Integrating the Typeform API
- Start by installing and importing the necessary JavaScript libraries to interact with the Typeform API. You'll mainly use `fetch()` or an equivalent library like Axios for making HTTP requests.
- Obtain your API key from Typeform, which is required for authenticating API requests. Ensure you store this securely, for example using environment variables.
Create a New Form
- To create a form programmatically, you’ll need to send a POST request to the Typeform API endpoint. This request includes a JSON payload that defines your form's structure, including title, fields, and settings.
const createForm = async () => {
const response = await fetch('https://api.typeform.com/forms', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.TYPEFORM_API_KEY}`,
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
title: "Sample Form",
fields: [
{
type: "short_text",
title: "What is your name?",
ref: "name_field"
},
{
type: "email",
title: "What is your email?",
ref: "email_field"
}
]
})
});
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
};
createForm();
This example creates a form with two fields: a short text and an email field. Note the use of `process.env.TYPEFORM_API_KEY`—ensure your environment variables are set up correctly.
Customize Your Form
- You can further customize your form by adding additional question types, setting welcome screens, or configuring thank you screens. These settings are included in the same JSON payload sent when creating the form.
- Refer to the Typeform API documentation for more detailed descriptions of each field type and additional customizable options.
Update an Existing Form
- To update an existing form, send a PUT request to the Typeform API with the form's unique ID. The endpoint will look like this: `https://api.typeform.com/forms/{form_id}`. Include similar JSON data to modify the form’s structure.
const updateForm = async (formId) => {
const response = await fetch(`https://api.typeform.com/forms/${formId}`, {
method: 'PUT',
headers: {
'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.TYPEFORM_API_KEY}`,
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
title: "Updated Form Title",
fields: [
{
type: "short_text",
title: "Updated question?"
}
]
})
});
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
};
updateForm("your_form_id");
This function allows you to change the title and questions of your form by specifying new data in the request payload.
Error Handling and Debugging
- Implement error handling in your API requests to manage unsuccessful responses, which could occur due to network issues or incorrect API usage. Use `try-catch` blocks for asynchronous operations in JavaScript.
- Inspect API errors returned by Typeform; often these include messages indicating what went wrong, which can help guide necessary adjustments in your implementation.
Security Considerations
- Ensure that your API keys are securely handled and not exposed in your client-side code. Utilize serverless functions or a secure backend to interact with the Typeform API without exposing sensitive credentials to end users.
- Consider implementing OAuth2.0 for user-specific operations, maintaining secure access to personal data.
