How to connect an API to Base44

Begin with the job the connection needs to do

Before choosing an integration, describe the result you need. Does your app need to read a calendar, create a customer, or retrieve a shipping update? Each job needs different permissions and different data.

Check for a supported connector before building a custom connection. A managed authorization flow can save you from handling account credentials yourself. When an external service needs an API key, keep that credential in server-side secrets—not in the interface.

Separate public input from private credentials

A browser is not a secure place for a secret. People can inspect requests and downloaded code. The interface should send only the information needed for the action, such as a product identifier or selected date.

The server-side operation then validates the request, adds credentials privately, talks to the external service, and returns only the result the screen needs.

Design a narrow operation such as “look up shipment status,” not an unrestricted proxy that lets a browser call any endpoint.

Define a small response contract

Write down the fields your interface needs. A shipment screen might need a status, expected date, and tracking link. It does not need the entire provider response, internal account identifiers, or authentication headers.

Keep the request bounded. Limit text lengths, number of items, and allowed actions. Validate access before using privileged data.

Handle the full journey

Show a loading state while the request runs. If the service rejects the request or returns no result, explain what happened and offer a useful next step. Avoid repeatedly retrying a paid operation without a limit.

Try these cases before launch:

• A valid request with a complete result.
• A request for an item that does not exist.
• Missing permission or an expired connection.
• An unavailable external service.
• The same action submitted twice.

Keep the connection maintainable

Document which service is connected, what permissions it requires, and how to disconnect it. Keep shared server-side behavior in one place so changes do not drift across multiple operations.

For a starting brief, use the integration planning prompt. If the bigger picture is still new, read the Base44 introduction first.

This article explains an architectural approach, not a provider-specific setup. Confirm the current service requirements before connecting production data.