How to structure API requests properly to avoid common errors?
#1
I'm working on my first project that involves calling external APIs, and I keep running into various errors. I need some API integration help to understand what I'm doing wrong.

Here are some of the coding errors and fixes I've encountered:

1. **Rate limiting**: Getting 429 errors after a few requests
2. **Authentication**: Token expiration issues
3. **Error handling**: Not properly catching and handling different HTTP status codes
4. **Data parsing**: Issues with JSON parsing when the API response format changes

Here's an example of my current approach:

```javascript
async function fetchData(apiUrl) {
try {
const response = await fetch(apiUrl);
const data = await response.json();
return data;
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
return null;
}
}
```

But this feels too simplistic. I'm looking for best coding practices 2025 for API integration, including:

1. How to implement proper retry logic with exponential backoff?
2. What's the best way to handle authentication token refresh?
3. How to structure error handling for different types of API failures?
4. Are there libraries or frameworks that make API integration easier?

I'd appreciate any programming questions and answers on this topic, especially from people who have worked on production applications with multiple API integrations. This is exactly the kind of beginner coding help I need to level up my skills.
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