CORS Proxy: Everything You Need to Know
CORS or âCross-Origin Resource Sharingâ is a mechanism for server to determine which origins can have access to a resource. While this security measure helps protect against unauthorized cross-origin requests, it can make fetching data from certain APIs challenging. Thatâs where a CORS proxy comes in. Below, we break down what a CORS proxy is, when you might need one, and how to use it.
What Is a CORS Proxy?
If youâve developed a web app, youâve likely encountered a CORS error at some point. CORS proxy is a service that helps you bypass CORS errors. They way it works is instead of fetching resources directly, only to run into CORS error, your request goes through the proxy first. The proxy handles the interaction with the target server, then returning the data to your app without triggering the error.
When to Use a CORS Proxy?
Youâll want to use a CORS proxy if:
- The API or resource youâre trying to fetch doesnât provide CORS headers.
- Youâre working on a frontend-only or static site without a backend.
- You need a quick fix for âno âAccess-Control-Allow-Originâ headerâ errors.
However, if you have your own server, you could handle requests there, effectively doing what the proxy would do. But for frontend apps, a CORS proxy is an easy and quick solution.
How to Use a CORS Proxy?
Whenever youâre stuck with a CORS error while fetching external resources, simply prepend the proxyâs URL to your target endpoint. For example, if youâre using proxy.corsfix.com
:
This reroutes your request through the proxy, which fetches data from the API on your behalf.
Conclusion
You can use CORS proxy whenever you need to fetch data from an API you donât control to bypass the CORS errors. Hopefully, this gives you a clearer idea of how a CORS proxy works and why itâs so useful. The next time you face a pesky CORS error, youâll know exactly what to do!