APIVerve

Posted on Jan 22 • Originally published at blog.apiverve.com

Chuck Norris API: Add Random Facts to Your App

#funapis #jokes #beginners #javascript

Sometimes you just need to add something stupid to your app. A loading screen that makes people smile. A Slack bot that breaks up the monotony. A 404 page that's actually funny.

Chuck Norris facts are perfect for this.

One Request, One Laugh

const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/chucknorrisjokes', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' }
});

const { data } = await response.json();
console.log(data.joke);
// "Chuck Norris can divide by zero."

That's the whole thing. Call endpoint, get joke. No configuration, no parameters, just randomness.

Slack Bot (5 Minutes)

Create a slash command that responds with a fact:

app.post('/slack/chuck', async (req, res) => {
  const { data } = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/chucknorrisjokes', {
    headers: { 'x-api-key': process.env.API_KEY }
  }).then(r => r.json());

  res.json({
    response_type: 'in_channel',
    text: `🥋 ${data.joke}`
  });
});

Point your Slack slash command at this endpoint. Type /chuck in any channel. Instant team morale boost.

Discord Bot (Also 5 Minutes)

client.on('messageCreate', async (message) => {
  if (message.content === '!chuck') {
    const { data } = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/chucknorrisjokes', {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': process.env.API_KEY }
    }).then(r => r.json());

    message.reply(`🥋 ${data.joke}`);
  }
});

Same energy, different platform.

Loading States That Don't Suck

Instead of a boring spinner:

async function showLoadingWithJoke() {
  const jokePromise = fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/chucknorrisjokes', {
    headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' }
  }).then(r => r.json());

  const { data } = await jokePromise;
  document.getElementById('loading-text').textContent = data.joke;
}

User sees a Chuck Norris fact while waiting. Loading feels shorter when you're laughing.

Why This Actually Matters

Fun APIs seem trivial. They're not.

They teach async patterns, error handling, API authentication — same fundamentals as "serious" APIs. But you actually want to build with them. Nobody dreads working on their joke bot at 11pm.

Ship something fun. Learn the patterns. Apply them to the boring stuff later.

Other Joke APIs

Once you're tired of Chuck Norris (impossible, but hypothetically):

Random Jokes — General humor, mixed categories
Dad Jokes — Maximum groan factor
Random Quotes — When you need inspiration instead of laughs

Same authentication, same response format. Swap the endpoint, get different content.

Get an API key and go build something that makes someone smile today.

Originally published at APIVerve Blog

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