A currency converter widget is a common feature in fintech apps, e-commerce platforms, and dashboards that need real-time exchange rates.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a fully functional currency converter widget using vanilla JavaScript and jQuery, without relying on any frameworks like React or Vue. This currency converter without framework approach uses a plain JavaScript exchange rate API, making it lightweight, simple, and easy to integrate.
Let’s begin.
Check out this tutorial on creating a currency widget using React JS
Building a Currency Exchange Rate Widget
Here are the simple steps to create a basic currency exchange widget using JavaScript and CurrencyFreaks currency converter API
Step 1: Basic HTML Structure
Start by creating the basic structure of the HTML document.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Currency Exchange Rate Widget</title>
Step 2: Adding CSS for Styling
Add CSS to style the widget inside the <style> tag within the <head> section. You can also customize these styles based on your own preferences.
<style>
body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
height: 100vh;
margin: 0;
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6dd5ed, #2193b0);
color: #333;
}
#currency-widget {
width: 360px;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 15px;
background: #ffffff;
box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
text-align: center;
}
h2 {
font-size: 2em;
color: #1f2937;
margin-bottom: 30px;
position: relative;
}
h2::after {
content: '';
width: 50px;
height: 3px;
background: #6dd5ed;
display: block;
margin: 0 auto;
margin-top: 10px;
}
label {
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #4b5563;
margin-bottom: 10px;
display: block;
}
select, input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
margin-bottom: 25px;
border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
border-radius: 8px;
font-size: 1em;
background-color: #f1f5f9;
box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease;
}
select:focus, input:focus {
box-shadow: 0 6px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
outline: none;
}
#result {
font-size: 1.5em;
font-weight: bold;
color: #1f2937;
margin-top: 20px;
}
#currency-widget button {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #2193b0;
border: none;
border-radius: 8px;
color: white;
font-size: 1.2em;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}
#currency-widget button:hover {
background-color: #6dd5ed;
}
</style>
</head>
Step 3: Adding HTML Structure for the Widget
Within the <body> section, create the structure of the currency exchange widget.
<body>
<div id="currency-widget">
<h2>Currency Exchange Rate</h2>
<label for="fromCurrency">From:</label>
<select id="fromCurrency" class="searchable"></select>
<label for="toCurrency">To:</label>
<select id="toCurrency" class="searchable"></select>
<label for="amount">Amount:</label>
<input type="number" id="amount" value="1">
<div id="result"></div>
<button id="convertButton">Convert</button>
</div>
</body>
Step 4: Adding JavaScript for Functionality: JavaScript Exchange Rate Widget
Add the JavaScript programming language to make the widget functional. This script will:
- Fetch exchange rates
- Allow users to search within dropdowns
- Calculate the conversion.
