Composable for API calls (useFetch pattern) in Vue - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a composable in Vue 3?

A composable is a reusable function that uses Vue's Composition API features like refs and reactive state to share logic across components.

beginner

What is the main purpose of the useFetch composable pattern?

The useFetch pattern helps to fetch data from APIs in a reusable way, managing loading, error, and data states inside a composable function.

intermediate

Which Vue 3 feature allows useFetch to track loading and error states reactively?

Vue 3's ref and reactive functions allow useFetch to create reactive variables for loading, error, and data states.

intermediate

How does useFetch improve code reuse compared to fetching data directly inside components?

useFetch centralizes API call logic, so multiple components can share the same fetching code without repeating it, making code cleaner and easier to maintain.

intermediate

What is a common way to handle errors inside a useFetch composable?

Inside useFetch, errors are caught in a try-catch block and stored in a reactive error variable, so components can reactively show error messages.

What does the useFetch composable typically return?

A A promise that resolves with the data

B Reactive references for data, loading, and error states

C Only the fetched data as a plain object

D A Vue component

useFetch returns reactive refs for data, loading, and error so components can reactively respond to API call states.

Which Vue Composition API function is commonly used inside useFetch to hold the loading state?

A ref

B computed

C watch

D provide

ref creates a reactive variable, perfect for tracking loading state inside useFetch.

Why should API calls be placed inside a composable like useFetch instead of directly in components?

A To avoid using Vue's reactive system

B Because components cannot make API calls

C To reuse fetching logic and keep components clean

D To make the app slower

Placing API calls in composables promotes code reuse and cleaner components.

How does useFetch handle asynchronous API calls?

A Using async/await inside the composable function

B Using setTimeout to delay calls

C Using synchronous XMLHttpRequest

D Using Vue directives

useFetch uses async/await to handle asynchronous API calls cleanly.

What should you do inside useFetch if the API call fails?

A Ignore the error silently

B Throw the error to the console only

C Reload the page automatically

D Catch the error and update a reactive error variable

Catching errors and updating a reactive error variable lets components show error messages reactively.

Explain how you would create a useFetch composable in Vue 3 to fetch data from an API and handle loading and error states.

Think about how to track states reactively and handle async calls inside a function.

Describe the benefits of using a composable like useFetch for API calls in a Vue 3 application.

Consider how sharing logic helps when multiple components need the same data.