Using The IP API with Node.js

The IP API is a powerful tool for developers looking to enhance their applications with accurate IP geolocation data. In this article, we'll walk through integrating The IP API into a Node.js application, providing a complete example to get you started.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• Node.js installed on your system (version 12 or higher is recommended).
• An API key from The IP API. Sign up if you haven’t already.
• A basic understanding of JavaScript and Node.js.
• Easy Integration: Designed for developers, The IP API offers intuitive documentation and straightforward setup.

Set Up Your Project and Create a Simple Script

Create a new directory for your project and navigate into it:

mkdir api-node-example && cd api-node-example

Now, let’s write a script to query The IP API and retrieve geolocation data for a given IP address.
Create a new file named app.js in your project directory. Open app.js and add the following code:

var https = require("https");

var options = {
  host: "theipapi.com",
  port: 443,
  path: "/v1/ip/8.8.8.8?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY",
  method: "GET",
};

https
  .get(options, (resp) => {
    let data = "";

    // A chunk of data has been received.
    resp.on("data", (chunk) => {
      data += chunk;
    });

    // The whole response has been received. Print out the result.
    resp.on("end", () => {
      console.log(JSON.parse(data));
    });
  })
  .on("error", (err) => {
    console.log("Error: " + err.message);
  });

Run Your Script

Save your changes and run the script:

node app.js

{
  "status": "OK",
  "body": {
    "asn": {
      "asn": 15169,
      "asn_description": "GOOGLE, US",
      "country": "US",
      "created": "2005-11-23T02:48:10.000Z",
      "network": "8.8.8.0/24",
      "org_name": "Google LLC",
      "rir": "ARIN",
      "updated": "2019-10-31"
    },
    "company": {
      "address": "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA, US",
      "name": "Google LLC",
      "network": "8.8.8.0 - 8.8.8.255",
      "route": "8.8.8.0/24"
    },
    "ip": "8.8.8.8",
    "location": {
      "city": "Mountain View",
      "country": "United States of America",
      "country_code": "US",
      "latitude": 37.405992,
      "longitude": -122.078515,
      "region": "California"
    }
  },
  "response_time_ms": 1
}

Optimize API Usage

Now that you’ve integrated The IP API into your application, start thinking about:

• Caching: Store frequent IP lookups locally to reduce API calls and improve performance.
• Rate Limits: Check your plan’s rate limits and optimize requests accordingly.
• Batch Requests: Use batch endpoints to process multiple IP addresses in a single request.

For further assistance, visit our support center or contact us directly. We’re here to help you make the most out of The IP API.

Happy coding!

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About The Author

Ivan, Founder and CEO, The IP API.