Demo: Shopping Mall Directory #2 - CRUD API Endpoints

In this article, we'll dive into the world of CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) APIs and how Xano simplifies the process of building and managing them for your applications. Get ready to unlock the power of seamless data communication between your front-end and back-end with Xano's automatic API generation.

What are CRUD APIs?

CRUD APIs are a set of endpoints that allow you to perform basic operations on your application's data. They act as the bridge between your front-end (e.g., a website or mobile app) and the back-end (database). Whenever your front-end needs to interact with data, it sends a request to the corresponding CRUD API endpoint, which then processes the request, communicates with the database, and returns the appropriate response.

The four main operations in CRUD are:

1. Create: Add a new record to your database.
2. Read: Retrieve existing records from your database.
3. Update: Modify an existing record in your database.
4. Delete: Remove a record from your database.

CRUD APIs in Xano: The Magic of Automation

One of the remarkable features of Xano is its ability to automatically generate CRUD APIs for you based on your data models. This means that as soon as you create a new data model (e.g., a "Stores" table), Xano instantly provides you with a complete set of CRUD APIs to interact with that data.

To access these auto-generated APIs in Xano, follow these simple steps:

1. Navigate to the "APIs" section in your Xano dashboard or click on the API icon in the navigation bar.
2. You'll see an "API Group" called "public" (or any other group you've created).
3. Click on "Explore" to view the CRUD APIs for each of your data models.

Within the API explorer, you'll find separate endpoints for Create, Read, Update, and Delete operations, each clearly labeled with its corresponding HTTP verb (POST, GET, PUT, DELETE).

Step-by-Step Guide: Using CRUD APIs in Xano

Let's go through each CRUD operation in detail, using the example of a "Stores" data model for a mall directory app.

Create (POST)

The Create operation allows you to add a new store record to your database. Here's how you can do it:

1. Locate the `POST` endpoint labeled "add stores record" in your API explorer.
2. Click on the endpoint to reveal its anatomy: input, function stack, and response.
3. In the input section, you'll see fields like "name," "description," and "location" that correspond to the columns in your "Stores" data model.
4. Click on the "Run and Debug" button to open a new window.
5. Enter the values for the new store record in the provided JSON object format.
6. Click "Run" to execute the API endpoint and create the new record.

Read (GET)

The Read operation allows you to retrieve existing store records from your database. There are two ways to do this:

1. Get all records:

• Locate the `GET` endpoint labeled "get all stores records."
• Click on "Run and Debug" since no input is required.
• The response will contain all the store records in your database.

1. Get a specific record by ID:

• Locate the `GET` endpoint labeled "get stores record" with an `ID` parameter.
• Enter the specific `ID` of the record you want to retrieve in the input field.
• Click "Run" to execute the API endpoint and retrieve the record.

Update (POST)

The Update operation allows you to modify an existing store record in your database. Here's how you can do it:

1. Locate the `POST` endpoint labeled "edit stores record."
2. Click on the endpoint to reveal its anatomy.
3. In the input section, you'll see fields like "name," "description," "location," and an `ID` field.
4. If you don't want to update certain fields, you can hide them from the API input by toggling the "Hide this input" option.
5. In the function stack section, make sure to match the inputs by hiding the corresponding fields.
6. Enter the `ID` of the record you want to update and the new values for the fields you want to modify.
7. Click "Run" to execute the API endpoint and update the record.

Delete (DELETE)

The Delete operation allows you to remove a store record from your database. Here's how you can do it:

1. Locate the `DELETE` endpoint labeled "delete stores record."
2. In the input section, enter the `ID` of the record you want to delete.
3. Click "Run" to execute the API endpoint and delete the record.

With these CRUD APIs in place, you can now seamlessly integrate your front-end application with the back-end data stored in Xano's database, enabling smooth data flow and management for your mall directory app.

Conclusion

Xano's automatic CRUD API generation is a game-changer for developers and non-technical users alike. By abstracting away the complexities of API development, Xano empowers you to focus on building your application's core functionality and delivering value to your users. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a citizen developer, Xano's CRUD APIs provide a solid foundation for your data-driven applications, streamlining the development process and accelerating your time-to-market.