Looping through server side API call and prevent accidental resource leak — Next.js 14+ (app router)
In the dynamic landscape of web development, handling server-side operations efficiently is crucial. As a founder and software developer, I have often encountered the need to make repeated API calls on the server side in Next.js applications. This task, while seemingly straightforward, can lead to unintended resource leaks if not managed correctly. In this blog, I will share insights into how you can loop through server-side API calls in Next.js 14+ using the App Router feature while ensuring resource optimization and leak prevention.
Understanding the Challenge
Next.js 14 introduces the App Router, enhancing the framework’s capabilities in server-side rendering and API handling. However, when you’re making multiple API calls in a loop, especially on the server side, there’s a risk of memory leaks and performance bottlenecks. These issues arise due to the improper management of resources like memory and network connections.
Looping Through API Calls
Let’s dive into how we can efficiently loop through API calls in a Next.js 14+ application:
Using Async/Await with For Loops: The most straightforward approach is using async/await within a for loop. This method ensures that each API call is completed before moving to the next, reducing the chance of overwhelming the server.
async function fetchMultipleData() {
const data = [];
const successfullApiCall = 0;
for (let i = 0; i < urls.length && i < yourStaticNumberOfApiCall; i++) {
const response = await fetch(urls[i]);
const json = await response.json();
data.push(json);
successfullApiCall++;
}
return data;
}Promise.all with Caution: While `Promise.all` is a great way to handle multiple promises concurrently, it can lead to resource exhaustion with a large number of requests. Use this method when you’re confident about the number of API calls and their resource usage.
async function fetchMultipleData() {
const promises = urls.map(url => fetch(url).then(res => res.json()));
return await Promise.all(promises);
}Preventing Resource Leaks
Here’s how you can prevent resource leaks while looping through API calls:
Limit the Number of Concurrent Requests to limit the number of concurrent requests. This can be achieved by batching requests or using a concurrency control library. Always include error handling in your API calls. This ensures that if one request fails, it doesn’t halt your application or leave open promises that can cause memory leaks. Also, implement timeouts for your API requests. This prevents requests from hanging indefinitely, which can tie up resources.
To clean up resources using streams or large data, ensure you properly dispose of these resources once they are no longer needed. Moreover, regularly monitor your application’s performance and test for memory leaks. Tools like the Chrome DevTools can be invaluable for this.
Note : Efficiently handling server-side API calls in a loop is vital for the performance and reliability of your Next.js application. By following the practices outlined above, you can ensure your application remains robust and efficient. As developers, it’s our responsibility to write code that is not only functional but also optimized and resource-conscious. Happy coding!
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I am Atihar Hossen Mahir who is a passionate software developer and founder with a keen interest in the latest web technologies and best practices in web development. My experiences in developing scalable web applications has led me to share my knowledge with the community, helping others to build efficient and robust web applications.
Happy coding =)
