Paperform API Essential Guide

What type of API does Paperform provide?

API Type

The search results do not explicitly state what type of API Paperform uses (e.g. REST, GraphQL, SOAP).

Key Points to Consider

1. Paperform offers API access, but it is only available with specific pricing plans.

2. There are two tiers of access to Paperform APIs:

   • Standard API
   • Business API

3. The Papersign API (a related product) is also available with specific pricing plans.

4. Paperform integrates with over 2,000 popular apps and software to improve productivity and automate workflows.

Best Practices

Without more specific information about Paperform's API architecture, it's difficult to provide best practices. However, some general API best practices include:

1. Use proper authentication and authorization mechanisms.
2. Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse.
3. Provide clear documentation for API users.
4. Use versioning to manage changes and updates.
5. Implement error handling and provide meaningful error messages.

Summary

While the search results don't provide information about the specific type of API Paperform uses, they do indicate that Paperform offers API access through different tiers. To get more detailed information about the API's architecture and how to use it, you would likely need to consult Paperform's official API documentation or contact their support team directly.

Does the Paperform API have webhooks?

Webhooks in Paperform

Yes, the official Paperform API does have webhooks.

Types of Events

Paperform allows you to subscribe to the following types of events for webhooks:

1. New Submission
2. Partial Submission

How to Set Up Webhooks

To set up a webhook in Paperform:

1. In the form editor, navigate to After Submission → Integrations & Webhooks.
2. Click the "Webhooks" section near the bottom of the page to open the configuration options.
3. Enter your webhook URL in the field provided.
4. In the "Triggered On" dropdown menu, select whether you want the webhook to fire in response to a New Submission or a Partial Submission.

Key Points to Consider

• Webhooks are used by developers to integrate Paperform form submissions into their own services.
• This feature is exclusively available with specific pricing plans.
• For non-technical teams, Direct Integrations, Zapier, or Make are recommended as more appropriate solutions for most needs.
• Webhooks allow for real-time data transfer between applications.

Best Practices

1. Always test your webhook after setting it up to ensure it's working correctly.
2. Consider using webhooks when you need real-time data transfer that's faster than polling.
3. Be aware of the specific pricing plan requirements for using webhooks with Paperform.

API Authentication

While not directly related to webhooks, it's worth noting that Paperform API access requires authentication. You'll need a valid API Key, which can be generated on your account page. The API key should be sent with every request in the authorization header.

Rate Limits and other limitations

The Paperform API has specific rate limits to prevent abuse. Here are the key points about the API rate limits:

Rate Limit Details

1. The API is rate-limited, and exceeding the limits will result in a 429 Too Many Requests response [1].

2. Users can monitor their current usage and limits through the following response headers [1]:

   • X-RateLimit-Limit: Request limit per minute
   • X-RateLimit-Remaining: The number of requests left for the time window
   • Retry-After: How many seconds to wait before the limit has lifted
   • X-RateLimit-Reset: Unix timestamp for when the limit will lift

API Access Tiers

1. There are two tiers of access to Paperform APIs [2]:

   • Standard API
   • Business API

2. The Standard API is available on Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans, as well as legacy Agency plans [2].

3. The Business API is only available on Business and Enterprise plans [2].

Key Considerations

• The specific rate limit numbers (e.g., requests per minute) are not provided in the given information.
• Different API access tiers may have different rate limits, but this is not explicitly stated in the provided information.
• Users should monitor the response headers to stay within the rate limits and avoid disruptions to their API usage.

Best Practices

1. Implement proper error handling for 429 Too Many Requests responses.
2. Use the provided response headers to track your API usage and adjust your request frequency accordingly.
3. Consider upgrading to a higher plan if you consistently hit rate limits and require more API access.
4. Design your application to gracefully handle rate limiting by implementing backoff strategies when limits are reached.

While the exact numerical rate limits are not provided, the Paperform API offers a clear mechanism for users to monitor and manage their API usage through the response headers.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding the most recent version of the Paperform API:

Current API Version

The most recent version of the Paperform API is 1.0.0 [2].

Key Points

• The Paperform API is available with specific pricing plans, including Standard API and Business API tiers [1].

• Authentication is required to use the API, with an API key needed for every request [2].

• A new Business API was recently released, allowing developers to programmatically perform various actions like creating and managing spaces, translations, webhooks, and more [3].

• The API documentation can be found at https://paperform.readme.io/reference/getting-started-1.

Recent Updates

In June 2024, Paperform released several new API endpoints and features [3]:

• New Business API capabilities
• Partial Submission Webhooks
• API-powered dropdowns
• Free Custom Domains on Business plans

Best Practices

• Use the authorization header with your API key for all requests: "Authorization": "Bearer <token>" [2].

• Check the API documentation for the most up-to-date information on endpoints and features.

• Consider upgrading to the Business API tier if you need advanced programmatic control over forms and related features.

While the core API version remains at 1.0.0, Paperform has been actively adding new endpoints and capabilities to their API offerings. To stay current with the latest features, it's recommended to regularly check their API documentation and product update announcements.

How to get a Paperform developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for Paperform to create an API integration, you need to follow these steps:

1. Check Eligibility

The Paperform API is available with specific pricing plans:

• Standard API access is available on Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans, as well as legacy Agency plans.
• Business API access is only available on Business and Enterprise plans.

2. Apply for a Developer Plan

If you are building or maintaining a technical integration, you can apply for a free Developer plan:

• The Developer plan provides free access to most Paperform functionality but has tightly restricted volume limits.
• It's intended for testing, demoing, previewing functionality, or building/maintaining third-party integrations, not for production forms.

3. Contact Paperform Support

To apply for the Developer plan:

• Email [email protected] with a description of your use case.
• Explain that you're looking to create an API integration and why you need developer access.

Key Points to Consider

• Access to the Developer plan is provided at Paperform's discretion and can be revoked at any time.
• The Developer plan is not suitable for production use due to its volume limits.
• If you need API access for production use, you'll need to subscribe to an appropriate paid plan (Pro, Business, or Enterprise).

Best Practices

1. Clearly explain your integration plans when applying for the Developer account.
2. Familiarize yourself with the API documentation before applying.
3. Be prepared to upgrade to a paid plan if you need to use the API in production.

Remember that the availability of API access and the process for obtaining a developer account may change over time. It's always best to check the most current information on Paperform's official website or contact their support directly for the most up-to-date process.

What can you do with the Paperform API?

Based on the search results provided, here is a list of data models you can interact with using the Paperform API, along with what is possible for each:

Forms

• Retrieve form data
• Automate form submissions
• Integrate form data with other services

Submissions

• Retrieve submission data
• Trigger actions based on new submissions
• Perform operations on submissions

Contacts

• Create new contacts or custom data objects using form responses
• Update existing contact information

Custom Data Objects

• Create custom data objects using form responses
• Update existing custom data objects

Data Models

• Create and manage data tables with custom fields (e.g., names, email addresses, positions, date of birth)
• Use data models as option lists for Object Lookup or Multiple Object Lookup questions in forms
• Update information in data models using form responses

Object Synchronization

• Import lists of objects from external sources
• Automatically update lists of objects

Key Points to Consider:

• The Paperform API is available with specific pricing plans (Standard API and Business API)
• Authentication is required using an API key in the authorization header
• Rate limits may apply to API usage
• The API allows for integration with various other services and automation of workflows

It's important to note that the specific endpoints and operations available for each data model are not explicitly detailed in the provided search results. To get more detailed information about the exact operations possible for each data model, you would need to consult the full API documentation or contact Paperform support directly.