How can I handle browser timeout error?

Browser timeout is a common pain point for developers, especially when dealing with third-party API responses. It disrupts functionality when there’s a delay in the server’s response, blocking critical operations. Unfortunately, you cannot directly control or increase the browser’s timeout for HTTP requests through a web application, as these settings are typically managed by the client (end-user) environment. However, you can implement several strategies to mitigate the issue and handle timeouts more gracefully:

Strategies to Handle Timeout Issues:

1. Optimize Third-Party API Response Time:

Check the performance of the third-party API you’re using to ensure it’s optimized for speed and reliability.

Consider caching API responses if the data doesn’t change frequently, so the portal can retrieve data faster without always relying on live API calls.

If possible, use asynchronous requests and fetch data in the background, showing a placeholder or loading spinner while the API call completes.

2. Client-Side Error Handling & Retry Mechanism:

Implement a retry mechanism for API requests. If the request times out or fails, you can retry it a few times before displaying an error.

Use JavaScript to catch timeout errors and display a user-friendly message or offer users an option to retry manually.

Example JavaScript to catch timeout error and display a message:

const fetchWithTimeout = (url, options, timeout = 5000) => {
    return Promise.race([
        fetch(url, options),
        new Promise((_, reject) =>
            setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('Timeout')), timeout)
        )
    ]);
};
fetchWithTimeout('https://api.example.com/data', {}, 10000) // 10-second timeout
    .then(response => response.json())
    .catch(error => console.error('Request timed out:', error));

3. Server-Side Handling (HubSpot Functions or Middleware):

• Use server-side functions or middleware to handle the API requests from the backend. If the third-party API is slow, you can decouple the request from the front-end and process it server-side, where you can have more control over timeouts and retries.
• In HubSpot, you can use HubSpot Functions (if you’re using Operations Hub) or serverless functions to make these API calls, reducing reliance on client-side timeout handling.

4. Increase Timeouts on API Side (if possible):

If you have control over the third-party API or are in contact with the API provider, you could request an increase in their timeout limit or improve the performance of their services.

5. Progressive Loading or Deferred Loading:

Load the initial content first, then lazy-load or progressively fetch the data from the third-party API. This approach helps avoid waiting for the entire response on page load and improves user experience.

6. Use a Loading State or Placeholder:

Display a loading indicator while the API call is in progress. If the request times out, you can show an error message or give the user an option to retry the request.

7. Paginate or Reduce Data Load:

If the API is returning a large dataset, consider implementing pagination or requesting only essential data to reduce the time it takes to fetch and process the response.

Conclusion:

You cannot directly increase the browser’s timeout period, but by optimizing API calls, implementing retry logic, and improving error handling, you can minimize the occurrence of timeout errors and enhance the user experience on mobile devices.

If you’re facing browser timeout issues with API requests, reach out to our website development experts for strategies to optimize performance and enhance user experience!