How do you handle timeouts for network requests?
Aug 01, 2025 am 07:18 AM
Always set explicit connection and read timeout values tailored to your use case, as seen in Python’s requests library with timeout=(5, 10). 2. Apply timeouts in various languages: use timeout in axios for Node.js, setConnectTimeout and setReadTimeout in Java’s HttpURLConnection, and configure http.Client with Timeout in Go. 3. Implement retry logic with exponential backoff, such as retrying up to three times with increasing delays, to handle transient failures without overwhelming servers. 4. Leverage HTTP clients with built-in timeout and retry management like OkHttp, Retrofit, or JavaScript’s fetch with AbortController for more control. 5. Monitor timeout frequency using observability tools like Prometheus or Datadog, then adjust timeout values based on real-world performance and differentiate them per endpoint to balance reliability and responsiveness. By setting reasonable timeouts, handling exceptions gracefully, and applying retries where appropriate, you ensure your application remains responsive and resilient under varying network conditions.
Handling timeouts for network requests is essential to ensure your application remains responsive and doesn’t hang indefinitely when a server is slow or unreachable. Here’s how you can manage them effectively across different environments and tools.
1. Set Explicit Timeout Values
Always define both connection timeout (how long to wait to establish a connection) and read timeout (how long to wait for data after the connection is made). These are separate and should be set based on your use case.
For example, in Python using requests:
import requests
try:
response = requests.get("https://api.example.com/data", timeout=(5, 10))
# (connect_timeout, read_timeout)
except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
print("Request timed out")
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
print(f"An error occurred: {e}")In this case, it waits up to 5 seconds to connect and 10 seconds to receive data.
2. Use Timeouts in Different Languages and Libraries
Node.js (with
axios):
axios.get('https://api.example.com/data', { timeout: 5000 }) .catch(err => { if (err.code === 'ECONNABORTED') { console.log('Request timed out'); } });Java (with
HttpURLConnection):URLConnection conn = url.openConnection(); conn.setConnectTimeout(5000); // 5 seconds conn.setReadTimeout(10000); // 10 seconds
Go:
client := &http.Client{ Timeout: 15 * time.Second, } resp, err := client.Get("https://api.example.com/data")
3. Implement Retry Logic with Backoff
A single timeout doesn’t mean permanent failure. Combine timeouts with retry strategies, but be careful not to overwhelm the server.
Example (Python with retry logic):
import time
import requests
from requests.exceptions import Timeout
def fetch_with_retry(url, retries=3, backoff=1):
for i in range(retries):
try:
return requests.get(url, timeout=(5, 10))
except Timeout:
if i == retries - 1:
raise
time.sleep(backoff * (2 ** i)) # exponential backoff4. Use HTTP Clients with Built-in Timeout Management
Some libraries and frameworks provide advanced timeout and retry handling:
OkHttp (Android/Java): Configurable timeouts and interceptors.
Retrofit OkHttp: Leverages OkHttp’s timeout controls.
Fetch with AbortController (JavaScript):
const controller = new AbortController(); const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 5000); fetch('/api/data', { signal: controller.signal }) .catch(err => { if (err.name === 'AbortError') console.log('Timed out'); });5. Monitor and Adjust Based on Real-World Performance
- Use logging or observability tools (like Prometheus, Datadog) to track how often timeouts occur.
- Adjust timeout values based on typical response times — too short and you risk false failures; too long and users wait unnecessarily.
- Consider different timeouts for different endpoints (e.g., a search API might need less time than a report generation endpoint).
Basically, always set reasonable timeouts, handle the exceptions gracefully, and consider retry logic where appropriate. It’s not just about avoiding hangs — it’s about building resilient systems.
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