TypeScript Academy · Lesson

Data fetching & action typing

Fetch data on the server with typed JSON, control caching/revalidation, and create typed Server Actions for forms and mutations.

Lesson 2 of 38 steps

Data fetching & action typing is a free TypeScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 2 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the TypeScript Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

Intro

Goal: Fetch data in server components with typed JSON, configure cache/revalidate, and build typed Server Actions for mutations.

  • Typed fetch helpers
  • Cache: revalidate vs no-store
  • Server Actions with forms

Typed fetch helper

Create a small json<T> helper to decode responses and throw on non-200. Use revalidate for ISR-like caching.

// app/lib/http.ts
export async function json<T>(res: Response): Promise<T> {
  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`)
  return (await res.json()) as T
}

// app/page.tsx (server)
export type Post = { id: number; title: string }

export default async function Page() {
  const res = await fetch("https://example.com/api/posts", { next: { revalidate: 60 } })
  const posts = await json<Post[]>(res)
  return (
    <main style={{ display: "grid", gap: 8 }}>
      <h1>Posts</h1>
      <ul>{posts.map(p => <li key={p.id}>{p.title}</li>)}</ul>
    </main>
  )
}

Cache controls

Use cache: "no-store" for fully dynamic requests; or next.revalidate to regenerate after N seconds.

// app/page.tsx (server)
export default async function Page() {
  const res = await fetch("https://example.com/api/now", { cache: "no-store" })
  const data = await res.json() as { now: string }
  return <pre>{JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)}</pre>
}

// Alternative: revalidate per request
// fetch(url, { next: { revalidate: 5 } })

Server Action module

Add "use server" in the module (or inside the function). Server Actions run on the server and can call server-only APIs, then revalidatePath.

// app/actions.ts
"use server"
import { revalidatePath } from "next/cache"

export async function createPost(form: FormData): Promise<{ id: string }> {
  const title = String(form.get("title") || "")
  if (!title) throw new Error("title required")
  // pretend DB insert
  const id = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)
  revalidatePath("/")
  return { id }
}

Client form using action

Bind the Server Action to a form action. Use useTransition to show pending UI. Types flow from the action signature.

"use client"
import { useTransition } from "react"
import { createPost } from "../actions"

export default function NewPost() {
  const [pending, start] = useTransition()

  const onSubmit = async (formData: FormData) => {
    await createPost(formData)
  }

  return (
    <form action={(fd) => start(() => onSubmit(fd))} style={{ display: "grid", gap: 8 }}>
      <input name="title" placeholder="Title" />
      <button disabled={pending}>{pending ? "Creating…" : "Create"}</button>
    </form>
  )
}

Tips & safety

Tips:

  • Prefer server fetching for secrets; pass results as props.
  • Throw typed Errors from actions; handle in UI with boundaries.
  • Revalidate affected paths after mutations.

Server Action typing check

Quick check: How do you mark a function as a Server Action and keep types?

Recap

Recap: Decode JSON with a typed helper, choose no-store or revalidate wisely, and use typed Server Actions to mutate and revalidate safely.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Data fetching & action typing” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Data fetching & action typing” is free to read here on the web. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the TypeScript Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Data fetching & action typing”?

Fetch data on the server with typed JSON, control caching/revalidation, and create typed Server Actions for forms and mutations. You practise TypeScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start TypeScript Academy?

No prior experience is required. TypeScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 2 of 3.

How long does the “Data fetching & action typing” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this TypeScript Academy lesson?

Yes. Every TypeScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. App Router types; server vs client components
  2. Data fetching & action typing
  3. Env typing and config
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