# The Bubble API

{% hint style="info" %}
This is the short-form **technical reference** entry describing the Bubble API. 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).
{% endhint %}

## Reference entries

### The Data API

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

{% content-ref url="the-bubble-api/the-data-api" %}
[the-data-api](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/core-resources/api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### The Workflow API

The Workflow API allows external applications to execute workflows in your Bubble app via a RESTful interface.

{% content-ref url="the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api" %}
[the-workflow-api](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/core-resources/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api)
{% endcontent-ref %}

##

## Manual references

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/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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.\
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Article series: [The Bubble API and authentication](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication)\
\
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**Authentication types**\
The Bubble API lets clients authenticate in different ways:\
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Article: [Accessing the Bubble API without authentication](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/no-authentication)\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API authenticated as a User](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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.\
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Article series: [The Data API](https://manual.bubble.io/~/changes/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/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/zEDMkjAAhZbZaeeyXW5d/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api)

</details>