How to Use node-fetch for Web Scraping
Lucas Mitchell
Automation Engineer
27-Sep-2024
What is node-fetch?
node-fetch is a lightweight JavaScript library that brings the window.fetch API to Node.js. It is often used for making HTTP requests from a Node.js environment, providing a modern and flexible way to handle network operations asynchronously.
Features:
- Promise-based: Uses JavaScript promises to manage asynchronous operations in a simple manner.
- Node.js Support: Specifically designed for Node.js environments.
- Stream Support: Supports streams, making it highly suitable for handling large data.
- Small and Efficient: Minimalistic design, focusing on performance and compatibility with modern JavaScript features.
Prerequisites
Before using node-fetch, ensure you have:
Installation
To use node-fetch, you need to install it using npm or yarn:
bash
npm install node-fetchor
bash
yarn add node-fetchBasic Example: Making a GET Request
Here’s how to perform a simple GET request using node-fetch:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
fetch('https://httpbin.org/get')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Response Body:', data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error:', error);
});Web Scraping Example: Fetching JSON Data from an API
Let’s fetch data from an API and log the results:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(posts => {
posts.forEach(post => {
console.log(`${post.title} — ${post.body}`);
});
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error:', error);
});Handling Captchas with CapSolver and node-fetch
In this section, we’ll integrate CapSolver with node-fetch to handle captchas. CapSolver provides APIs for solving captchas like ReCaptcha V3, enabling automation of tasks that require solving such captchas.
Example: Solving ReCaptcha V3 with CapSolver and node-fetch
First, install node-fetch and CapSolver:
bash
npm install node-fetch
npm install capsolverNow, here’s how to solve a ReCaptcha V3 and use the solution in your request:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const CAPSOLVER_KEY = 'YourKey';
const PAGE_URL = 'https://antcpt.com/score_detector';
const PAGE_KEY = '6LcR_okUAAAAAPYrPe-HK_0RULO1aZM15ENyM-Mf';
const PAGE_ACTION = 'homepage';
async function createTask(url, key, pageAction) {
try {
const apiUrl = 'https://api.capsolver.com/createTask';
const payload = {
clientKey: CAPSOLVER_KEY,
task: {
type: 'ReCaptchaV3TaskProxyLess',
websiteURL: url,
websiteKey: key,
pageAction: pageAction
}
};
const response = await fetch(apiUrl, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(payload)
});
const data = await response.json();
return data.taskId;
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error creating CAPTCHA task:', error);
throw error;
}
}
async function getTaskResult(taskId) {
try {
const apiUrl = 'https://api.capsolver.com/getTaskResult';
const payload = {
clientKey: CAPSOLVER_KEY,
taskId: taskId,
};
let result;
do {
const response = await fetch(apiUrl, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(payload)
});
result = await response.json();
if (result.status === 'ready') {
return result.solution;
}
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000)); // wait 5 seconds
} while (true);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching CAPTCHA result:', error);
throw error;
}
}
async function main() {
console.log('Creating CAPTCHA task...');
const taskId = await createTask(PAGE_URL, PAGE_KEY, PAGE_ACTION);
console.log(`Task ID: ${taskId}`);
console.log('Retrieving CAPTCHA result...');
const solution = await getTaskResult(taskId);
const token = solution.gRecaptchaResponse;
console.log(`Token Solution: ${token}`);
const res = await fetch('https://antcpt.com/score_detector/verify.php', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ 'g-recaptcha-response': token })
});
const response = await res.json();
console.log(`Score: ${response.score}`);
}
main().catch(err => {
console.error(err);
});Handling Proxies with node-fetch
To route your requests through a proxy with node-fetch, you will need a proxy agent like https-proxy-agent. Here's how to implement it:
bash
npm install https-proxy-agentExample with a proxy:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const HttpsProxyAgent = require('https-proxy-agent');
const proxyAgent = new HttpsProxyAgent('http://username:password@proxyserver:8080');
fetch('https://httpbin.org/ip', { agent: proxyAgent })
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Response Body:', data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error:', error);
});Handling Cookies with node-fetch
For cookie handling in node-fetch, you can use a library like fetch-cookie. Here's how to use it:
bash
npm install fetch-cookieExample:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const fetchCookie = require('fetch-cookie');
const cookieFetch = fetchCookie(fetch);
cookieFetch('https://httpbin.org/cookies/set?name=value')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Cookies:', data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error:', error);
});Advanced Usage: Custom Headers and POST Requests
You can customize headers and perform POST requests with node-fetch:
javascript
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const headers = {
'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 (compatible)',
'Accept-Language': 'en-US,en;q=0.5',
};
const data = {
username: 'testuser',
password: 'testpass',
};
fetch('https://httpbin.org/post', {
method: 'POST',
headers: headers,
body: JSON.stringify(data),
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Response JSON:', data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error:', error);
});Bonus Code
Claim your Bonus Code for top captcha solutions at CapSolver: scrape. After redeeming it, you will get an extra 5% bonus after each recharge, unlimited times.
Conclusion
With node-fetch, you can effectively manage HTTP requests in Node.js. By integrating it with CapSolver, you can solve captchas such as ReCaptcha V3 and captcha, providing access to restricted content. Additionally, node-fetch offers customization through headers, proxy support, and cookie management, making it a versatile tool for web scraping and automation.
Compliance Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. CapSolver is committed to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The use of the CapSolver network for illegal, fraudulent, or abusive activities is strictly prohibited and will be investigated. Our captcha-solving solutions enhance user experience while ensuring 100% compliance in helping solve captcha difficulties during public data crawling. We encourage responsible use of our services. For more information, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
More
The Best 6 CAPTCHA Solver Tools for Automation
previewDiscover top CAPTCHA solvers for efficient, fast, and scalable automation workflows with key comparison criteria.
Lucas Mitchell
17-Jan-2025
What is the best reCAPTCHA v2 and v3 Solver while web scraping in 2025
In 2025, with the heightened sophistication of anti-bot systems, finding reliable reCAPTCHA solvers has become critical for successful data extraction.
Lucas Mitchell
17-Jan-2025
What Is CAPTCHA? And How to Solve It When Scraping Projects
How do you deal with them when working on a web scraping project? Let’s dive into this topic
Ethan Collins
03-Jan-2025
The Best 5 Captcha Solvers for Web Scraping in 2025
In 2025, the CAPTCHA-solving space is improving with faster performance, better integrations, and more flexible pricing.
Ethan Collins
02-Jan-2025
How to Start Web Scraping in R: A Complete Guide for 2025
Learn how to scrape data with R, set up your environment, handle dynamic content, and follow best practices for ethical scraping.
Lucas Mitchell
26-Nov-2024
How to Solve Cloudflare in PHP
Explore how to solve Cloudflare’s defenses effectively using PHP. We’ll compare two solutions: automation tools like Selenium Stealth and API-based solutions
Lucas Mitchell
26-Nov-2024