<script>
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
const API_KEY = 'ADD-YOUR-API-KEY'; // Replace with your CurrencyFreaks API key
const fromCurrency = document.getElementById('fromCurrency');
const toCurrency = document.getElementById('toCurrency');
const amount = document.getElementById('amount');
const result = document.getElementById('result');
const convertButton = document.getElementById('convertButton');
// Fetch all available currency data
fetch(`https://api.currencyfreaks.com/v2.0/rates/latest?apikey=${API_KEY}`)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
const currencies = Object.keys(data.rates);
currencies.forEach(currency => {
let option1 = document.createElement('option');
option1.value = currency;
option1.textContent = currency;
fromCurrency.appendChild(option1);
let option2 = document.createElement('option');
option2.value = currency;
option2.textContent = currency;
toCurrency.appendChild(option2);
});
// Default selections
fromCurrency.value = 'USD';
toCurrency.value = 'EUR';
// Event listeners
fromCurrency.addEventListener('change', updateResult);
toCurrency.addEventListener('change', updateResult);
amount.addEventListener('input', updateResult);
convertButton.addEventListener('click', updateResult);
// Make dropdowns searchable
makeDropdownSearchable(fromCurrency);
makeDropdownSearchable(toCurrency);
updateResult(); // Initial result calculation
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error fetching currency list:', error);
result.textContent = 'Error loading currencies. Please try again.';
});
function updateResult() {
const from = fromCurrency.value;
const to = toCurrency.value;
const amt = amount.value;
fetch(`https://api.currencyfreaks.com/v2.0/rates/latest?apikey=${API_KEY}&base=${from}&symbols=${to}`)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
const rate = parseFloat(data.rates[to]);
const convertedAmount = (amt * rate).toFixed(2);
result.textContent = `${amt} ${from} = ${convertedAmount} ${to}`;
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error fetching conversion:', error);
result.textContent = 'Error converting currency. Please try again.';
});
}
function makeDropdownSearchable(dropdown) {
const searchInput = document.createElement('input');
searchInput.setAttribute('placeholder', 'Search...');
searchInput.style.padding = '8px';
searchInput.style.width = 'calc(100% - 16px)';
searchInput.style.marginBottom = '10px';
searchInput.style.boxSizing = 'border-box';
dropdown.parentNode.insertBefore(searchInput, dropdown);
searchInput.addEventListener('input', function () {
const filter = searchInput.value.toLowerCase();
const options = dropdown.getElementsByTagName('option');
for (let i = 0; i < options.length; i++) {
const txtValue = options[i].textContent || options[i].innerText;
options[i].style.display = txtValue.toLowerCase().includes(filter) ? '' : 'none';
}
});
}
});
</script>
<h2>jQuery Currency Converter Implementation</h2>
<p>If you prefer jQuery, the same currency converter can be built easily. This version uses <strong>jquery currency converter api</strong> and the same free API as above.</p>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function () {
const API_KEY = 'ADD-YOUR-API-KEY';
$('#convertButton').click(function () {
const from = $('#fromCurrency').val();
const to = $('#toCurrency').val();
const amount = $('#amount').val();
$.get(`https://api.currencyfreaks.com/v2.0/rates/latest`, {
apikey: API_KEY,
base: from,
symbols: to
}, function(data) {
const rate = parseFloat(data.rates[to]);
const convertedAmount = (amount * rate).toFixed(2);
$('#result').text(`${amount} ${from} = ${convertedAmount} ${to}`);
})
.fail(function () {
$('#result').text('Error fetching rates. Please try again.');
});
});
});
</script>
Output
Learn to create currency widget using Vue JS.
Currency Converter API for JavaScript (Free Options)
JavaScript has a free currency API that enables developers to add live exchange rates within a short period of time. It saves time in development and eliminates manual updating of the data. The majority of current APIs respond in structured JSON to be easily decoded.
An API for exchange rates should support switching base currencies and allow symbol filtering. This assists in the optimization of requests and minimizing the payload size. Developers are able to request currencies they require.
Historical exchange rate endpoints are also offered by many APIs. This allows trend analysis and comparison of finances. Dashboard functionality and accuracy of reporting are enhanced with the help of historical data.
Key Features
- Free API tier for testing
- JSON response format
- Real-time exchange rate updates
- Historical rate endpoint support
How to Fetch Exchange Rates in JavaScript
While chained promises are common, using async/await provides a cleaner structure for modern applications. Here is how you can fetch rates efficiently:
async function getRates(base) {
try {
const response = await fetch(`https://api.currencyfreaks.com/v2.0/rates/latest?apikey=${apiKey}&base=${base}`);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error('Network response was not ok');
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.rates);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Fetch error:', error);
}
}
Helpful Resource: How to Get Live Currency Rates in Google Sheets Using a Currency Free API
Why Do You Need to Build a Currency Exchange Rate Widget?
