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API Server

Provide Data for Third-Party Systems as a REST Service

The crossbase API server (API = Application Programming Interface) offers a flexible option for accessing data in the crossbase database in third-party systems. These accesses remain independent of changes to the underlying data model. Software developers can write programs that query data from the crossbase database with relatively little effort.

Advantages API server

  • REST API for direct access to PIM data
  • Customized services with JSON output
  • Independent of the data model and flexibly expandable
  • Supports authentication, HTTPS and load balancing
  • Seamless integration with CMS, stores and portals

Function Overview

REST interface

The API server provides a REST interface that can be used by third-party applications. The result is transmitted in JSON format. The REST services are configured based on customer-specific requirements and can be extended flexibly.

Architecture

Optimum integration into an existing system landscape is based on customer-specific requirements for security, accessibility and performance.

Reverse proxy scenario

Incoming requests are accepted by a reverse proxy, filtered and forwarded to the API server.

Failover/load balancing scenario

Both the database server and the API server can be designed redundantly. In the event of failure or high loads, access is automatically redirected or distributed.

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

At crossbase, the CDN takes over the provision of images, documents and videos on corresponding cloud servers. The files can be accessed quickly and easily by the various applications. A time limit on validity can also be defined. The interface complies with the S3 storage specification from AWS.

Data query

All data in the crossbase database can be queried. With customer-specific configurable services, the queries are tailored precisely to the requirements of third-party systems.

Advantages compared to the XML interface

Up-to-dateness

Third-party systems can access the database directly via the API server at any time.

 

Flexibility

The data objects are configured according to the customer-specific use case so that the development effort required to integrate the data into the third-party system is minimal. The API server can be used for different applications and several external systems.

 

Openness

With the API server, all database data can be independently queried and analyzed by developers.

 

Authentication

Access to the API can be restricted using authentication tokens.

 

Protocols

Data can be transferred using either HTTP or HTTPS.

 

Error handling

API services can be checked more easily and immediately, as access is direct and the amount of data is more manageable.