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Version: v11.9.2

3rd Party REST Services

While REST stands for Representational State Transfer, which is an architectural style for networked hypermedia applications, it is primarily used to build Web services that are lightweight, maintainable, and scalable. A service based on REST is called a RESTful service. REST is not dependent on any protocol, but almost every RESTful service uses HTTP as its underlying protocol.

Configuring API​

WaveMaker allows configuring the following fields while importing a REST Service:

Method​

A method can be GET, POST, PUT, HEAD, PATCH, or DELETE.

Url​

The service URL hosting the REST service.

Use Proxy​

Web Application​

For Web Applications, while importing the service, Use Proxy flag can be turned off if you do not want to hit the service through the proxy server.

note

while testing the REST API without proxy if a CORS related issue is observed, you will be notified of the same and you can proceed only by enabling proxy.

Mobile Application​

For Mobile Applications, there is no option to configure proxy settings. By default, the request made to the target REST service will be a direct hit. However, while testing the service in the WaveMaker, a direct call is made. If a CORS failure is encountered, then the call is made through proxy behind the scenes and the service is imported with the proxy as true for WEB. In the mobile app, however, the call will be a direct one.

Authorization​

HTTP Authentication can be set to

  • None is the default setting
  • Basic can be used for basic authentication using a User Name and Password
  • OAuth 2.0 will allow you to integrate with an OAuth Provider. WaveMaker provides support for most OAuth providers. By selecting from the list, a semi-populated Configuration dialog is displayed. Complete the Configuration by giving the Client Id, Client Secret, etc. You can add a new provider too. Know more.

REST Configuration​

Usually, the publisher of a REST service provides information on the input and output of the REST service. You can use that information to configure the REST service definition.

  1. The query parameters will be set as per the requirement of the REST service within curly brackets eg ?param = value and multiple query params separated by &, in the below example the origin and destination;
  2. The path param can be set by adding the parameter at the end of the URL within curly brackets ie {path_param}, and
  3. The header param can be set by adding the appropriate details like the parameter name and type.
note

These parameters can be seen as the Input Fields in the data section of the service variable when created and can be bound appropriately.

  • Response format can be edited to suit your app needs.

Following are the steps to import and use a REST web service within a WaveMaker app.

Test REST Service API​

  1. From Resources choose Web Services and click the "+" button.
  2. From the Web Service dialog, select REST icon.
  3. Test.

For testing, do the following:

  1. Enter the REST service URL,
  2. Configure to set the HTTP Authentication and click Test to verify the response, proceed with the default setting of NONE.
  3. Configure the Headers for the name and test value parameters for the same
  4. Configure the query, path and header parameters etc. if needed.
  5. Click Import to proceed.
note

IMPORT button will be activated only on the success of the TEST.

Configure REST Service​

  1. The new service created can be accessed from the Web Services under Rest Service section.
  2. Click on the service name listed under the Web Service section and the Service Settings are displayed.
  3. You can make changes to the service settings. Once you make the changes, Test the changes before saving them. This is particularly helpful when the REST service has undergone any changes or when it needs additional input parameters. You can see the Response Format from the REST service in the JSON format as required by the platform. Post ver 9.1 release, you can make changes to the Authentication option, too.

REST Services with Input Data​

When importing REST Service which requires string or file as input, set the Content Type from Body tab to multipart/form-data to see the options for the Request Body parameters. The type of these parameters can be set to:

  • File for file or blob type data (Provision is there to upload a test file).
  • Text for string type data.
  • Text (text/plain) and JSON (application/json) for invoking WaveMaker generated internal REST APIs.

REST Service Usage​

To use the Service data within the app, you need to create a Variable. See, Variable Access. In this article, we covered how to import and use a 3rd Party REST service in a WaveMaker app.