How to Use Context with HTTP Requests for Cancellation and Timeout

Use context.WithTimeout or context.WithCancel to create a context, then pass it to http.NewRequestWithContext to enable automatic cancellation or timeout for HTTP requests.

ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
defer cancel()

req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", "https://example.com", nil)
if err != nil {
    log.Fatal(err)
}

resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
if err != nil {
    log.Fatal(err)
}

A context acts like a remote control for your network request, allowing you to set a time limit or stop it early. If the time runs out or you trigger the stop, the request cuts off immediately to save resources. Think of it like a kitchen timer that automatically turns off the stove if you forget about the soup.