How to build a public Microsoft Bing Ads integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 8, 2024 • 6 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript devs! Ready to dive into the world of Microsoft Bing Ads API integration? Let's focus on the most crucial part: building a rock-solid auth flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly.

Introduction

Microsoft Bing Ads API is a powerful tool for managing advertising campaigns, but without proper authorization, you're not going anywhere. We'll walk through building an auth flow that'll make your users feel safe and your integration smooth as butter.

Prerequisites

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

A Microsoft Advertising developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
An application registered in the Azure portal (trust me, it's easier than it sounds)

OAuth 2.0 Flow Overview

We're using the authorization code grant type here. It's like a secret handshake between your app and Microsoft's servers. You'll need to know two key things:

The authorization endpoint
The token endpoint

Don't worry, we'll get to those soon.

Implementing the Auth Flow

Initiating the authorization request

First things first, let's get that authorization URL set up:

const authUrl = 'https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/v2.0/authorize';
const clientId = 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID';
const redirectUri = 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI';
const scope = 'https://ads.microsoft.com/msads.manage offline_access';

const fullAuthUrl = `${authUrl}?client_id=${clientId}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(redirectUri)}&scope=${encodeURIComponent(scope)}`;

Now, redirect your user to fullAuthUrl. They'll log in and grant permissions, and Microsoft will send them back to your redirectUri with a special code.

Handling the callback

When the user comes back, grab that code from the URL:

const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
const code = urlParams.get('code');

if (!code) {
  console.error('Oops! No code found in the URL.');
  // Handle this error gracefully
}

Exchanging the code for tokens

Time to trade that code for some sweet, sweet tokens:

const tokenUrl = 'https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/v2.0/token';

const response = await fetch(tokenUrl, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
  body: new URLSearchParams({
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
    code: code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    redirect_uri: redirectUri
  })
});

const tokens = await response.json();

Storing and refreshing tokens

Store these tokens securely. Never expose them to the client-side! When the access token expires, use the refresh token to get a new one:

async function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  const response = await fetch(tokenUrl, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
    body: new URLSearchParams({
      client_id: clientId,
      client_secret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
      refresh_token: refreshToken,
      grant_type: 'refresh_token'
    })
  });

  return await response.json();
}

Making Authenticated Requests

Now you can make API calls using the access token:

const apiResponse = await fetch('https://api.ads.microsoft.com/v13/campaigns', {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

If you get a 401 error, it's time to refresh that token!

Best Practices

Keep your client secret... well, secret. Store it server-side.
Always use HTTPS for token exchanges.
Implement proper error handling. Users should never see a blank screen or cryptic error message.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid auth flow for your Microsoft Bing Ads integration. Your users can now securely connect their accounts, and you can manage their campaigns like a pro.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Remember, the key to a great integration is a smooth user experience and rock-solid security. Keep iterating, keep improving, and most importantly, keep coding! You've got this! 🚀