D. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com', headers: { Authorization: localStorage.token } });

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand token dynamic retrieval

   The token in localStorage can change, so it should be read fresh before each request, not just once at setup.

2. Step 2: Use Axios interceptor for dynamic headers

   Using an interceptor lets you add or update headers before every request, ensuring the latest token is used.

3. Step 3: Evaluate options

   const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }); api.interceptors.request.use(config => { config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}`; return config; }); uses an interceptor to set Authorization header dynamically. Options A and C set it once at creation, which may become stale. const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com', headers: { Authorization: localStorage.token } }); uses incorrect localStorage access.

4. Final Answer:

   Use an interceptor to add Authorization header dynamically before each request -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Interceptor for dynamic token = const api = axios.create({ baseURL: 'https://api.example.com' }); api.interceptors.request.use(config => { config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}`; return config; }); [OK]

Hint: Use request interceptor to add fresh token each time [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting headers once at creation, ignoring token updates
• Accessing localStorage.token instead of getItem()
• Not returning config in interceptor