Step by Step Guide to Building a GoToWebinar API Integration in PHP

Aug 7, 2024 • 6 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of GoToWebinar API integration? You're in for a treat. We'll be using the awesome paravibe/gotowebinar package to make our lives easier. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

A PHP environment (you're a pro, so I'm sure you've got this covered)
Composer installed (because who doesn't love dependency management?)
GoToWebinar API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to their developer portal and grab 'em)

Installation

First things first, let's get that package installed. Fire up your terminal and run:

composer require paravibe/gotowebinar

Easy peasy, right?

Configuration

Now, let's set up those API credentials. Create a new PHP file and add this:

<?php

use Paravibe\GoToWebinar\Client;

$client = new Client([
    'client_id' => 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
    'client_secret' => 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
    'redirect_uri' => 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI'
]);

Replace those placeholders with your actual credentials, and you're good to go!

Basic API Operations

Time to authenticate and get that access token. Here's how:

$authUrl = $client->getAuthorizationUrl();
// Redirect the user to $authUrl

// After the user authorizes, you'll get a code. Use it to get the access token:
$token = $client->getAccessToken('authorization_code', [
    'code' => $_GET['code']
]);

// Store this token securely - you'll need it for future requests

Working with Webinars

Let's get our hands dirty with some webinar operations:

// Get a list of webinars
$webinars = $client->getWebinars();

// Create a new webinar
$newWebinar = $client->createWebinar([
    'subject' => 'My Awesome Webinar',
    'description' => 'This webinar will blow your mind!',
    'times' => [
        [
            'startTime' => '2023-06-01T10:00:00Z',
            'endTime' => '2023-06-01T11:00:00Z'
        ]
    ]
]);

// Update a webinar
$client->updateWebinar($webinarKey, [
    'subject' => 'My Even More Awesome Webinar'
]);

// Delete a webinar
$client->deleteWebinar($webinarKey);

Managing Registrants

Now, let's handle those eager participants:

// Get registrants for a webinar
$registrants = $client->getRegistrants($webinarKey);

// Add a new registrant
$newRegistrant = $client->createRegistrant($webinarKey, [
    'firstName' => 'John',
    'lastName' => 'Doe',
    'email' => '[email protected]'
]);

// Cancel a registration
$client->cancelRegistration($webinarKey, $registrantKey);

Handling Attendees

After the webinar, you'll want to know who showed up:

// Get attendee information
$attendees = $client->getAttendees($webinarKey, $sessionKey);

// Get an attendance report
$report = $client->getAttendanceReport($webinarKey);

Error Handling and Best Practices

Remember, the API has rate limits, so be nice! Here's a simple way to handle errors:

try {
    // Your API call here
} catch (\Exception $e) {
    // Handle the error
    echo "Oops! Something went wrong: " . $e->getMessage();
}

And always check the response headers for rate limit information.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to create some killer GoToWebinar integrations. Remember, this is just scratching the surface - there's so much more you can do. Don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries!

Resources

For more info, check out:

Now go forth and create some awesome webinar magic! 🚀