How to Build a Public Jotform Integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 1, 2024 • 8 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Jotform integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly in no time!

Introduction

Jotform's API is a powerhouse for form management, and building a public integration opens up a world of possibilities. But before we can start playing with forms, we need to ensure our users can securely connect their Jotform accounts. That's where the auth flow comes in, and trust me, it's not as daunting as it might seem!

Prerequisites

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

A Jotform API key (grab one from your Jotform account if you haven't already)
Node.js and Express.js set up on your machine
A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry if you're rusty, we'll cover the essentials)

Setting Up the Project

Let's kick things off by setting up our project:

mkdir jotform-integration
cd jotform-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Now, let's create a basic Express server in app.js:

require('dotenv').config();
const express = require('express');
const app = express();

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;

app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Server running on port ${PORT}`));

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Step 1: Redirect to Jotform Authorization Page

First, we need to send our users to Jotform's authorization page. Let's create a route for that:

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://www.jotform.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${process.env.JOTFORM_CLIENT_ID}&scope=full&response_type=code`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Step 2: Handling the Callback

Once the user authorizes your app, Jotform will redirect them back to your specified callback URL. Let's set up that route:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  if (!code) {
    return res.status(400).send('Authorization code missing');
  }
  // We'll use this code in the next step
});

Step 3: Exchanging Code for Access Token

Now for the exciting part – turning that code into an access token:

const axios = require('axios');

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  if (!code) {
    return res.status(400).send('Authorization code missing');
  }

  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://api.jotform.com/oauth/token', null, {
      params: {
        client_id: process.env.JOTFORM_CLIENT_ID,
        client_secret: process.env.JOTFORM_CLIENT_SECRET,
        code,
        grant_type: 'authorization_code'
      }
    });

    const { access_token, refresh_token } = response.data;
    // Store these tokens securely (more on this later)
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error exchanging code for token:', error);
    res.status(500).send('Authorization failed');
  }
});

Step 4: Refreshing the Access Token

Access tokens don't last forever, so let's implement a refresh mechanism:

async function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://api.jotform.com/oauth/token', null, {
      params: {
        client_id: process.env.JOTFORM_CLIENT_ID,
        client_secret: process.env.JOTFORM_CLIENT_SECRET,
        refresh_token: refreshToken,
        grant_type: 'refresh_token'
      }
    });
    return response.data.access_token;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error refreshing token:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always be prepared for things to go sideways. Here's a quick example of handling an expired token:

async function makeApiCall(accessToken) {
  try {
    // Make your API call here
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
      const newAccessToken = await refreshAccessToken(/* stored refresh token */);
      // Retry the API call with the new token
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

Testing the Authorization Flow

Time to put our code to the test! Fire up your server and navigate to /auth in your browser. You should be redirected to Jotform, then back to your callback URL. Keep an eye on your console for any errors.

Security Best Practices

Security is paramount when dealing with user data. Here are some quick tips:

Store tokens securely (consider using encryption)
Always use HTTPS in production
Implement CSRF protection for your callback route

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a robust authorization flow for your Jotform integration. With this foundation, you're all set to start building amazing features using the Jotform API.

Remember, the auth flow is just the beginning. Now you can fetch forms, submit entries, and so much more. The sky's the limit!

Additional Resources

Happy coding, and may your forms always be in perfect order! 🚀📝