Anti-libraryism: 10 web APIs that replace modern JavaScript libraries

Modern browsers have significantly advanced by introducing native Web APIs that can replace many common JavaScript libraries, offering benefits such as reduced bundle sizes, improved performance, and lower maintenance overhead. Despite these advantages, developers often continue to use familiar libraries due to habit, even when native alternatives exist that are better optimized, run off the main thread, and require no additional downloads. Native APIs like Fetch, FormData, and URL have been around since the mid-2010s and are supported by all major browsers, providing streamlined alternatives to popular libraries like Axios, form serialization libraries, and URI.js. The article explores how these and other modern APIs, such as ResizeObserver, Clipboard, and Geolocation, offer efficient solutions for tasks like handling HTTP requests, managing form data, copying to the clipboard, and obtaining precise geolocation data directly from a user's device. While third-party libraries still have their place for handling complex cases, the authors emphasize that developers should first consider whether native browser capabilities can fulfill their needs, as this approach can lead to more efficient, maintainable, and resilient codebases.

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