Integration

External APIs: Using a reverse geo-coding API

Summary

Hey there! In this guide, I'll walk you through the process of integrating a reverse geocoding API with Xano, a no-code platform that allows you to build and deploy backend services for web and mobile applications without writing code. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Find a Reverse Geocoding API

The first step is to find a suitable reverse geocoding API. One great resource is public-apis.io, which lists various free and freemium APIs. For this tutorial, we'll use the geocode.io API.

Sign up for a free trial account on geocode.io and familiarize yourself with their documentation. Pay close attention to the API parameters, headers, and expected response format.

Step 2: Create a New Endpoint in Xano

In Xano, create a new endpoint by navigating to the "Endpoints" section and clicking "Add Endpoint." Give it a descriptive name like "reverse-geo-example."

Step 3: Add an External API Request Function

Next, we'll add an external API request function to our endpoint. In the function stack, click "Add Function" and select "External API Request."

Here, you can import the API's cURL command or specify the URL of the external API endpoint you want to access. You can also define the HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.), JSON parameters, and headers.

For our reverse geocoding example, copy the API endpoint URL from the documentation and paste it into the "URL" field in Xano. Then, specify the required parameters (`q` for latitude and longitude, and `api_key`) in the "JSON Parameters" section.

Step 4: Test the API Request

Run the external API request function to test if it's working correctly. If everything is set up properly, you should see the response from the API in Xano's output.

Step 5: Parse the Response (Optional)

If you only need specific data from the API response, you can parse it using Xano's data manipulation functions. For example, create a new variable called `results_we_want` and use the "Sub Path" function to extract the desired data from the API response.

Step 6: Make it Dynamic (Optional)

To make the reverse geocoding process dynamic, you can pull latitude and longitude coordinates from your Xano database. Let's assume you have a "merchants" table with a "geo" field containing location data.

  1. Add a "Get Record" database request function to retrieve a merchant record.
  2. Create a new variable called `lat_and_long` that concatenates the latitude and longitude values from the merchant record.
  3. Replace the static `q` parameter in the external API request with the `lat_and_long` variable.

Now, when you run the API request, it will use the merchant's location data to fetch the formatted address.

Step 7: Store the Address in the Database (Optional)

If you want to store the formatted address in your Xano database, follow these steps:

  1. Add a "text" field called "address" to your "merchants" table.
  2. Add an "Edit Record" database request function to your endpoint.
  3. In the "Edit Record" function, map the `address` variable (containing the formatted address from the API response) to the "address" field.

When you run the endpoint, Xano will update the merchant record with the formatted address retrieved from the reverse geocoding API.

That's it! You've successfully integrated a reverse geocoding API with Xano. This process can be extended to other APIs and use cases, empowering you to build powerful applications without writing a single line of code.

This transcript was AI generated to allow users to quickly answer technical questions about Xano.

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