WPEngine : The REST API is finally integrated into WordPress’ core, yet so many developers seem to be at a loss for how to use it in their real world projects. We get it — interacting with APIs can be an intimidating step!
However, the REST API opens up a world of opportunity for developers of all skill levels. By offering API access to the WordPress infrastructure, anyone can build an application using that data. You can take advantage of this by incorporating it into your themes, plugins, and even implement completely unique integrations.
1. Build a Decoupled Front End Interface
Building a decoupled front end interface using WordPress simply means taking advantage of its ability to be a headless CMS. In short, you can choose to build almost any front end application, and interact with WordPress using the REST API.
This comes in handy if you’re interested in building app-like sites. For example, you could build a web application using React.js, then extend it into a native mobile app using React Native. This cuts down on the code base and effort of managing multiple user interfaces. Instead of needing to completely rebuild your app for web, Android, and iOS, you’ll employ extra code to make your web app ready for Android and iOS.
There are a few essential steps to building a decoupled front-end interface:
Have a main installation of WordPress available live on a server.
Choose a front end development tool that can connect to the WordPress REST API, such as React.js.
Build your front end interface using the REST API, customizing it to suit your needs.
As for actually tackling the project, there are plenty of quality tutorials available to create a native mobile app with the WordPress REST API, and we’ve also previously looked at building a regular React.js app using the REST API too.
2. Syndicate Content From Multiple Sites
The REST API provides an easy way to access public data, and syndicating content from multiple sites to one place can be simple. For example, let’s say you run a company with many branches such as a bank or fast food franchise, and each location runs its own WordPress site. Your central corporate site could use the REST API to syndicate those blogs into one feed on your main site, providing a hub to keep your readers updated on all locations.
For another example, Washington State University has 1083 sites across 54 networks running on a single installation of WordPress. That sounds like an insane amount of content to keep track of! Of course, it would be if not for the REST API.
They even created an open-source plugin — WSUWP Content Syndicate — that enables anyone to syndicate content from their plethora of sites on a completely unique WordPress installation.
To get started down this path, we recommend reading more about the benefits of syndicating content using the REST API, then using the WSUWP Content Syndicate plugin as a starting point for building your own.
3. Synchronize Content Between Sites
With proper authentication, you can use the REST API to manage private back end content, too — think of a newspaper or magazine website. They may set up a staging WordPress site to hash out content ideas. This is where all of the messy stuff goes: ideas are submitted and organized, and will eventually make their way through the editing process. Since this process is separate from their actual website, it is also unconnected from their main WordPress installation.
Using the REST API, the publication could easily connect the staging area to their primary WordPress site, and send over articles once they are ready for publishing. This way the main site remains uncluttered and more secure, since the staging area and its users are kept separate.
4. Offer Site Interaction Through Mobile Applications
We’ve already talked about using React.js to build web and native mobile applications. However, you can go beyond simple blog-to-app functionality by taking advantage of custom post types and other interactive features such as comments and likes. In this example, the REST API would let you consume data feedback from a user on the native mobile app (such as an incoming comment), and update it live on the site.
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