Understanding API
API (Application Programming Interface) is a software which connects and facilitates communication between two applications. It can be compared to a server in a restaurant. In this case, you are the customer who has a requirement (food order) and the application is the chef who can serve this requirement. The waiter (API) is the one who takes the order from the client and forwards it to the chef and after the dish is prepared (the data), he serves it to the client.
With the use of APIs, developers are able to extend the capabilities of their software applications by combining them with others. APIs are the ones that determine the communication protocol of different software solutions and coordinate the exchange of the data and processes between them.
Exploring LinkedIn API Integration
To access an assortment of details that LinkedIn has built up over the years, applications can use LinkedIn’s API which was designed for developers. In simple terms, the API is a REST one as it is built following the Representational State Transfer software architectural style. This means REST offers a set of protocols within computer systems on the web increasing the chances of effective interaction among networks.
Through the API, you can create your own LinkedIn application to connect over 700 million LinkedIn users,” the world’s largest online professional network. The API allows your application to access plenty of information such as member profiles, member connections, social stream updates, company profiles, and so many more data sources.
Integrating the LinkedIn API can prove to be worth it for companies, HRs and marketers. It can help lessen the amount of time required to complete tasks and even help businesses understand possible leads, candidates, or trends. Here are a few applications of LinkedIn API integration:
1. Content Sharing: Within the LinkedIn community you will be able to automatically generate content and share it with others. This form of marketing is really good for organizations that have a specific niche audience and they want to reach key decision makers of other businesses.
2. Profiling: LinkedIn API allows retrieval of detailed professionals’ profiles.
When a candidate provides his/her particulars, recruiters are able to understand the candidate’s profile, qualifications, valuable endorsements and even recommendation letters.
p 3. Analytics: You are able to view a company’s page and get information on followers, their age, and other trends. This is very helpful in analyzing the market and the target audience.4. Marketing: By adhering to the policies set forth by LinkedIn, the LinkedIn API can facilitate the automatic sending of connection requests thereby fostering growth of your network.
LinkedIn API Integration: How It Works
First and foremost, let us take a look at LinkedIn API integration. The first that needs to be done is creating an application on the Developer platform of LinkedIn. This implies giving the name of the application as well as adding a description of the application that includes the logo and the language used to write it.
After configuring the application, you are able to redirect users into the flow of authorization code for LinkedIn’s OAuth 2.0. This is a standard that helps your application independently obtain user agreement to use their data stored in LinkedIn. The users will log in, read the permissions which have been asked for and accept the permission.
Consequently, LinkedIn will return an authorization code which your application can use to get an access token. It uses an API with the most basic REST features allowing you to get JSON data on LinkedIn members and companies as soon as authorized.
Location-based Endpoints exist for different sub-services. For instance there are profile endpoints that let you access to the required user’s own profile, or that of the requested user’s connections, or user’s companies, and even that user’s updates.
Providing the API integration to LinkedIn would be adding another dimension in terms of connectivity, versatility, and prospective utilization of the data provided by your application. Your application would be effectively able to integrate with LinkedIn in such a way that it is able to receive and send out a lot of professional information, hence improving the user experience.
Such possibilities are great, as long as all the activities respect LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and API Terms of Use.