# API

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Experience level" %}
This core reference entry is suited for <mark style="color:red;">**advanced-level builders**</mark><mark style="color:green;">**.**</mark>&#x20;

[Learn more about experience levels.](#user-content-fn-1)[^1]
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="In-depth articles (6)" %}
To learn about this topic more in-depth, we recommend reading the suggested articles listed at the bottom of this page:

* [List of in-depth articles (6)](#other-ways-to-learn)
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Videos (4)" %}

* Bubble Academy: [Intro to APIs and the API Connector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8PSqeJaWk\&t=745s)
* Bubble Academy: [How to set up Google API keys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouGT55o68ho)
* Webinar: [API Workflows](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api/api-workflows)
* Webinar: [The API Connector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsL4FjAhd8\&t=2s)
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

<figure><img src="https://34394582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M5sbzwG7CljeZdkntrL%2Fuploads%2FJzorEUG9KLQ82JSkKrph%2Fbubble-api.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=47fda6c0-ff65-4d0b-abbb-ec5f52319079" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
This is the short-form **technical reference** entry of Bubble's API features. If you are looking for more in-depth and long-form articles on how the Bubble API works, you may be interested in checking the [Bubble API manual](#manual-references).\
\
Throughout reading the reference and manual, you may also find our [API Glossary](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/api-glossary) helpful.
{% endhint %}

## The Bubble API

<details>

<summary><a href="api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api">The Data API:</a> give external apps and systems secure access to your database</summary>

The Data API allows other systems to search for, read, create, modify and delete data in your application’s database via a RESTful interface.

[The Data API](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/core-resources/api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api)

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api">The workflow API:</a> allows external applications to execute workflows in your app</summary>

</details>

## The API Connector

<details>

<summary><a href="api/the-api-connector">The API Connector:</a> make outbound requests to external applications and systems</summary>

The API Connector is used to make **outgoing** connections to external applications and use it as a data source or trigger actions.

[The API Connector](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/core-resources/api/the-api-connector)

</details>

## Other ways to learn

### The Bubble Manual

The Bubble manual gives extended information about Bubble's features and how to use them.

<details>

<summary>Introduction to APIs</summary>

This article series takes an in-depth look at what exactly an API is and how you can both set up an API in Bubble and connect to external APIs in different ways.

Article: [Introduction to APIs](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/introduction-to-apis)\
Video: [Introduction to APIs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8PSqeJaWk\&t=745s)\
Article: [What is a RESTful API?](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/introduction-to-apis/what-is-a-restful-api)

</details>

<details>

<summary>Authenticating with the Bubble API</summary>

Authentication is the process of identifying **who** the client is in order to determine what they have access to.\
\
Article series: [The Bubble API and authentication](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication)\
\
\
**Authentication types**\
The Bubble API lets clients authenticate in different ways:\
\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API without authentication](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/no-authentication)\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API authenticated as a User](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/as-a-user)\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API authenticated as an admin](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/as-an-admin)<br>

**How to set up authentication in the external system**\
The Bubble uses the bearer token method to authenticate clients.

Article: [How to set up authentication in an external app](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/how-to-authenticate)

</details>

<details>

<summary>The Data API</summary>

The Data API lets you set up an API in your Bubble application that accepts **incoming** **requests** to search for, read, create, edit and delete entries in your database.\
\
Article series: [The Data API](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api)

</details>

<details>

<summary>The Workflow API</summary>

The Data API lets you set up an API in your Bubble application that accepts **incoming** **requests** to trigger workflows.\
\
Article series: [The Workflow API](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api)

</details>

<details>

<summary>The API Connector</summary>

The API Connector lets you connect to external RESTful APIs to trigger workflows or to use as a data source.\
\
Article series: [The API Connector](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-api-connector)

</details>

<details>

<summary>The API glossary</summary>

If you are new to APIs the terminology may feel a bit overwhelming. For that we have put together a glossary of the most widely used words and phrases to get you started:

* Article: [API glossary](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/api-glossary)

</details>

### Video lessons

<details>

<summary>Video lessons</summary>

* [Intro to APIs and the API Connector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8PSqeJaWk\&t=745s)
* [How to set up Google API keys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouGT55o68ho)
* Webinar: [API Workflows](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/1188/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api/api-workflows)
* Webinar: [The API Connector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsL4FjAhd8\&t=2s)

</details>

[^1]: In the Bubble docs, experience levels are categorized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

    To assist with learning, especially for more complex topics, we'll recommend prerequisite reading where it could be beneficial.&#x20;