Whenever developers want to integrate their applications to eCommerce platforms, they may have to access the APIs of the platform. Through this process the application is able to communicate with the eCommerce platform, retrieve information and perform other tasks that relate to the eCommerce platform.
In the context of this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of how developers can work with the API of an eCommerce platform. In this tutorial, you will learn the steps, requirements, and considerations necessary for working with the platform’s API. By following the instructions in this guide, you will be able to integrate applications with eCommerce platforms without any difficulties, which will enhance the functionality and usefulness of the applications.

Understanding APIs

API is a set of standards, rules and procedures which enable one application to interact with another, request data and services from the other application, and perform various operations with the application. API stands for Application Programming Interface, and if you are a developer who wants to expand your knowledge and get familiar with new technologies, APIs are worth getting acquainted with.
This is especially important in the modern world where most organizations are implementing integrated systems to capture various aspects of their operations. It specifies how the parts of the software system should perform and allows developers to invoke features or data from another application. In the creation of web applications, APIs are used to connect the user interface to the back end of the application.
APIs can be categorized as RESTful, SOAP, and GraphQL. RESTful APIs are most popular and are based on the standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to manipulate the resources. SOAP APIs utilize XML messages and are more structured than the GraphQL APIs where the client has to request only the data that is required.

API of eCommerce Platforms

In today’s world, the eCommerce platforms have become one of the most viable and effective solutions for all those businesses that are in need of an online market for their products and services. It is particularly useful for developers who are interested in incorporating eCommerce into their apps since it has all the required tools and information.
APIs enable software developers to exercise specific aspects or functionalities of the eCommerce platform like catalog management, payment gateways, order processing, and more. Here are a few popular eCommerce platforms with robust APIs that developers can leverage for their projects:

• Shopify API: Shopify is one of the best platforms for creating a store with a user-friendly interface and flexible settings. Among the available Shopify API endpoints there are products, orders, customers and so on. Shopify API can then be employed for creation of different storefronts, for automation of orders, and for third-party services integration.
• WooCommerce API: WooCommerce is an eCommerce plugin that is integrated into WordPress to allow users to develop their stores. WooCommerce API is used to enable and control the access for developers for various endpoints that are used in managing products, orders, customers, etc Using WooCommerce API, developers can create new solutions, can share data between applications and can even automate all the eCommerce processes.
• Magento API: Magento is one of the most powerful eCommerce solutions that provide an excellent chance to manage and customize the online stores. The Magento API is utilized by a developer to communicate with the products, categories, customers, orders, and other components of the platform. Magento API is an opportunity for the developers to create new extensions, interact with other services, and improve several aspects of eCommerce.
• BigCommerce API: BigCommerce is one of the most popular and recommended eCommerce platforms for high traffic online stores. BigCommerce API is a reliable instrument to operate with store data as well as other information related to products, orders, customers, etc. The BigCommerce API allows for the development of applications for storefronts, integration with other business services, and enhancing the customer experience.

In general, it can be noted that APIs are very important for the integration of eCommerce functionality into applications by developers.

Key Considerations Before Connecting to an API

For a developer, it is always crucial to connect to an API since it may act as an important component in creating software applications that communicate with other systems or services. However, there are certain things that you should consider before actually linking up with an API of any eCommerce platform to avoid some common pitfalls that most people encounter:

• Understand the API Documentation: When working with an API, one should always go through API documentation which is available from the API provider. It should explain the process of authentication, how to make the requests, what to expect in the response and any other pertinent information regarding the API. Lack of comprehension of the API documentation can cause problems in integrating the two applications and time wasted.
• Consider Authentication and Security: APIs can be secured and thus need authentication in order to be able to access and manipulate their end points. Depending on the API you are planning to integrate you must determine the method of authentication that is, API keys, OAuth tokens or any other means. Also, it is vital to analyze the security measures provided by the API provider so that your application and users’ information are safe.
• Check Rate Limits and Usage Policies: Due to this, API providers may limit the number of requests that can be made in a given period or the amount of data that can be transferred in the same time span. When using an API, the first thing to consider is the rate limits or usage quotas to know how many requests you are allowed to perform at a given time. It is important not to go against rate limits or usage policies as this will lead to the blocking of your application from the API.
• Handle Errors and Edge Cases: However, when connecting to an API, it would be wise to consider how your application will behave in the face of error conditions. There are many error codes and messages that APIs can return in response to an improperly formatted request or any number of other circumstances. It is also important to use error checking and handling in the application so as to avoid program failures.
• Consider Data Persistence and Caching: Based on the type of your application and the API that you are integrating, you may need to think of data storage and cache. Caching the API response means that the response can be saved locally and later used, therefore decreasing the number of times the API is called. But at the same time, data staleness should also be taken into account and, therefore, the necessity to update the cached data.
• Test Thoroughly Before Deployment: Prior to launching the application with the built-in API, it is recommended to perform the integration testing in a development/staging environment. Use different test cases, which can be input parameters, input data errors and extremes, and other test cases that need to be checked to make sure that the application behaves correctly. Testing is important as it allows you to fix problems before they are reported by the users.

Implementing the above factors in the link to an API will help in achieving better integration of the software applications that you are developing.

Methods to Connect to API of eCommerce Platform

API integration is one of the most vital features in the current eСommerce application development. When integrating applications with the eСommerce platform API, developers are able to retrieve information and interact with elements that enable them to build new applications, streamline business processes, and improve the usability of the platform for end users. Here are some methods for developers to connect to the API of an eСommerce platform:

• Obtain API Documentation: The first thing that one has to do when accessing the API of an eСommerce platform is to get the API documentation. This documentation usually contains details such as endpoint details, authentication procedures, request and response structures, and usage quotas. Reading through the API documentation can help the developers gain more insight on how to use the API.
• Choose an Integration Method: Depending on the eСommerce platform and the developer’s requirements, there are several forms of integration to take into consideration. The common approaches are REST API, SOAP API, GraphQL, and webhooks. It is recommended that developers select the integration method most appropriate for their project and their level of expertise.
• Authentication: It is mandatory for the developers to register themselves with the eCommerce platform’s API before they make any API request. This usually includes API credentials like API keys, OAuth tokens, or API secrets. As mentioned in the API documentation, the authentication process will allow developers to safely access the API.
• Test API Endpoints: Having gained access, developers can begin to test API endpoints for getting data or for taking some action on the eCommerce platform. Every endpoint has to be thoroughly checked to make sure that the correct data is returned and that any action that takes place is done correctly.
• Handle Errors and Rate Limits: When using the API of an eCommerce platform, developers need to know how to deal with error and rate limiting. This may be caused by incorrect requests, server problems, or changes of the API so proper error handling should be included into the code. Also, most eCommerce platforms put in place rate limits to control the number of API calls that a developer makes hence the need to respect these limits to avoid interruption of service.
• Monitor API Usage: Once a developer has been able to integrate his/her application with the API of an eCommerce platform, there is a need to constantly check on the API usage and effectiveness. By tracking metrics such as the number of requests, response time, and failure rate. If any of them is not in the desired range, developers can assume that there is a problem with scalability of the API integration.

In conclusion, it is useful and important for developers who want to create unique eCommerce solutions to know how to connect to the API of an eCommerce platform. Studying these methods and best practices, it will be possible for developers to integrate with an eCommerce platform API and open up new opportunities for improving the online shopping experience.

For developers who are interested in connecting with multiple eCommerce platforms, API2Cart can be a useful tool that can help to speed up the process and reduce the amount of effort needed. It is an API integration platform that works with over 40+ eCommerce platforms, including Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc. You can get more information about API2Cart by scheduling a call with one of its managers.