Overview of Interfolio's API and API Cookbook
APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, are software components that allow different software to “talk” directly to each other. They provide a simple and straightforward way for one piece of software to request information and send instructions to another system. Allowing access to data via an API, in addition to the standard user interface, greatly increases the flexibility and usability of stored data. Using Interfolio’s APIs, software run by our clients can access and use data in new and novel ways. APIs also allow data to be accessed and managed directly by client systems with no human intervention, allowing complete automation of data handling. Interfolio is dedicated to allowing our clients to access as much data as possible from our suite of applications via an API. The data in Interfolio’s software belongs to our customers and we wish to maximize their ability to get value from that data. APIs are not an add-on in Interfolio software, they are a fundamental component. Many components of Interfolio software use the same APIs that customers can access to talk to other Interfolio components.
Rest APIs
The type of API that Interfolio builds are known as “REST” APIs. REST API interfaces are the current standard for web-based software. They rely upon standard, familiar web protocols and greatly simplify the process of programming data integration via an API.
Interfolio's API Cookbook
A client wishing access to the data and functionality of an API must write a program which will properly contact and communicate with our software following the rules of Interfolio’s API. To simplify the process of writing of programs API access programs, Interfolio provides three resources: comprehensive API documentation, the API Cookbook, and sample API client scripts in multiple programming languages.
To better understand how the APIs available in Interfolio software can benefit our customers we provide overviews of each Recipe in this cookbook. These overviews are designed to allow users of any level of technical ability to get a better feel for what Interfolio’s APIs can do for them.