It is pretty common to deal with different currencies in today's world. This applies to online purchases, business transactions, and even traveling. Knowing what current conversion rates are is very important. A mechanism that can facilitate getting such information quickly is a currency exchange rate widget. This real-time responsible gadget makes sure that one gets all necessary updates in seconds; thus, it is highly valued by everyone who knows about it.
Exchange rates play an important role in businesses, especially those working internationally. Even the slightest change in these figures can significantly affect profits. By adding a currency exchange rate widget to their websites or apps, companies are able to provide customers with up-to-date information. This establishes trust and improves user experience.
Currency exchange widgets make tasks more accessible for individuals. They help with planning trips; while shopping online, one can convert prices or follow investments made in foreign money instead. Comparisons between today's rates and those from yesterday no longer have to be done manually, with automatic updates happening instantly through a pop-up window. Time spent searching for rates shall be saved, and errors shall be minimized.
The widget can also be customized to show users the currencies that matter most. They can be added to websites, blogs, or personal dashboards. This is an easy way to keep up with everything happening around you.
For a complete list of available endpoints and technical parameters, refer to the official CurrencyFreaks API Documentation.
What Are the Real-life Applications of a Currency Exchange Rate Widget?
A currency exchange rate widget is commonly used in applications where real-time conversion is needed. It is especially useful in:
- E-commerce platforms displaying multi-currency pricing
- Travel and booking websites showing local currency costs
- Financial dashboards tracking global exchange rates
- SaaS and fintech applications handling international users
This makes the widget a practical tool for improving user experience and reducing manual currency conversion effort.
Vanilla JS vs React Currency Widget
Simple currency converter widgets can be built with the vanilla JavaScript currency API. It does not need any build tools or structures. Blogs and other sites that are not dynamic take advantage of this lightweight model.
React is more appropriate with scaleable applications and dashboards. It also handles state effectively and reusable components. This structure is popular among large SaaS platforms.
Single-page applications need dynamic rendering and state management. Little scripting is required for static sites. Vanilla Js versus React is dependent on the scope of the project.
When to Use Each
- Vanilla JS to Static sites and embeds
- React to SPAs and fintech dashboards
- Hybrid to Progressive web apps
Helpful Resource: Integrating CurrencyFreaks Free currency converter API with React JS: A Tutorial
Conclusion
Building a Currency Exchange Rate Widget using JavaScript and the CurrencyFreaks currency converter API offers a practical solution. It provides real-time exchange rates. This project includes essential features for both businesses and individuals. It enables efficient currency conversion and enhances user experience. The widget ensures accuracy and reliability by choosing the CurrencyFreaks currency converter API.
The integration process is also straightforward. This guide covers all the necessary steps to create a customizable widget, which becomes an invaluable tool for personal and professional use. Whether tracking investments or improving e-commerce platforms, this widget delivers timely and relevant financial data. You must ensure that your chosen API gets its data from reliable sources, such as the European Central Bank.
FAQs
How Can I Improve Performance and Save API Credits in JavaScript?
You can significantly improve performance by caching API responses in localStorage. Since currency rates don’t typically change every second, storing the data locally for a set period (like 1 hour) prevents unnecessary network requests and saves your API quota.
What Currency Source Is Highly Reliable for Building a Currency Exchange Rate Widget?
CurrencyFreaks currency converter API is the most reliable API for building a currency exchange rate widget.
How Much Does the CurrencyFreaks Currency Converter API Cost to Create a Widget?
CurrencyFreaks currency converter API offers multiple pricing plans, including a free tier. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing details, visit the official CurrencyFreaks pricing page.
Do We Get Enough Customer Support When Using Currencyfreaks currency converter API?
CurrencyFreaks currency converter API provides responsive and efficient customer support to ensure user satisfaction. Moreover, you get comprehensive documentation with code examples to execute the plain javascript exchange rate API calls. CurrencyFreaks exchange rates api gives access to reliable exchange rate data.
Sign Up for free at CurrencyFreaks currency converter API and get 1000 free API calls today!
