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SignNow API Essential Guide

Aug 14, 20246 minute read

What type of API does SignNow provide?

API Types Offered by SignNow

  1. SignNow provides both REST and SOAP API implementations.

  2. The SignNow API documentation covers both REST and SOAP implementations.

Best Practices

  1. Use the Sandbox environment to test API functionality before going live.

  2. Utilize the provided documentation and code examples when implementing the API.

  3. Be aware that documents signed in the test/Sandbox mode are not legally binding.

  4. Consider the specific needs of your application when choosing between REST and SOAP implementations.

Does the SignNow API have webhooks?

Yes, the official SignNow API does have webhooks. Here are the key points about SignNow's webhook functionality:

Event Types

SignNow allows you to subscribe to various event types through webhooks. Some of the events you can subscribe to include:

  1. Document completion: You can subscribe to the "document.complete" event to be notified when a document is fully signed.

  2. User document signing: There's an event called "user.document.fieldinvite.signed" which notifies you when a specific user signs a document.

Webhook Configuration

To set up a webhook, you need to make a POST request to the SignNow API. Here's an example of how to create a webhook subscription:

curl -X POST \ https://api.signnow.com/api/v2/events \ -H 'Authorization: Bearer {{access_token}}' \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{ "event": "document.complete", "entity_id": "{{doc_id}}", "action": "callback", "attributes": { "callback": "http://my-site.com", "use_tls_12": true, "docid_queryparam": true, "headers": { "string_head": "test", "int_head": 12, "bool_head": false, "float_head": 12.24 } } }'

This example sets up a webhook for the "document.complete" event.

Additional Considerations

  • You can specify different entity IDs depending on whether you want to track events for a specific document or user.
  • The API allows you to set various attributes for the webhook, such as the callback URL, TLS version, and custom headers.
  • SignNow's documentation provides more details on how to use webhooks effectively. You can refer to their official documentation for comprehensive information on available events and configuration options.

In summary, SignNow's API offers robust webhook functionality, allowing you to subscribe to various document and user-related events, which can be very useful for tracking the status of documents and user actions in real-time.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding the API Rate Limits of the SignNow API:

Current Rate Limit

The SignNow API currently has a standardized rate limit of 1,000 requests per hour for the entire API [2]. This limit was implemented to achieve greater system stability and protect the API from overload.

Previous Rate Limits

  • Previously, SignNow had selective rate limits for some of its endpoints [2].
  • An older source mentions a limit of up to 500 API requests per hour [1]. However, this appears to be outdated information given the more recent 1,000 requests per hour limit.

Reasons for Implementing Rate Limits

  1. To protect the system from overload caused by larger customers sending too many requests [2].

  2. To prevent database overload, which could result in increased API response times or timeout errors for all users [2].

  3. To make the system more stable and reliable overall [2].

Best Practices

  • For high-polling requests (e.g., frequent updates from the database), SignNow recommends considering the use of webhooks. This can significantly reduce stress on the system by automatically sending updated data to a client when it changes [2].

  • Standardizing rate limits across the entire API, rather than having selective limits for certain endpoints, has helped SignNow achieve better system stability [2].

Key Considerations

  • When building or optimizing an API, it's important to implement proper rate limits from the beginning to ensure system stability and reliability [2].

  • Rate limits should be clearly communicated to API users in the documentation.

  • Consider offering different rate limit tiers for various types of users or subscription levels, if applicable to your business model.

In summary, the SignNow API currently has a rate limit of 1,000 requests per hour across its entire API. This standardized limit was implemented to improve system stability and protect against overload, replacing previous selective rate limits on certain endpoints.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, I could not find a specific mention of the most recent version number of the SignNow API. However, I can provide some relevant information about the SignNow API:

Key Points:

  1. SignNow offers an API for developers to integrate e-signature functionality into their applications [1][3].

  2. There is a developer center and API documentation available at https://docs.signnow.com [4].

  3. SignNow provides SDKs for popular programming languages, including Node.js, C#, Java, Python, and PHP [3].

  4. The most recent version of the SignNow Node.js SDK mentioned in the search results is v1.8.2 [4].

  5. For .NET, there is a SignNow.NET SDK, with the latest release mentioned being v1.2.3 as of October 15, 2023 [5].

Best Practices:

  1. To get the most up-to-date information on the SignNow API version, it's recommended to check the official SignNow API documentation or contact their support directly.

  2. When integrating with the SignNow API, use the provided SDKs for easier implementation and to ensure you're using the latest features.

  3. Create a sandbox account to test the API before integrating it into your production environment [1].

  4. Stay updated with the release notes and changelog to be aware of new features and improvements [1].

While I couldn't provide the exact most recent version of the SignNow API, the information above should help you get started with using their API and finding the most current resources. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, I recommend checking the official SignNow developer documentation or contacting their support team directly.

How to get a SignNow developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for SignNow and create an API integration, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a Sandbox account:

    • Go to the SignNow developers page (www.signnow.com/developers)
    • Look for the "Create Free Sandbox" or "Get started" option
    • Submit your email address in the quick form to register
  2. Validate your account:

    • Check your email for a validation link from SignNow
    • Click the link to proceed with the registration
  3. Access Developer Sandbox:

    • Set a password to access your developer environment
  4. Get your API credentials:

    • Log into your SignNow account
    • Go to the API Dashboard by clicking the API button in the bottom left corner
    • Navigate to Keys -> Test App to find your account credentials
  5. Generate a Bearer Token:

    • Use Postman or any API client that supports API requests
    • Create and validate your Bearer Token using your credentials
  6. Test the eSignature API:

    • Explore SignNow's capabilities and evaluate the eSignature API
    • Review the API documentation for detailed instructions on various endpoints and features

What can you do with the SignNow API?

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

Documents

  • Upload documents to your SignNow account
  • Add fillable fields to documents
  • Turn documents into reusable templates
  • Send documents for signature (freeform and role-based invites)
  • Cancel signature invites
  • Send documents in bulk

Templates

  • Create reusable templates
  • Add fillable fields to templates
  • Send templates for signature in bulk

Signature Invites

  • Create freeform signature invites (for documents without fields)
  • Create role-based signature invites (for documents with fields)
  • Cancel signature invites
  • Send bulk signature invites

Fields

  • Add basic and advanced fillable fields to documents and templates
  • Use text tags for field creation

Signing

  • Enable embedded signing
  • Enable embedded sending

Users/Teams

  • Manage user accounts
  • Enable team collaboration features

Reporting

  • Access API logs with information on date, method, URL, and status of operations
  • Generate reports on API usage

Branding

  • Customize branding elements

Webhooks

  • Set up and manage webhooks for real-time notifications

API Applications

  • Create and manage API applications
  • Generate and manage API keys

This list covers the main data models and capabilities exposed through the SignNow API based on the information provided in the search results. The API allows for comprehensive management of the document lifecycle, from creation and editing to sending for signature and reporting.