What Plugins/Other Components do I Need to use the REST API?

  • Hello!
    I am trying to create an API in WP with several job boards (Monster, The Muse, Indeed) so that my client can have tech job listing on her website. I have read about the WP REST API, I have an API key from the Muse, but I am so confused about what components I need to make this work. From a macro perspective, what plugins, etc. do I need? For example:

    WP Rest API + Muse API key + WP plugin for Muse + WP job board plugin to make it pretty = functioning API??????

    Or do we I only need:
    WP Rest API + Muse API key + WP job board plugin = functioning API????? Or some other combination????? So confused.

    Please advise, I cannot find this anywhere online. Thanks so much!

    Best,

    Dana

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Moderator bcworkz

    (@bcworkz)

    You don’t need the WP API at all to show content from other sites on your site. PHP can collect the third party data, then arrange and format it for output on your site. In some cases, PHP can simply fetch remote page content and extract what it needs for output. However, such data is largely unstructured and subject to change, so such a scheme is very fragile.

    Fortunately, many sites that produce useful data offer an API from which we can fetch structured data that is easier to work with, more predictable, and more reliable, making for a more robust scheme. Unfortunately, the API from each site likely has its own requirements and format. While there may be exceptions, you likely need an API key from each different site that you get data from.

    If the job listings were all custom coded on your site, all you need are the API keys and a lot of API interface knowledge. Clearly, a plugin that does this all for you would be ideal. Then you just need this plugin and your API keys.

    The next best scheme is to find plugins that make getting data from a single API simpler. You may need one from every source and aggregating the data would be through custom code. Getting data from a site with no available plugin means that part would need custom coding as well.

    So what you need depends on what’s available. If there’s a single plugin that aggregates data for you, that and the API keys are all you need. On the other extreme, it’s all custom coded and you just need API keys. Or something in between. At the very least, you need remote site API keys (if required) and do not need the WP API. The rest depends on the plugins available.

    Thread Starter codeduchess4405

    (@codeduchess4405)

    Thanks so much for the very thorough expxlanation!!

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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