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Word

API

An API is the doorway one program uses to ask another program for something, without a human clicking anything.

Also called: application programming interface, the API

Your store already has one. When your shipping app pulls today's orders, it is not logging in and reading the screen, it is asking through the API and getting back a tidy list, like the order window at the back of a restaurant: a fixed set of things you can ask for, no wandering into the kitchen.

Your own tool will use your store's API to read orders and tracking numbers. The mistake is assuming an API can do everything the website can. It usually does less, and what it does is decided by whoever built it. To use one you need an API key.

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Paste this first

Something broke

I just did this: <what you clicked or typed, in a few words>
This is what I got: <paste the error here, or drag in a screenshot>

I don't know what it means. Work out what went wrong and fix it. Then tell me in one plain sentence what was wrong and what you changed, and stop.

Is this really for you?

1 of 7 Where do you sell online?
2 of 7 Would you like software built around exactly how your business works?
3 of 7 When something in your software needs changing, how do you want that to happen?
4 of 7 Have you ever written code?
5 of 7 If something breaks, what kind of help do you need?
6 of 7 Do you pay monthly for an app where you only really use one or two of its features?
7 of 7 Building your app means using an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT on a paid monthly plan. Are you OK with that?