In Joomla, a Custom API plugin is a plugin that allows you to extend the functionality of the Joomla CMS (Content Management System) by creating custom APIs. These APIs can be used to expose specific functionalities or data from your Joomla website, enabling external applications or services to interact with your Joomla. This plugin provides a seamless way to interact with the Joomla database, allowing you to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) with ease using the custom endpoints you have created.

1. Download and setup Joomla Custom API Plugin:

• Download the zip file for the miniOrange Custom API plugin for Joomla from the link here.
• Login into your Joomla site’s Administrator console.
• From left toggle menu, click on System, then under Install section click on Extensions.

• Here click on Browse for file button to locate and install the plugin file downloaded earlier.

• Once Installation of plugin is successful. Now click on Start Using miniOrange Custom API plugin.



2. Create Custom APIs :

GET POST PUT DELETE
Why GET API:
• 1) If you want to retrieve data or information from your Joomla site, then you can create a GET API. You can add multiple filters, conditions to the get API using our plugin.
• 2) When you make a GET request to an API, you can provide parameters or query strings in the URL to specify the data you want to retrieve from your Joomla site. The Joomla Custom API plugin then processes the request and returns the requested data in the response.
Configuration to create Custom GET API:
• Navigate to Joomla Create Custom APIs tab and click on click here button.

• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the GET method from the dropdown.
• Now select the table name on which you want to perform the data retrieve action.

• It will now show multiple options to select columns and filters for this API. Please specify the columns of the table from which you would like to retrieve data from the Joomla site. You can select the multiple columns here.
• Choose appropriate conditions according to your requirements or you can opt for no condition as well. Click on + button if you want to add multiple WHERE conditions to filter out the data. You can remove the condition as well by clicking the - button.
• At last if you want to order your data, select the ORDERBY filter.
• After configuring the API , click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint / REST API.

  How to use Created GET API:
• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• You need to pass parameters present in the Request format table in the form of query parameters of your request.
• To retrieve the data of users of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/custom_get’.
• 2) Then select the GET HTTP method.
• 3) Pass id as a query parameter.
• You will receive an API response in JSON format as shown below.

Why POST API:
• 1) If you want to send data to your Joomla site to create resources on the site, then you can use the POST API.
• 2) When you make a POST request to an API, you send data in the body of the request, typically in JSON or form-encoded format. The Joomla Custom API plugin then processes the data and performs the necessary actions based on the information provided in the request.
Configuration to create Custom POST API:
• Navigate to Joomla Create Custom APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the POST method from the dropdown.
• Now select the table name on which you want to enter new data. Then Click on Save button.

• Then select the columns for which you are providing the data to add entry in the table.
• Now you can select the data format in which you want to send the data to the header.

• After configuring the API , click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint/ REST API.
How to use Created POST API
• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• To provide data for the columns mentioned in the "Request format" table, you should include the necessary values in the body of your request.
• Please ensure that the body data format matches the format specified in the "Body data format" section.
• To add entry to usergroup table of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/custom_post’.
• 2) Then select the POST HTTP method.
• 3) Pass data for id, parent_id ,lft ,rgt, title in the body of the request.
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully entered in the table.

Why PUT API:
• 1) If you want to update or replace an existing resource on your Joomla site, then you can create a PUT API.
• 2) When you make a PUT request to an API, you send data in parameters or query strings or in the body of the request to replace the entire representation of the resource identified by the request URL. The Joomla Custom API plugin then processes the data and updates the resource accordingly.
Configuration to create Custom PUT API
• Navigate to Joomla Create Custom APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method PUT from the dropdown.
• Now select the table name on which you want to enter new data.

• Then select the columns for which you want to update using the API call.
• Choose appropriate conditions according to your requirements or you can opt for no condition as well. Click on + button if you want to add multiple WHERE conditions to filter out the data. You can remove the condition as well by clicking the - button.

• After configuring the API , click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint/ REST API.
How to use PUT API:
• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• You have the flexibility to pass the data either as query parameters or within the body of the request.
• Ensure that you pass the data using the format key=Parameter Name(mentioned in Request Format and Conditions Applied table) and value=according to the specific requirements.
• To update user entry of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/custom_put’.
• 2) Then select the PUT HTTP method.
• 3) Pass data for name, username, param_1,param_2 in the body of the request(You can pass in the query format also).
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully updated in the table.

Why DELETE API:
• 1) If you want to delete a specific resource on your Joomla site, then you can create a DELETE API.
• 2) When you make a DELETE request to an API, you can provide parameters or query strings in the URL or in the body of the request to specify the data you want to delete from your Joomla site. The Joomla Custom API plugin then processes the data and updates the resource accordingly.
Configuration to create Custom DELETE API:
• Navigate to Joomla Create Custom APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method DELETE from the dropdown.
• Now select the table name of which you want to delete the data.

• Choose appropriate conditions according to your requirements or you can opt for no condition as well. Click on + button if you want to add multiple WHERE conditions to filter out the data. You can remove the condition as well by clicking the - button.

• After configuring the API , click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint/ REST API.
How to use DELETE API:
• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• You have the flexibility to pass the data either as query parameters or within the body of the request.
• Ensure that you pass the data using the format key=Parameter Name(mentioned in Request Format and Conditions Applied table) and value=according to the specific requirements.
• To delete user entry of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/custom_delete’.
• 2) Then select the DELETE HTTP method.
• 3) Pass data for param_1 in the body of the request(You can pass in the query format also).
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully deleted in the table.


3. Create Custom SQL APIs:

GET POST PUT DELETE

Configuration to create Custom SQL GET API:

• 1. Navigate to Joomla Create SQL APIs tab and click on click here button.

• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method GET from the dropdown.
• Note: You can also enable custom query parameters if you want to send a custom parameter in the API request
• Write the Custom SQL Query that you want to execute on the successful API call.

• Note: To send custom parameters, you can write the query like the following: SELECT * FROM #__users WHERE id='{{id_param}}' AND email='{{email_param}}'; having _ is mandatory in the parameter name.
• Click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint / REST API.

How to use Created SQL GET API:

• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• To retrieve the data of users of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/sql_get’.
• 2) Then select the GET HTTP method.
• 3) Pass id, email as a query parameter.
• You will receive an API response in JSON format as shown below.


Configuration to create Custom SQL POST API:

• Navigate to Joomla Create SQL APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method POST from the dropdown.
• Note: You can also enable custom query parameters if you want to send a custom parameter in the API request.
• Write the Custom SQL Query that you want to execute on the successful API call.

• Note: To send custom parameters, you can write the query like the following: INSERT INTO #__users (id, name, username, email, registerDate, params) VALUES '{{id}}','{{name}}','{{username}}','{{email}}','{{registerDate}}','{{params}}';
• Click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint / REST API.

How to use Created SQL POST API:

• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• To retrieve the data of users of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/sql_post’.
• 2) Then select the POST HTTP method.
• 3) Pass id, name, username, email, registerDate, params in the body of request.
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully entered in the table.


Configuration to create Custom SQL PUT API:

• Navigate to Joomla Create SQL APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method PUT from the dropdown.
• Note: You can also enable custom query parameters if you want to send a custom parameter in the API request.
• Write the Custom SQL Query that you want to execute on the successful API call.

• Note: To send custom parameters, you can write the query like the following: UPDATE #__users set username='{{username}}' where id='{{id}}';
• On Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint / REST API.

How to use Created SQL PUT API:

• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• To update the data of users of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/sql_put’.
• 2) Then select the PUT HTTP method.
• 3) Pass username, id in the body of request or in the query parameter.
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully entered in the table.


Configuration to create Custom SQL DELETE API:

• Navigate to Joomla Create SQL APIs tab and click on click here button.
• Now enter the API name you want to provide to the API. Please confirm that you haven’t added any space in the name of API.
• Then select the method DELETE from the dropdown.
• Note: You can also enable custom query parameters if you want to send a custom parameter in the API request.
• Write the Custom SQL Query that you want to execute on the successful API call.

• Note: To send custom parameters, you can write the query like the following: DELETE FROM #__users WHERE id='{{id}}';
• Click on Save button at last to create your Custom endpoint / REST API.

How to use Created SQL DELETE API:

• Once you click the Save button, you will receive your Custom API/endpoint. You can utilize this API on any platform based on your specific requirements.

• To delete the data of users of above example you need to follow the following:
• 1) Enter the URL ‘http://localhost/joomla_4.3.1/api/index.php/v1/mini/sql_delete’.
• 2) Then select the DELETE HTTP method.
• 3) Pass id in the body of request or in the query parameter.
• You will receive 1 in the response if data successfully entered in the table.


4. Edit the existing API:

• Click on the edit button in the front of the Custom API you want to edit.

• Update the API as per your requirements and then click on Save. Then use the updated API according to your requirement.

5. Restricting Public Access to Custom API:

• Click on Add Authentication tab in the navigation bar of the plugin.
• Enable the button if you want to add Token based Authentication to your custom APIs.
• You can choose the HTTP methods for which you want to add an authentication method.
• Then click on the Save button.
• Now you can click on the “SHOW” icon to check your Bearer Token and you can also generate a new key by clicking on “Generate new key”.

• To access restricted APIs you need to pass your Bearer Token value in Bearer Token of Authorization.


6. External API Configuration:

Configure External APIs with different Methods:

• Navigate to the External APIs tab and click on Configure External API button.
• Enter the API Name you want to give to the API connection. This API name should be unique as it will be used to connect it with Joomla.
• Select the method according to your external API from the Select Method dropdown which you want to connect to the Joomla site.

• You can pass query parameters which are necessary for this configured API. For the data to be sent in the query parameters format:
• 1) There are 2 text fields - first is to enter the key and second one is to enter the value.
• 2) For example→ If you have to pass the following query parameter ‘username→testuser’ then you need to put the ‘username’ in the key and ’testuser’ in the value field.
• 3) You can add multiple parameters using + button.
• In the Headers, there are 2 text boxes - the left one is for the header name and the right one if for the header value that needs to be passed. For example : If the header passed to be in the format Authorization:Bearer then the ‘Authorization’ will be added in the first textbox and ‘Bearer should be put in the right textbox as shown in the diagram below.

• If the API provider expects the data needs to be sent in the body of the API endpoints request, then you can fill in the required details. There are 2 formats available in which you can send the data : x-www-form-urlencoded and JSON.
• For the data to be sent in the body parameters in x-www-form-urlencoded format:
• 1) There are 2 text fields - first is to enter the key and second one is to enter the value.
• 2) For example→ If you have to pass the following body parameter ‘username→testuser’ then you need to put the ‘username’ in the key and ’testuser’ in the value field.
• 3) For the multiple key value pairs that need to be passed in the request body of the API endpoint request, you can click on the + button.
• For the data to be sent in the body parameters in JSON format: You need to select the JSON from the dropdown corresponding to the Request Body

• Now click on the Save button.
• Then click on Test Configuration To test the API connection and fetch the response. You will receive the Attributes Table as shown below.


Short Codes for External APIs:

• After configuring the external API you will receive short code for a particular API.

• You can use this shortcode in Joomla articles to show the data to your Article.

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