Integrating Any API
This guide covers how to integrate any REST API with your Nativeline app. Use this for services not specifically covered elsewhere.Understanding REST APIs
Most APIs follow REST conventions:Finding APIs
Popular API Directories
- RapidAPI — Thousands of APIs
- Public APIs — Free public APIs
- APIs.guru — OpenAPI directory
Common Categories
- Communication: Twilio (SMS), SendGrid (Email)
- Social: Twitter, Instagram, TikTok
- Data: News APIs, Stock APIs
- Utilities: URL shorteners, QR codes
- AI: Stability AI, Replicate
Typical Integration Steps
API Authentication Types
API Key (Header)
Most common. Include key in request header:API Key (Query Parameter)
Some APIs want the key in the URL:Bearer Token
Common for OAuth and modern APIs:OAuth 2.0
For user-authorized access (e.g., accessing user’s social media):Making API Requests
GET Request
Retrieve data:POST Request
Send data:With Parameters
Handling Responses
JSON Parsing
Most APIs return JSON. Tell Nativeline the structure:Creating Models
Error Handling
Common HTTP Status Codes
| Code | Meaning | Handle |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Success | Process data |
| 400 | Bad request | Check your parameters |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Check API key |
| 403 | Forbidden | Check permissions |
| 404 | Not found | Resource doesn’t exist |
| 429 | Rate limited | Wait and retry |
| 500 | Server error | Retry later |
Implementing Error Handling
Rate Limiting
Most APIs limit requests:Understanding Limits
- Requests per minute/hour/day
- Check headers:
X-RateLimit-Remaining
Handling Rate Limits
Caching
Reduce API calls by caching:Security Best Practices
Never expose API keys
Never expose API keys
Keys should be stored securely, not in source code or logs.
Use HTTPS only
Use HTTPS only
All API calls should use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
Validate responses
Validate responses
Don’t assume API responses are always correct or safe.
Consider a proxy server
Consider a proxy server
For sensitive APIs, route calls through your server to hide keys.
Example: News API
Example: Giphy API
Example: Currency Conversion
Testing APIs
Postman or Similar
Test APIs outside your app first:- Download Postman
- Test endpoints manually
- Verify responses
- Then integrate into app
Nativeline Testing
When APIs Don’t Work
Debugging Steps
- Check API key is valid
- Verify endpoint URL
- Check request format
- Look at error response
- Test in Postman
- Check API documentation
- Contact API support
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| CORS errors | Usually not an issue for iOS apps |
| Invalid JSON | Check API response format |
| Timeout | Increase timeout, check network |
| Wrong data | Verify endpoint and parameters |