# API
{% 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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/api-glossary.md) helpful.
{% endhint %}
## The Bubble API
The Data API: give external apps and systems secure access to your database
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/core-resources/api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api.md)
The workflow API: allows external applications to execute workflows in your app
## The API Connector
The API Connector: make outbound requests to external applications and systems
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/core-resources/api/the-api-connector.md)
## Other ways to learn
### The Bubble Manual
The Bubble manual gives extended information about Bubble's features and how to use them.
Introduction to APIs
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/introduction-to-apis.md)\
Video: [Introduction to APIs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO8PSqeJaWk\&t=745s)\
Article: [What is a RESTful API?](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/introduction-to-apis/what-is-a-restful-api.md)
Authenticating with the Bubble API
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication.md)\
\
\
**Authentication types**\
The Bubble API lets clients authenticate in different ways:\
\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API without authentication](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/no-authentication.md)\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API authenticated as a User](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/as-a-user.md)\
Article: [Accessing the Bubble API authenticated as an admin](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/as-an-admin.md)
**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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/authentication/how-to-authenticate.md)
The Data API
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-data-api.md)
The Workflow API
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api.md)
The API Connector
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-api-connector.md)
The API glossary
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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/api-glossary.md)
### Video lessons
Video lessons
* [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](/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api/api-workflows.md)
* Webinar: [The API Connector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsL4FjAhd8\&t=2s)
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://manual.bubble.io/~/revisions/cityQ1wuAKUIdbGUZo4Q/core-resources/api.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.