# Server Fetch

> Internal server-to-server requests without network overhead.

<code-tree>

```ts [nitro.config.ts]
import { defineConfig, serverFetch } from "nitro";

export default defineConfig({
  serverDir: "./",
  hooks: {
    "dev:start": async () => {
      const res = await serverFetch("/hello");
      const text = await res.text();
      console.log("Fetched /hello in nitro module:", res.status, text);
    },
  },
});
```

```json [package.json]
{
  "type": "module",
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "nitro dev",
    "build": "nitro build"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "nitro": "latest"
  }
}
```

```json [tsconfig.json]
{
  "extends": "nitro/tsconfig"
}
```

```ts [vite.config.ts]
import { defineConfig } from "vite";
import { nitro } from "nitro/vite";

export default defineConfig({ plugins: [nitro()] });
```

```ts [routes/hello.ts]
import { defineHandler } from "nitro";

export default defineHandler(() => "Hello!");
```

```ts [routes/index.ts]
import { defineHandler } from "nitro";
import { fetch } from "nitro";

export default defineHandler(() => fetch("/hello"));
```
</code-tree>

When you need one route to call another, use Nitro's `fetch` function instead of the global fetch. It makes internal requests that stay in-process, avoiding network round-trips. The request never leaves the server.

## Main Route

```ts [routes/index.ts]
import { defineHandler } from "nitro";
import { fetch } from "nitro";

export default defineHandler(() => fetch("/hello"));
```

The index route imports `fetch` from `nitro` (not the global fetch) and calls the `/hello` route. This request is handled internally without going through the network stack.

## Internal API Route

```ts [routes/hello.ts]
import { defineHandler } from "nitro";

export default defineHandler(() => "Hello!");
```

A simple route that returns "Hello!". When the index route calls `fetch("/hello")`, this handler runs and its response is returned directly.

## Learn More

- [Routing](/docs/routing)