Frequently, you want to send data/parameters with the calls. They can either be in the URL in a stringified, URL-encoded way, usually for GET, or in the body of the request, usually for POST. When you send data with a request, Bubble validates it and makes sure it has the correct format. Here are four particular cases:
1) Geographic addresses: This data should be sent as a string '33 Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222,' and Bubble will use the Google Map API to encode it as an address with a latitude and longitude. You can also send them as an object.
{
address: String
lat: Number
lng: Number
}
where latitude and longitude or address is mandatory.
2) Dates: Send a date as a string or timestamp. For example, 'Wed Jan 13 2016,' '01/13/2016,' 'Wed Jan 13 2016 16:45:09 GMT-0500 (EST),' or '1453398788637.'
3) Files and Images: When a parameter is a file or image, you have two ways to define the content in the request. You can submit a string, which should be the URL of the file/image hosted on a storage service, or you can provide the raw data and the API call will upload the content to Bubble's hosting services. In the later case, the value provided should be a JSON object as follows:
{
filename: String
contents: Base64-encoded binary data
private: Boolean
attach_to: String
}
where:
– filename is the file name. Optional, but recommended to get the file type.
– contents is the base64-encoded binary data of the file. Required.
– private is a boolean, true/false, that defines whether the file is protected and attached to an object in the database. Optional.
– attach_to is the unique ID of who/which thing owns the file. Required if private is true.
If there is an ambiguity in processing the data sent, Bubble returns a 400 error, 'INVALID_DATA.'
4) Things: If a parameter is a thing, e.g., an entry in the application database, or a list of things, you can send it using the ID of the thing. When such a request is made, the API will retrieve the thing with that ID and validate the type. It should be the type defined at the parameter level for a workflow, for instance. If a thing isn't found or not of the right type, Bubble returns a 400 error, 'INVALID_DATA'.