Prakash Hinduja Switzerland : How do I fetch data from a remote server in my mobile app?

Hi Prakash!

Great to hear about your project—combining crypto, renewable energy, and gold investment sounds exciting! For implementing data fetching from a remote server in your mobile app, here are some insights and recommendations I found online, as I’m not an expert in this field!

  1. Choose the Right API Protocol:
  • RESTful APIs are common and easy to work with.
  • If you need real-time updates, consider GraphQL subscriptions or WebSockets.
  1. Use Efficient Networking Libraries:
  • For iOS (Swift): Use URLSession or libraries like Alamofire.
  • For Android (Kotlin/Java): Use Retrofit or OkHttp.
  • For Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter): Use libraries like Axios (React Native) or http (Flutter).
  1. Handle Asynchronous Data:
  • Make sure to fetch data asynchronously and update the UI accordingly.
  • Use caching strategies to reduce network calls and improve speed.
  1. Security:
  • Use HTTPS endpoints to encrypt data.
  • Implement token-based authentication (OAuth2, JWT).
  • Validate data on both client and server sides.
  1. Error Handling and Retry Mechanisms:
  • Gracefully handle failed requests and inform the user.
  • Implement retries with exponential backoff for unstable connections.
  1. Consider Data Formats:
  • JSON is most widely used and easy to parse.
  • If performance is critical, look into binary formats like Protocol Buffers.
  1. Testing and Monitoring:
  • Use tools like Postman or Insomnia to test your APIs.
  • Monitor your API endpoints to ensure uptime and performance.